19 Series · SOC 19-3094

Political Scientists Salary

National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).

$142,080
Median / year
$195,190
Top 10% earn
-3.1%
Growth '23–'33
5,540
US workers

Political Scientists earn a median of $142,080 per year.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $142,080, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $83,350 (10th percentile) to $195,190 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 5,540 US workers. Maryland pays the most ($153,380), since pay varies by state and metro area.

19 Series · Source: BLS OEWS Compare with another job →
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The pay verdict

Political Scientists earn a median of $142,080, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 95% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #3 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to fall 3.1% by 2033.

$142,080
Median annual wage
Top 5%
of 825 US occupations with published wages
#3 of 48
in Life, Physical, and Social Science
2.3×
90th-to-10th pay spread

Highest-paying state: Maryland at $153,380. Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.

Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094) pays a national median of $142,080 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $83,350 at the 10th percentile to $195,190 at the 90th, with a mean of $142,510 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 5,540 Americans work in this occupation across 13 reporting states and 7 metro areas.

BLS Employment Projections forecast a -3.1% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as declining relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 500 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Master's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.

Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. Maryland pays the highest state median at $153,380, which is +8% above the national figure. The top metro is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $156,730 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.

BLS OEWS May 2025 5,540 jobs Median $142,080/yr

Median Salary

$142,080

per year

Median Hourly

$68.31/hr

per hour

Mean Salary

$142,510

average

Employment

5,540

jobs nationwide

How does this pay compare nationally?

Where Political Scientists pay sits nationally

Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median

$142,080 Top 5% higher than 95% of 825 US occupations

$0–$20,000: 0 US occupations (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 98 US occupations (12%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 298 US occupations (36%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 209 US occupations (25%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 82 US occupations (10%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 58 US occupations (7%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 32 US occupations (4%). Below this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 14 US occupations (2%). This entry sits in this band. $160,000–$180,000: 9 US occupations (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 25 US occupations (3%). Above this entry. This job $0 $200,000 every BLS occupation, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025

Does this job pay well and grow?

Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Political Scientists; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Political Scientists sits on the slower-growing side at -3.1% growth and $142,080 median pay.

Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Political Scientists sits on the slower-growing side at -3.1% growth and $142,080 median pay. Scatter plot of 25 data points. $0$50000$100000$150000$200000 -5%0%5%10%15% Projected growth 2024–2034 (%) Median annual wage
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Political Scientists sits on the slower-growing side at -3.1% growth and $142,080 median pay.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).

Job Outlook (2024–2034)

Projected Growth

-3.1%

Declining

Annual Openings

500

per year (projected)

Typical Education

Master's degree

Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034

Workplace Safety

All safety ratings →
A

Very Safe

Safety Grade (BLS 2023)

Fatality Rate

1.5/100K

Injury Rate

0.7/100

Danger Index

3.6/100

Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023

Career Intelligence

Skills, knowledge, and tasks most important for Political Scientists roles, ranked by importance. Source: O*NET.

Top Skills

Reading Comprehension 4.3
Active Listening 4.1
Speaking 4.1
Active Learning 4.1
Writing 4.0
Critical Thinking 4.0
Social Perceptiveness 3.8
Complex Problem Solving 3.6
Judgment and Decision Making 3.6
Learning Strategies 3.5

Knowledge Areas

Law and Government 4.7
English Language 4.4
Education and Training 4.3
History and Archeology 3.4
Mathematics 3.4
Communications and Media 3.3
Sociology and Anthropology 3.2
Geography 3.1
Philosophy and Theology 3.1
Computers and Electronics 3.0

Key Tasks

  • ▸ Teach political science.
  • ▸ Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
  • ▸ Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.
  • ▸ Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
  • ▸ Advise political science students.
  • ▸ Collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as election results and public opinion surveys, reporting on findings, recommendations, and conclusions.
  • ▸ Interpret and analyze policies, public issues, legislation, or the operations of governments, businesses, and organizations.
  • ▸ Identify issues for research and analysis.
  • ▸ Serve on committees.
  • ▸ Forecast political, economic, and social trends.

