Political Scientist salary in Texas
Political Scientists in Texas earn a median of $114,050 a year ($54.83 an hour), based on BLS data for 160 workers.
Pay ranges from $87,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,010 for the top 10%. That is 20% lower than the national median of $142,080. Texas ranks 9th of 13 states for political scientists pay. There are 0.01 political scientists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is less common than nationally (location quotient 0.32). The average (mean) salary is $114,140, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for political scientists in Texas
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $87,530 | $42.08 |
| 25th percentile | $101,900 | $48.99 |
| Median | $114,050 | $54.83 |
| 75th percentile | $128,320 | $61.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $139,010 | $66.83 |
| Average (mean) | $114,140 | $54.88 |
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 | $9,504.17 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,752.08 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,386.54 |
| Weekly | $2,193.27 |
| Hourly | $54.83 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Highest-paying states for political scientists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Maryland | $153,380 |
| District of Columbia | $152,530 |
| Washington | $147,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $140,020 |
| Massachusetts | $133,930 |
| Colorado | $127,260 |
| Oregon | $119,460 |
| Ohio | $119,370 |
| Texas | $114,050 |
| Arizona | $108,770 |
Related jobs in Texas
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologist | $83,690 | $40.24 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $83,660 | $40.22 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,800 | $48.94 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $82,830 | $39.82 |
| Survey Researcher | $47,330 | $22.76 |
| Economist | $121,420 | $58.38 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $67,700 | $32.55 |
| Geographer | $79,170 | $38.06 |
| Historian | $78,240 | $37.62 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $139,520 | $67.08 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $79,660 | $38.30 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $80,470 | $38.69 |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other | $48,960 | $23.54 |
| Chemical Technician | $62,580 | $30.09 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Texas
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 Texas?
The median salary for political scientists in Texas is $114,050 a year, or $54.83 an hour. Pay ranges from $87,530 for the lowest-paid 10% to $139,010 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid political scientists make in Texas?
The top 10% of political scientists in Texas earn at least $139,010 a year. The top 25% earn $128,320 or more.
What is the starting pay for political scientists in Texas?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $87,530 a year, and a quarter of political scientists earn $101,900 or less.
How many political scientists work in Texas?
About 160 political scientists are employed in Texas, not counting the self-employed.