Political scientists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $83,350 | $40.07 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $142,080 | $68.31 |
| Mean (average) | $142,510 | $68.51 |
| 90th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Political scientists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 15 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | $108,770 | $71,800 | $163,430 | 50 | 0.42 |
| Colorado | $127,260 | $80,010 | $197,490 | 30 | 0.32 |
| District of Columbia | $152,530 | $114,920 | $195,190 | 3,070 | 122.81 |
| Florida | Data unavailable | 90 | 0.25 | ||
| Illinois | $103,780 | $71,990 | $127,190 | 110 | 0.49 |
| Maryland | $153,380 | $101,400 | $195,190 | 100 | 1.05 |
| Massachusetts | $133,930 | $76,010 | $217,820 | 170 | 1.3 |
| Michigan | $86,290 | $68,380 | $155,740 | 180 | 1.12 |
| New Hampshire | $74,560 | $34,960 | $174,670 | ||
| New York | Data unavailable | 130 | 0.36 | ||
| Ohio | $119,370 | $63,590 | $142,080 | 40 | 0.22 |
| Oregon | $119,460 | $107,230 | $119,460 | ||
| Pennsylvania | $140,020 | $70,450 | $203,130 | 70 | 0.33 |
| Texas | $114,050 | $87,530 | $139,010 | 160 | 0.32 |
| Washington | $147,060 | $81,310 | $214,960 | 110 | 0.83 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for political scientists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 400. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 2.5%.
- Read the official BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook profile.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for political scientists
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- International/Globalization Studies CIP 30.2001
- History and Political Science CIP 30.4601
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics CIP 30.5101
- Public Policy Analysis, General CIP 44.0501
- International Policy Analysis CIP 44.0504
- International Relations and Affairs CIP 45.0901
- National Security Policy Studies CIP 45.0902
- International Relations and National Security Studies, Other CIP 45.0999
- Political Science and Government, General CIP 45.1001
- American Government and Politics (United States) CIP 45.1002
- Canadian Government and Politics CIP 45.1003
- Political Economy CIP 45.1004
- Political Science and Government, Other CIP 45.1099
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical 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.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft Outlook (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Microsoft Word (in demand)
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP (hot technology)
- Microsoft SharePoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Python (hot technology)
- R (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
- SAS (hot technology)
- Tableau (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Instructing, Systems Evaluation, Coordination.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do political scientists make?
The national median annual wage for political scientists was $142,080 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $83,350 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $195,190. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do political scientists need?
BLS lists master's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is political scientists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of political scientists to change -2.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 400 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay political scientists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Maryland ($153,380), District of Columbia ($152,530), Washington ($147,060). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.