SalariesWhat the occupation covers
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents. Excludes “Survey Researchers” (19-3022).
Official definition from the Standard Occupational Classification, code 19-3094.
The pay range
Pay differs a lot inside one occupation, with experience, employer and place. The table shows where the lines fall.
| Share of workers | A year | A month* | A week* | An hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest 10% earn less than | $83,350 | $6,946 | $1,603 | $40.07 |
| Lowest 25% earn less than | $114,030 | $9,502 | $2,193 | $54.82 |
| Median (half earn less, half more) | $142,080 | $11,840 | $2,732 | $68.31 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $174,180 | $14,515 | $3,350 | $83.74 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $195,190 | $16,266 | $3,754 | $93.84 |
* Month and week are the yearly figure divided by 12 and by 52, worked out here for convenience. BLS publishes the yearly and hourly figures.
How it compares
The median for all occupations in the United States was $50,980 a year. The median for Political Scientists is $142,080, which is 179% higher. Among the 48 occupations of the field Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks number 3 by median pay. With 5,540 jobs, it makes up about 0.4 of every 10,000 jobs in the country.
Political Scientists pay by state
The highest median pay was in Maryland ($153,380), District of Columbia ($152,530) and Washington ($147,060). The lowest was in New Hampshire ($74,560), Michigan ($86,290) and Illinois ($103,780). The most jobs were in District of Columbia (3,070), Michigan (180) and Massachusetts (170). The occupation is most concentrated in District of Columbia, where its share of all jobs is 122.8 times the national share.
No state matches.
| State | Jobs | Median a year | Average a year | Median an hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | 100 | $153,380 | $148,440 | $73.74 |
| District of Columbia | 3,070 | $152,530 | $154,300 | $73.33 |
| Washington | 110 | $147,060 | $143,510 | $70.70 |
| Pennsylvania | 70 | $140,020 | $136,350 | $67.32 |
| Massachusetts | 170 | $133,930 | $139,440 | $64.39 |
| Colorado | 30 | $127,260 | $128,590 | $61.18 |
| Oregon | not published | $119,460 | $117,330 | $57.43 |
| Ohio | 40 | $119,370 | $110,980 | $57.39 |
| Texas | 160 | $114,050 | $114,140 | $54.83 |
| Arizona | 50 | $108,770 | $117,910 | $52.29 |
| Illinois | 110 | $103,780 | $104,460 | $49.89 |
| Michigan | 180 | $86,290 | $102,060 | $41.49 |
| New Hampshire | not published | $74,560 | $99,590 | $35.84 |
| Florida | 90 | not published | not published | not published |
| New York | 130 | not published | not published | not published |
Sorted by median pay, highest first. "Not published" means BLS did not release that figure for the state, usually because too few employers were surveyed. "$239,200 or more" is the highest value BLS reports in the state tables.
Similar occupations by pay
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Common questions
How much do Political Scientists earn in the United States?
The median pay was $142,080 a year in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $83,350 and the highest-paid 10% more than $195,190.
How many people work as Political Scientists?
About 5,540 jobs in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Checked in November 2026. Figures are for employees, before tax, and leave out overtime pay and benefits. They are official statistics, not advice or a pay offer; see bls.gov/oes for the original tables.