Political Scientist salary in the U.S.
Political Scientists in the U.S. earn a median of $142,080 a year ($68.31 an hour), based on BLS data for 5,540 workers.
Pay ranges from $83,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $142,510, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for political scientists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $83,350 | $40.07 |
| 25th percentile | $114,030 | $54.82 |
| Median | $142,080 | $68.31 |
| 75th percentile | $174,180 | $83.74 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $195,190 | $93.84 |
| Average (mean) | $142,510 | $68.51 |
Half of political scientists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $11,840 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,920 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,464.62 |
| Weekly | $2,732.31 |
| Hourly | $68.31 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Political Scientist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $153,380 | 100 |
| District of Columbia | $152,530 | 3,070 |
| Washington | $147,060 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $140,020 | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $133,930 | 170 |
| Colorado | $127,260 | 30 |
| Oregon | $119,460 | n/a |
| Ohio | $119,370 | 40 |
| Texas | $114,050 | 160 |
| Arizona | $108,770 | 50 |
| Illinois | $103,780 | 110 |
| Michigan | $86,290 | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $74,560 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for political scientists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,730 | 3,700 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $153,960 | 80 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $133,930 | 190 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $114,320 | 30 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,780 | 90 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $86,290 | 60 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $79,990 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most political scientists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3,700 | $156,730 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 190 | $133,930 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 90 | $103,780 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 80 | $153,960 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 60 | $86,290 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 30 | $114,320 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $100,580 | $48.36 |
| School Psychologist | $95,990 | $46.15 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $89,320 | $42.94 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,110 | $48.61 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $110,840 | $53.29 |
| Economist | $124,720 | $59.96 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $70,770 | $34.02 |
| Survey Researcher | $69,460 | $33.40 |
| Historian | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| Sociologist | $106,030 | $50.98 |
| Geographer | $102,040 | $49.06 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 | $93.24 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3094. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a political scientist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for political scientists in the U.S. is $142,080 a year, or $68.31 an hour. Pay ranges from $83,350 for the lowest-paid 10% to $195,190 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid political scientists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of political scientists in the U.S. earn at least $195,190 a year. The top 25% earn $174,180 or more.
What is the starting pay for political scientists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $83,350 a year, and a quarter of political scientists earn $114,030 or less.
How many political scientists work in the U.S.?
About 5,540 political scientists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.