Political Scientists earn a median of $142,080 per year ($68.31/hr) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Employment is projected to fall 2.0% through 2035, with about 400 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 19-3094
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Political Scientist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $142,080a year, or $68.31/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $83KTop 10% $195K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- -2.0%DecliningBLS EP, 2025–2035This career−2%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career −2% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 4006,100 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20256.1K
- Projected 20356K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 6.1K Projected 2035 6K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Master's7.7%
- Doctorate88.5%
- Post-doctoral training3.9%
Highest education held by political scientists Segment Value Master's 7.7% Doctorate 88.5% Post-doctoral training 3.9%
Pay
How much do Political Scientists make?
Every political scientist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$142,080
Middle half earn $114,030 to $174,180
- 10th
- $83,350
- 25th
- $114,030
- 75th
- $174,180
- 90th
- $195,190
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $83,350 |
| 25th | $114,030 |
| Median | $142,080 |
| 75th | $174,180 |
| 90th | $195,190 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $142,080
- Median hourly wage
- $68.31/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $142,510
- People employed
- 5,540
Versus all US occupations
At $142,080, Political Scientists earn 179% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $91,100 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 73% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $195,190 or more while the bottom 10% earn $83,350, a gap of 2.3×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 92% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Maryland pays the most at $153,380, and still leads at $146,133 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Political Scientists the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Maryland | $153,380 | $146,133 | 100 |
| 2District of Columbia | $152,530 | $138,789 | 3,070 |
| 3Washington | $147,060 | $137,423 | 110 |
| 4Pennsylvania | $140,020 | $143,504 | 70 |
| 5Massachusetts | $133,930 | $126,639 | 170 |
| 6Colorado | $127,260 | $123,491 | 30 |
| 7Oregon | $119,460 | $115,576 | N/A |
| 8Ohio | $119,370 | $128,668 | 40 |
| 9Texas | $114,050 | $117,508 | 160 |
| 10Arizona | $108,770 | $108,039 | 50 |
Job outlook
Is Political Scientist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Declining. -2.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Political Scientists | −2% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Declining
BLS projects employment of Political Scientists to change -2.0% over 2025–2035, while total US employment is projected to rise 3.5%. That is 100 fewer jobs.
Annual openings
About 400 openings are projected each year, 6.6% of the 6,100 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for these workers is tied to federal funding, as more than half of political scientists are employed in the federal government. Therefore, budgetary constraints are expected to directly impact the employment of political scientists.
Political organizations, lobbying firms, and labor unions rely on political scientists’ knowledge to manage complex regulations. Political scientists are expected to be needed at research and policy institutes to focus on politics and political theory. Organizations that research or advocate for specific causes, such as healthcare or the environment, will likely continue to need political scientists to analyze policies relating to their field.
Getting in
How to become a Political Scientist
To enter the occupation, political scientists typically need a master’s degree in political science, public administration, or a related field. However, some employers consider candidates who have a bachelor’s degree; others may prefer a Ph.D.
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Master's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Considerable preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as political scientists.
- Doctoral Degree88.5%
- Master's Degree7.7%
- Post-Doctoral Training3.9%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 88.5% |
| Master's Degree | 7.7% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 3.9% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Political Scientist do?
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.
Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. They may research topics such as public opinion, political decision-making, and ideology. They also may analyze the structure of governments and political entities.
Day-to-day 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.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most political scientists work full time. They sometimes work additional hours to finish reports and meet deadlines.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayIndoors, in a climate-controlled space, every day.
Outdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayFace-to-face discussions every day.
Dealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayCost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely serious
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lotA lot of freedom to make decisions without checking first.
Schedules: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition. Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Where political scientists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Federal government, excluding postal service68%
- Professional, scientific, and technical services11%
- Educational services; state, local, and private8%
- Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations3%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Federal government, excluding postal service | 68% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 11% |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 8% |
| Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations | 3% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Active Listening4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Active Learning4.1
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Learning Strategies3.5
- Mathematics3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 |
| Active Listening | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Active Learning | 4.1 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.5 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Instructing3.5
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Coordination3.0
- Service Orientation3.0
- Systems Analysis3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Instructing | 3.5 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Document management software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
- Process mapping and design software · in demand
- Spreadsheet software · in demand
- Web platform development software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Political Scientist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Political Scientist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 1 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 4 |
| Conventional | 4 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules.
- Investigative6.7
- Artistic3.9
- Enterprising3.6
- Conventional3.5
- Social3.4
- Realistic1.0
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Political Scientist
O*NET related occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Legislator · N/A median
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with political scientists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Political Scientist$142,080
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Political Scientist | $142,080 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Lists Political Scientist appears on
Questions
Political Scientist: frequently asked questions
How much do Political Scientists make?
Political Scientists earn a median of $142,080 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 179% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $68.31/hr. The middle half earn between $114,030 and $174,180. The top 10% earn $195,190 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Political Scientist?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Political Scientists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 88.5% hold doctoral degree.
Is Political Scientist a growing career?
No. BLS projects employment to fall 2.0% over 2025–2035, a loss of 100 jobs (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 400 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Political Scientist do?
Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. A core O*NET task: teach political science. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Political Scientists the most?
The highest state medians for Political Scientists are Maryland ($153,380), District of Columbia ($152,530), Washington ($147,060) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Political Scientist?
O*NET scores Political Scientists highest on the Investigative, Artistic and Enterprising interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with creating, designing and working without a fixed set of rules. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INTJ, INTP, INFJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.