The median pay for Sociologists is $106,030 a year ($50.98/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 3.8% through 2035, with about 200 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
- SOC 19-3041
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Sociologist in four numbers
- Median pay
- $106,030a year, or $50.98/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $65KTop 10% $173K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +3.8%About as fast as averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+3.8%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +3.8% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 2002,700 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 20252.7K
- Projected 20352.8K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 2.7K Projected 2035 2.8K - Typical education
- Master'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Bachelor's10%
- Master's30%
- Doctorate50%
- Post-doctoral training10%
Highest education held by sociologists Segment Value Bachelor's 10% Master's 30% Doctorate 50% Post-doctoral training 10%
Also advertised as: Demographer, Evaluation Specialist, Medical Sociologist, Policy Analyst, Research Associate, Research Coordinator.
Pay
How much do Sociologists make?
Every sociologist in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$106,030
Middle half earn $82,300 to $137,420
- 10th
- $65,160
- 25th
- $82,300
- 75th
- $137,420
- 90th
- $172,550
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,160 |
| 25th | $82,300 |
| Median | $106,030 |
| 75th | $137,420 |
| 90th | $172,550 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $106,030
- Median hourly wage
- $50.98/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $114,920
- People employed
- 2,260
Versus all US occupations
At $106,030, Sociologists earn 108% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $55,050 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 29% above the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $172,550 or more while the bottom 10% earn $65,160, a gap of 2.6×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 80% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Cost of living
Illinois posts the highest raw median ($140,770), but once local prices are taken into account Kentucky leads at $151,810 in national-average dollars.
Pay by state
Which states pay Sociologists 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Illinois | $140,770 | $140,829 | N/A |
| 2Kentucky | $136,870 | $151,810 | 30 |
| 3North Carolina | $126,760 | $134,385 | 170 |
| 4California | $125,770 | $113,593 | 590 |
| 5Alaska | $108,170 | $105,677 | 40 |
| 6Massachusetts | $106,530 | $100,731 | 250 |
| 7Maryland | $100,660 | $95,904 | 50 |
| 8Washington | $97,170 | $90,802 | 130 |
| 9Michigan | $88,040 | $91,502 | 90 |
| 10Ohio | $78,850 | $84,991 | 130 |
Job outlook
Is Sociologist a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
About as fast as average. +3.8% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Sociologists | +3.8% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
About as fast as average
BLS projects employment of Sociologists to change 3.8% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 100 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 200 openings are projected each year, 7.4% of the 2,700 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.
Sociologists will continue to be needed to apply sociological research to other disciplines. For example, sociologists may collaborate with researchers in other social sciences, such as economists, psychologists, and survey researchers, to study how social structures or groups influence policy decisions about health, education, politics, criminal justice, business, or economics.
Getting in
How to become a Sociologist
Sociologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation.
- 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 sociologists.
- Doctoral Degree50%
- Master's Degree30%
- Bachelor's Degree10%
- Post-Doctoral Training10%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Doctoral Degree | 50% |
| Master's Degree | 30% |
| Bachelor's Degree | 10% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 10% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Sociologist do?
Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.
Sociologists study society and social behavior by examining the groups, cultures, social institutions, and processes that develop when people interact and work together. They also may study specific groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.
Day-to-day 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.
- 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.
- Develop problem intervention procedures, using techniques such as interviews, consultations, role playing, and participant observation of group interactions.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Most sociologists work full time.
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors 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 seriousMistakes are not usually 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 sociologists work
Share of jobs by employer type
- Educational services; state, local, and private31%
- Scientific research and development services31%
- State government, excluding education and hospitals25%
- Grantmaking and giving services and social advocacy organizations2%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 31% |
| Scientific research and development services | 31% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 25% |
| Grantmaking and giving services and social advocacy organizations | 2% |
Source: BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025–2035 edition
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Active Listening4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Active Learning4.0
- Learning Strategies3.9
- Monitoring3.5
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | 4.1 |
| Speaking | 4.1 |
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 |
| Active Learning | 4.0 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.9 |
| Monitoring | 3.5 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Social Perceptiveness3.9
- Instructing3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Coordination3.1
- Systems Analysis3.1
- Systems Evaluation3.1
- Service Orientation3.0
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.9 |
| Instructing | 3.6 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 |
| Coordination | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.1 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Customer relationship management CRM 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
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Operating system software · in demand
- Presentation 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 Sociologist?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Sociologist |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 7 |
| Artistic | 4 |
| Social | 4 |
| Enterprising | 3 |
| 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 teaching, helping and working directly with other people.
- Investigative6.5
- Social4.4
- Artistic4.0
- Conventional3.6
- Enterprising3.1
- Realistic1.6
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 Sociologist
O*NET related occupations
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Educational Instruction and Library
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Educational Instruction and Library
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with sociologists highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Sociologist$106,030
- 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 |
| Sociologist | $106,030 |
| 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 Sociologist appears on
Questions
Sociologist: frequently asked questions
How much do Sociologists make?
Sociologists earn a median of $106,030 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). That is 108% above the $50,980 median for all US occupations. That works out at $50.98/hr. The middle half earn between $82,300 and $137,420. The top 10% earn $172,550 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Sociologist?
Yes. BLS reports a master's degree as the typical entry-level education for Sociologists, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as considerable preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 50.0% hold doctoral degree.
Is Sociologist a growing career?
It is stable rather than fast-growing: employment is projected to change 3.8% over 2025–2035, about the same as the 3.5% projected across all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 200 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Sociologist do?
Sociologists study society and social behavior by examining the groups, cultures, social institutions, and processes that develop when people interact and work together. A core O*NET task: analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Customer relationship management CRM software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Sociologists the most?
The highest state medians for Sociologists are Illinois ($140,770), Kentucky ($136,870), North Carolina ($126,760) (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Adjusted for local prices using BEA Regional Price Parities, Kentucky moves to the top at $151,810.
What personality type suits a Sociologist?
O*NET scores Sociologists highest on the Investigative, Social and Artistic interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with teaching, helping and working directly with other people. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are INFP, INFJ, INTP. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.