Sociologists salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $65,160 | $31.33 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $106,030 | $50.98 |
| Mean (average) | $114,920 | $55.25 |
| 90th percentile | $172,550 | $82.96 |
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
Sociologists pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 11 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $108,170 | $65,340 | $152,620 | 40 | 7.45 |
| California | $125,770 | $85,030 | $161,710 | 590 | 2.24 |
| Florida | $46,950 | $39,150 | $171,360 | 160 | 1.13 |
| Illinois | $140,770 | $76,320 | $229,480 | ||
| Kentucky | $136,870 | $102,540 | $162,350 | 30 | 1.16 |
| Maryland | $100,660 | $67,770 | $162,680 | 50 | 1.34 |
| Massachusetts | $106,530 | $65,400 | $190,440 | 250 | 4.71 |
| Michigan | $88,040 | $52,520 | $158,420 | 90 | 1.4 |
| North Carolina | $126,760 | $69,980 | $212,260 | 170 | 2.43 |
| Ohio | $78,850 | $68,040 | $104,560 | 130 | 1.59 |
| Washington | $97,170 | $80,640 | $138,000 | 130 | 2.57 |
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 sociologists
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 200. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 6.2%.
- 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 sociologists
- 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
- Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods CIP 45.0102
- Survey Research/Methodology CIP 45.0103
- Criminology CIP 45.0401
- Demography and Population Studies CIP 45.0501
- Applied Demography CIP 45.0502
- Demography, Other CIP 45.0599
- Sociology, General CIP 45.1101
- Applied/Public Sociology CIP 45.1102
- Rural Sociology CIP 45.1103
- Sociology, Other CIP 45.1199
- Urban Studies/Affairs CIP 45.1201
- Sociology and Anthropology CIP 45.1301
- Medical/Health Humanities CIP 51.3204
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
- Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
- Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach sociology.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
- Present research findings at professional meetings.
- Explain sociological research to the general public.
Technology skills
- Adobe Acrobat (hot technology)
- Adobe Photoshop (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Facebook (hot technology)
- IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
- Microsoft Project (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visio (hot technology)
- Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
- Microsoft Word (hot technology)
- R (hot technology)
- SAP software (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Social Perceptiveness, Instructing, Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Coordination, Systems Analysis.
Common job titles: Demographer, Evaluation Specialist, Medical Sociologist, Policy Analyst, Research Associate, Research Coordinator, Research Scientist, Research Specialist, Social Scientist, Sociologist.
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 sociologists make?
The national median annual wage for sociologists was $106,030 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $65,160 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $172,550. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do sociologists 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 sociologists a growing career?
BLS projects employment of sociologists to change +3.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 200 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay sociologists the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Illinois ($140,770), Kentucky ($136,870), North Carolina ($126,760). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.