Social scientists and related workers, all other salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $66,120 | $31.79 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $101,110 | $48.61 |
| Mean (average) | $107,690 | $51.78 |
| 90th percentile | $160,300 | $77.07 |
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
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Social scientists and related workers, all other pay by state and metro area
AKME$73.9KVT$79.5KNH$86.5KWA$103KID$88.6KMT$82.4KND$76.4KMN$103KIL$99.0KWI$88.8KMI$84.3KNY$105KRI$90.0KMA$106KOR$95.9KNV$95.6KWY$88.6KSD$86.3KIA$91.6KIN$89.4KOH$98.6KPA$97.6KNJ$101KCTCA$97.9KUT$91.6KCO$105KNE$104KMO$80.8KKY$78.8KWV$94.5KVA$141KMD$132KDE$92.3KAZ$99.3KNM$91.2KKS$85.2KAR$76.4KTN$80.9KNC$81.4KSC$83.8KDC$128KOK$88.6KLA$91.2KMS$85.5KAL$95.4KGA$91.2KHI$92.5KTX$102KFL$83.5K
$73.9K$141K
Table: median wage and employment for all 51 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $95,370 | $74,170 | $142,670 | 320 | 0.64 |
| Arizona | $99,320 | $69,240 | $132,430 | 600 | 0.77 |
| Arkansas | $76,400 | $46,350 | $100,920 | 250 | 0.79 |
| California | $97,900 | $66,370 | $147,410 | 2,970 | 0.68 |
| Colorado | $105,390 | $66,010 | $152,730 | 790 | 1.15 |
| Connecticut | Data unavailable | 300 | 0.75 | ||
| Delaware | $92,330 | $67,540 | $225,300 | 100 | 0.84 |
| District of Columbia | $128,440 | $83,890 | $170,980 | 2,480 | 14.81 |
| Florida | $83,460 | $44,990 | $127,190 | 1,740 | 0.73 |
| Georgia | $91,210 | $73,920 | $130,270 | 1,510 | 1.3 |
| Hawaii | $92,520 | $61,970 | $143,020 | 430 | 2.85 |
| Idaho | $88,610 | $62,000 | $112,260 | 70 | 0.35 |
| Illinois | $99,050 | $68,310 | $130,900 | 730 | 0.5 |
| Indiana | $89,440 | $63,130 | $123,710 | ||
| Iowa | $91,560 | $60,000 | $145,540 | 150 | 0.42 |
| Kansas | $85,160 | $66,250 | $132,080 | 310 | 0.89 |
| Kentucky | $78,850 | $56,590 | $106,330 | 350 | 0.73 |
| Louisiana | $91,170 | $64,190 | $133,770 | 560 | 1.2 |
| Maine | $73,920 | $46,470 | $108,850 | 40 | 0.27 |
| Maryland | $131,810 | $70,430 | $175,720 | 2,600 | 3.95 |
| Massachusetts | $105,640 | $78,530 | $169,520 | 820 | 0.95 |
| Michigan | $84,260 | $61,210 | $131,800 | 660 | 0.63 |
| Minnesota | $103,330 | $65,330 | $130,330 | 1,000 | 1.41 |
| Mississippi | $85,550 | $73,920 | $111,650 | 170 | 0.62 |
| Missouri | $80,850 | $53,850 | $112,070 | 330 | 0.47 |
| Montana | $82,380 | $63,420 | $115,920 | 170 | 1.4 |
| Nebraska | $104,420 | $65,830 | $131,270 | 120 | 0.48 |
| Nevada | $95,620 | $66,850 | $134,580 | 180 | 0.49 |
| New Hampshire | $86,530 | $65,900 | $158,750 | 130 | 0.8 |
| New Jersey | $101,260 | $74,400 | $138,330 | 350 | 0.34 |
| New Mexico | $91,170 | $73,920 | $146,580 | 170 | 0.8 |
| New York | $104,770 | $67,210 | $138,590 | 3,410 | 1.47 |
| North Carolina | $81,420 | $65,140 | $124,840 | 1,770 | 1.5 |
| North Dakota | $76,400 | $42,630 | $103,380 | 120 | 1.2 |
| Ohio | $98,630 | $60,800 | $146,760 | 1,520 | 1.15 |
| Oklahoma | $88,610 | $73,920 | $108,890 | 220 | 0.53 |
| Oregon | $95,900 | $73,920 | $129,060 | 350 | 0.75 |
| Pennsylvania | $97,640 | $68,430 | $154,960 | 620 | 0.43 |
| Puerto Rico | $76,400 | $22,370 | $124,530 | 150 | 0.68 |
| Rhode Island | $89,960 | $41,200 | $161,460 | 110 | 0.88 |
| South Carolina | $83,780 | $63,130 | $115,210 | 300 | 0.54 |
| South Dakota | $86,260 | $63,130 | $100,420 | 70 | 0.65 |
| Tennessee | $80,860 | $53,530 | $129,960 | 320 | 0.41 |
| Texas | $101,800 | $74,820 | $156,560 | 2,260 | 0.67 |
| Utah | $91,560 | $71,220 | $128,670 | 180 | 0.42 |
| Vermont | $79,450 | $55,700 | $120,430 | 110 | 1.47 |
| Virginia | $140,670 | $82,660 | $218,040 | 3,380 | 3.45 |
| Washington | $102,920 | $71,060 | $163,230 | 1,160 | 1.37 |
| West Virginia | $94,520 | $73,140 | $115,210 | 190 | 1.15 |
| Wisconsin | $88,830 | $65,170 | $115,210 | 260 | 0.37 |
