Political Scientists
SOC code 19-3094 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $83,350 | $40.07 |
| 25th percentile | $114,030 | $54.82 |
| 50th percentile (median) | $142,080 | $68.31 |
| 75th percentile | $174,180 | $83.74 |
| 90th percentile | $195,190 | $93.84 |
See where a wage ranks
Estimate only, based on linear interpolation between this occupation's BLS OEWS reported percentiles above.
Wages by state (May 2024)
State-level employment and wage estimates for Political Scientists (SOC 19-3094), from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) State estimates, May 2024. Data available for 17 of 51 states/DC for this occupation.
| State | Employment | Mean annual | Median annual | 10th pctl annual | 25th pctl annual | 75th pctl annual | 90th pctl annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | 40 | $104,670 | $104,100 | $68,020 | $76,530 | $112,340 | $167,960 |
| California | 50 | $132,240 | $130,630 | $75,180 | $85,020 | $170,040 | $191,880 |
| District of Columbia | 3,250 | $152,440 | $153,320 | $110,590 | $125,820 | $181,210 | $191,880 |
| Florida | 210 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Georgia | 30 | $81,840 | $80,000 | $51,210 | $66,710 | $95,000 | $112,000 |
| Illinois | 110 | $100,690 | $98,300 | $71,990 | $81,900 | $110,390 | $136,970 |
| Maryland | 130 | $148,480 | $148,680 | $97,930 | $111,010 | $181,210 | $191,880 |
| Massachusetts | — | $129,460 | $130,580 | $67,580 | $86,090 | $162,720 | $206,330 |
| Michigan | 120 | $119,030 | $125,750 | $64,680 | $81,620 | $131,050 | $205,410 |
| New Hampshire | — | $93,170 | $63,500 | $33,380 | $55,240 | $139,810 | $166,790 |
| New Jersey | 70 | $78,520 | $74,760 | $69,120 | $71,070 | $76,530 | $99,590 |
| New York | 210 | $100,490 | $74,080 | $74,070 | $74,070 | $131,520 | $179,980 |
| Ohio | 50 | $101,770 | $99,130 | $60,270 | $61,820 | $127,690 | $139,400 |
| Pennsylvania | 90 | $138,120 | $132,640 | $75,420 | $104,990 | $160,090 | $192,420 |
| Texas | 170 | $109,340 | $111,720 | $76,020 | $97,010 | $125,860 | $136,340 |
| Virginia | 660 | $154,860 | $163,950 | $87,320 | $125,820 | $191,880 | $191,880 |
| Washington | 140 | $129,730 | $140,970 | $75,350 | $89,060 | $163,020 | $179,700 |
Hourly by-state wages are in the source dataset but not rendered here (annual only, to keep this table a manageable width); see the source link below for the full file. BLS suppresses some state-level figures for reliability: an em dash (—) means BLS did not publish that figure for this state and occupation. Per BLS’s own field definitions: "*" = a wage estimate is not available; "**" = an employment estimate is not available; "#" = a wage equal to or greater than $115.00 per hour or $239,200 per year (all three are shown here as —, not guessed). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), State occupational employment and wage estimates, May 2024.
Similar-paying occupations in Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
- Astronomers 19-2011$128,820/yr
- Biochemists and Biophysicists 19-1021$127,410/yr
- Economists 19-3011$124,720/yr
- Physical Scientists, All Other 19-2099$122,570/yr
- Materials Scientists 19-2032$117,790/yr
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024 estimates. Wage figures are BLS OEWS estimates and may not reflect current pay.