Sociologist salary in Washington
Sociologists in Washington earn a median of $97,170 a year ($46.72 an hour), based on BLS data for 130 workers.
Pay ranges from $80,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $138,000 for the top 10%. That is 8% lower than the national median of $106,030. Washington ranks 8th of 11 states for sociologists pay. There are 0.04 sociologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 2.6× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $103,430, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sociologists in Washington
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $80,640 | $38.77 |
| 25th percentile | $97,170 | $46.72 |
| Median | $97,170 | $46.72 |
| 75th percentile | $104,440 | $50.21 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $138,000 | $66.35 |
| Average (mean) | $103,430 | $49.73 |
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 | $8,097.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,048.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,737.31 |
| Weekly | $1,868.65 |
| Hourly | $46.72 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Sociologist salary in cities in Washington
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $97,170 | 90 |
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 Washington
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Urban and Regional Planners | $100,990 | $48.56 |
| School Psychologist | $108,780 | $52.30 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $115,240 | $55.40 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $102,920 | $49.48 |
| Economist | $109,300 | $52.55 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $128,230 | $61.65 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $74,790 | $35.96 |
| Survey Researcher | $69,590 | $33.46 |
| Political Scientist | $147,060 | $70.70 |
| Geographer | $112,260 | $53.97 |
| Historian | $99,720 | $47.94 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $105,680 | $50.81 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $98,300 | $47.26 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $102,920 | $49.48 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Washington
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 Washington?
The median salary for sociologists in Washington is $97,170 a year, or $46.72 an hour. Pay ranges from $80,640 for the lowest-paid 10% to $138,000 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sociologists make in Washington?
The top 10% of sociologists in Washington earn at least $138,000 a year. The top 25% earn $104,440 or more.
What is the starting pay for sociologists in Washington?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $80,640 a year, and a quarter of sociologists earn $97,170 or less.
How many sociologists work in Washington?
About 130 sociologists are employed in Washington, not counting the self-employed.