| Wyoming | $88,610 | $75,570 | $115,210 | 40 | 0.63 |
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
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, State. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Metropolitan areas. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Job outlook for social scientists and related workers, all other
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 2,700. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 3.5%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Education and training for social scientists and related workers, all other
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
Highest education of people working in this occupation
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Education and training tables 5.1 to 5.4. Attainment 2023-24 (ACS); wages 2025; projections 2025-35. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
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
- Energy and Environmental Policy CIP 03.0209
- Educational Evaluation and Research CIP 13.0601
- Educational Statistics and Research Methods CIP 13.0603
- Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement CIP 13.0604
- Learning Sciences CIP 13.0607
- Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other CIP 13.0699
- Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other CIP 16.0199
- Adult Development and Aging CIP 19.0702
- Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution CIP 30.0501
- Biopsychology CIP 30.1001
- Gerontology CIP 30.1101
- Behavioral Sciences CIP 30.1701
- Holocaust and Related Studies CIP 30.2101
- Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies CIP 30.2301
- Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis CIP 30.2601
- Human Biology CIP 30.2701
- Sustainability Studies CIP 30.3301
- Anthrozoology CIP 30.3401
- Economics and Foreign Language/Literature CIP 30.4001
- Geoarcheaology CIP 30.4201
- Geography and Environmental Studies CIP 30.4401
- History and Political Science CIP 30.4601
- Linguistics and Anthropology CIP 30.4701
- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics CIP 30.5101
- Education Policy Analysis CIP 44.0502
- Health Policy Analysis CIP 44.0503
- Social Sciences, General CIP 45.0101
- Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods CIP 45.0102
- Survey Research/Methodology CIP 45.0103
- Social Sciences, Other CIP 45.0199
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ConnectPrep has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Source: National Center for O*NET Development for USDOL/ETA, O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026 release). Database release 31.0, August 2026; element dates vary by occupation. Published August 25, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
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 social scientists and related workers, all other make?
The national median annual wage for social scientists and related workers, all other was $101,110 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $66,120 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $160,300. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do social scientists and related workers, all other need?
BLS lists bachelor'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 social scientists and related workers, all other a growing career?
BLS projects employment of social scientists and related workers, all other to change -0.2% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 2,700 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay social scientists and related workers, all other the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Virginia ($140,670), Maryland ($131,810), District of Columbia ($128,440). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.