Sociologist salary in the U.S.
Sociologists in the U.S. earn a median of $106,030 a year ($50.98 an hour), based on BLS data for 2,260 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,550 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $114,920, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sociologists in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,160 | $31.33 |
| 25th percentile | $82,300 | $39.57 |
| Median | $106,030 | $50.98 |
| 75th percentile | $137,420 | $66.07 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,550 | $82.96 |
| Average (mean) | $114,920 | $55.25 |
Half of sociologists 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 | $8,835.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,417.92 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,078.08 |
| Weekly | $2,039.04 |
| Hourly | $50.98 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sociologist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $140,770 | n/a |
| Kentucky | $136,870 | 30 |
| North Carolina | $126,760 | 170 |
| California | $125,770 | 590 |
| Alaska | $108,170 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $106,530 | 250 |
| Maryland | $100,660 | 50 |
| Washington | $97,170 | 130 |
| Michigan | $88,040 | 90 |
| Ohio | $78,850 | 130 |
| Florida | $46,950 | 160 |
Best-paying metro areas for sociologists
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,770 | 110 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $131,170 | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $131,170 | 30 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $126,760 | n/a |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,540 | 70 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $106,530 | 240 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $103,840 | 60 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $97,170 | 90 |
| Columbus, OH | $82,820 | 100 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $64,180 | 60 |
Metro areas with the most sociologists
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 240 | $106,530 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 110 | $134,770 |
| Columbus, OH | 100 | $82,820 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 90 | $97,170 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 70 | $124,540 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 60 | $64,180 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 60 | $103,840 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 40 | $131,170 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | 30 | $131,170 |
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 |
| Political Scientist | $142,080 | $68.31 |
| Historian | $76,750 | $36.90 |
| 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 19-3041. 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 sociologist make in the U.S.?
The median salary for sociologists in the U.S. is $106,030 a year, or $50.98 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,160 for the lowest-paid 10% to $172,550 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sociologists make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of sociologists in the U.S. earn at least $172,550 a year. The top 25% earn $137,420 or more.
What is the starting pay for sociologists in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,160 a year, and a quarter of sociologists earn $82,300 or less.
How many sociologists work in the U.S.?
About 2,260 sociologists are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.