What is the Average Salary of a Sociologist?
Find out the average annual salary for sociologists. Explore factors that can influence a sociologist's salary, including the industry he or she works in and the state where he or she is employed.
Salary Overview & Job Description
<p>According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), sociologists earned an average annual income of $96,260 as of May 2021 (<i>www.bls.gov</i>). The top ten percent of earners made $135,420 or more per year, while the bottom ten percent made $60,770 or less annually.
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<p>As a sociologist, you'll study political systems, along with culture, group behavior and other aspects of human society. You'll examine people's daily interactions to determine how individuals act or react in different political, social, economic and religious situations. You'll also perform studies, surveys and other research to acquire and catalog information that can be used for scientific, political and business purposes.
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<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutSociologists">Important Facts About Sociologists</h3>
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<table border="1"><tr><td> Median Salary (2021) </td><td> $92,910</td></tr>
<tr><td> Entry-level Education </td><td> Most positions require a master's or doctoral degree</td></tr>
<tr><td> Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td> 5%</td></tr>
<tr><td> Work Environment</td><td> Offices in general</td></tr>
</table><p><i>Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics</i>
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<h3 id="section---SalaryByIndustry">Salary by Industry</h3>
<p>The BLS reported in May 2021 that the majority of sociologists were employed in scientific research and development services. This industry employed nearly 1,220 workers and paid the second-highest mean wage of $102,440. State government agencies came in second, employing 470 individuals with a mean wage of $97,540.
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<h3 id="section---SalaryByLocation">Salary by Location</h3>
<p>In May 2021, sociologists in Illinois earned a yearly average of $117,710, which well exceeded the average of the next closest state - North Carolina - at $110,000. Rounding out the top paying states for this occupation were California, Massachusetts and New York, which all had annual averages of more than $97,000. The lowest paying states included Minnesota, Michigan, and Indiana.
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<h3 id="section---TeachingSalaries">Teaching Salaries</h3>
<p>If you hold a doctoral degree in sociology, you could find work as a post-secondary instructor. The American Sociological Association (ASA) reported that sociologists in professor positions made an average annual salary of $104,315 in 2018-2019 (<i>www.asanet.org</i>). Sociology associate professors made $77,773 during the same time, while new assistant professors made $66,302 on average.</p>