Sociologist salary in California
Sociologists in California earn a median of $125,770 a year ($60.47 an hour), based on BLS data for 590 workers.
Pay ranges from $85,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,710 for the top 10%. That is 19% higher than the national median of $106,030. California ranks 4th of 11 states for sociologists pay, one of the best-paying states for this job. There are 0.03 sociologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.2× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $123,090, close to the median.
Pay range for sociologists in California
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $85,030 | $40.88 |
| 25th percentile | $98,770 | $47.49 |
| Median | $125,770 | $60.47 |
| 75th percentile | $138,710 | $66.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $161,710 | $77.74 |
| Average (mean) | $123,090 | $59.18 |
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 | $10,480.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,240.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,837.31 |
| Weekly | $2,418.65 |
| Hourly | $60.47 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sociologist salary in cities in California
| 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 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,540 | 70 |
Highest-paying states for sociologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $140,770 |
| Kentucky | $136,870 |
| North Carolina | $126,760 |
| California | $125,770 |
| Alaska | $108,170 |
| Massachusetts | $106,530 |
| Maryland | $100,660 |
| Washington | $97,170 |
| Michigan | $88,040 |
| Ohio | $78,850 |
Related jobs in California
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $116,000 | $55.77 |
| School Psychologist | $127,780 | $61.43 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $109,610 | $52.70 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $97,900 | $47.07 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $72,240 | $34.73 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $157,540 | $75.74 |
| Survey Researcher | $83,520 | $40.16 |
| Economist | $119,410 | $57.41 |
| Historian | $97,420 | $46.84 |
| Geographer | $114,460 | $55.03 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $136,990 | $65.86 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,840 | $49.44 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $106,510 | $51.21 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $113,530 | $54.58 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in California
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 California?
The median salary for sociologists in California is $125,770 a year, or $60.47 an hour. Pay ranges from $85,030 for the lowest-paid 10% to $161,710 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sociologists make in California?
The top 10% of sociologists in California earn at least $161,710 a year. The top 25% earn $138,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for sociologists in California?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $85,030 a year, and a quarter of sociologists earn $98,770 or less.
How many sociologists work in California?
About 590 sociologists are employed in California, not counting the self-employed.