Source: O*NET Online, National Center for O*NET Development. Data represents typical importance ratings for this occupation.

Salary Range

Annual Salary Distribution

$83,350$114,030$142,080$174,180$195,190
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

Hourly Rate Distribution

$40.07$54.82$68.31$83.74$93.84
10th pct25thMedian75th90th pct

10th Percentile

$83,350

25th Percentile

$114,030

Median

$142,080

75th Percentile

$174,180

90th Percentile

$195,190

Salary by State

Highest Paying States

1. Maryland $153,380 2. District of Columbia $152,530 3. Washington $147,060 4. Pennsylvania $140,020 5. Massachusetts $133,930

Lowest Paying States

9. New Hampshire $74,560 10. Michigan $86,290 11. Illinois $103,780 12. Arizona $108,770 13. Texas $114,050
View all 13 states →
# State Median Salary vs National
1 Maryland $153,380 +8% above national
2 District of Columbia $152,530 +7% above national
3 Washington $147,060 +4% above national
4 Pennsylvania $140,020 1% below national
5 Massachusetts $133,930 6% below national
6 Colorado $127,260 10% below national
7 Oregon $119,460 16% below national
8 Ohio $119,370 16% below national
9 Texas $114,050 20% below national
10 Arizona $108,770 23% below national
11 Illinois $103,780 27% below national
12 Michigan $86,290 39% below national
13 New Hampshire $74,560 48% below national

Salary by Metro Area

Highest Paying Metros

1. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $156,730 2. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $153,960 3. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $133,930 4. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $114,320 5. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $103,780

Lowest Paying Metros

3. Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $79,990 4. Ann Arbor, MI $86,290 5. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $103,780 6. Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $114,320 7. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $133,930
View all 7 metro areas →
# Metro Area Median Salary vs National
1 Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV $156,730 +10% above national
2 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA $153,960 +8% above national
3 Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $133,930 6% below national
4 Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ $114,320 20% below national
5 Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN $103,780 27% below national
6 Ann Arbor, MI $86,290 39% below national
7 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI $79,990 44% below national

Similar Occupations in the Same Category

Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.

Agricultural Technicians

SOC 19-4012

Animal Scientists

SOC 19-1011

Anthropologists and Archeologists

SOC 19-3091

Astronomers

SOC 19-2011

Atmospheric and Space Scientists

SOC 19-2021
Compare Political Scientists side-by-side with another occupation →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Political Scientists make? ▼
The median annual salary for Political Scientists is $142,080 ($68.31/hour). The salary range spans from $83,350 at the 10th percentile to $195,190 at the 90th percentile.
What state pays Political Scientists the most? ▼
Maryland pays the highest median salary for Political Scientists at $153,380/year, which is +8% above the national median.
What education do you need to become a Political Scientists? ▼
The typical entry-level education for Political Scientists is Master's degree.
How dangerous is being a Political Scientists? ▼
Political Scientists has a safety grade of A (Very Safe) based on BLS data. The fatality rate is 1.5 per 100,000 workers and the injury rate is 0.7 per 100 workers.
Is Political Scientists a good career? ▼
Employment for Political Scientists is projected to decline 3.1% from 2024 to 2034, which is declining. About 500 openings are projected each year.
How does Political Scientists pay vary by state? ▼
Political Scientists salaries vary significantly by state. The highest-paying state is Maryland at $153,380/year, while Texas pays the least at $114,050/year. BLS data covers 13 states and territories.
Which metro areas pay the most for Political Scientists? ▼
The highest-paying metro area for Political Scientists is Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV at $156,730/year. BLS reports wage data for 7 metro areas for this occupation, with pay varying based on local demand and cost of living.

What to do with this data

How to use Political Scientists pay figures in a real decision

  • For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $174,180/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
  • Location moves pay significantly: Maryland leads at $153,380/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
  • Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs

These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.

Data as of May 2025. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 annual release. Employment projections from BLS Employment Projections program, 2024–2034. Data reflects cross-industry estimates for all ownership types.

These are survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. See how to use them.

Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.