Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other (SOC 19-3099) earn a median $101,110 a year ($48.61 an hour) in the United States, with 37,100 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Virginia.
What social scientists and related workers, all other do
Social scientists and related workers, all other, is the residual category for researchers who study human society and behavior but are not classified as economists, survey researchers, psychologists, sociologists, urban and regional planners, anthropologists and archeologists, geographers, historians, or political scientists. Examples among the titles reported to O*NET include demographers, who study population size and change, computational linguists, who apply computing methods to language, and behavioral scientists. Work in this group may involve designing studies, gathering and analyzing data, and presenting findings in reports and publications. Because the category is a catch-all, the tasks, the education involved, and the pay depend on the specialty and employer, and the data used for this page do not give a single set of tasks or a single education level for the group. Readers interested in a particular discipline should look to the narrower occupations in the same SOC group, which are listed separately. Further titles on the list include ethnologist, director of research, and developmental psychologist.
Also called: Behavioral Scientist, Computational Linguist, Demographer, Developmental Psychologist, Director of Research.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $31.79 | $38.87 | $48.61 | $62.48 | $77.07 | $51.78 | 37,100 |
| Annual | $66,120 | $80,860 | $101,110 | $129,960 | $160,300 | $107,690 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where social scientists and related workers, all other earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $39.74 | $53.13 | $67.63 | $86.41 | $104.83 | $69.14 | 3,380 | 0.82 | 3.45 |
| Annual | $82,660 | $110,510 | $140,670 | $179,730 | $218,040 | $143,800 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $33.86 | $47.28 | $63.37 | $73.43 | $84.48 | $60.87 | 2,600 | 0.94 | 3.95 |
| Annual | $70,430 | $98,350 | $131,810 | $152,730 | $175,720 | $126,600 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $40.33 | $50.37 | $61.75 | $73.43 | $82.20 | $61.46 | 2,480 | 3.53 | 14.81 |
| Annual | $83,890 | $104,770 | $128,440 | $152,730 | $170,980 | $127,830 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $37.75 | $44.11 | $50.79 | $69.39 | $81.50 | $57.14 | 820 | 0.23 | 0.95 |
| Annual | $78,530 | $91,750 | $105,640 | $144,340 | $169,520 | $118,840 | ||||
| Colorado | Hourly | $31.74 | $40.67 | $50.67 | $61.75 | $73.43 | $52.01 | 790 | 0.27 | 1.15 |
| Annual | $66,010 | $84,590 | $105,390 | $128,440 | $152,730 | $108,180 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| New York | Hourly | $32.31 | $39.49 | $50.37 | $55.23 | $66.63 | $50.58 | 3,410 | 0.35 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $67,210 | $82,140 | $104,770 | $114,880 | $138,590 | $105,210 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $39.74 | $53.13 | $67.63 | $86.41 | $104.83 | $69.14 | 3,380 | 0.82 | 3.45 |
| Annual | $82,660 | $110,510 | $140,670 | $179,730 | $218,040 | $143,800 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $31.91 | $38.18 | $47.07 | $58.10 | $70.87 | $49.92 | 2,970 | 0.16 | 0.68 |
| Annual | $66,370 | $79,410 | $97,900 | $120,840 | $147,410 | $103,820 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $33.86 | $47.28 | $63.37 | $73.43 | $84.48 | $60.87 | 2,600 | 0.94 | 3.95 |
| Annual | $70,430 | $98,350 | $131,810 | $152,730 | $175,720 | $126,600 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $40.33 | $50.37 | $61.75 | $73.43 | $82.20 | $61.46 | 2,480 | 3.53 | 14.81 |
| Annual | $83,890 | $104,770 | $128,440 | $152,730 | $170,980 | $127,830 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $40.67 | $55.25 | $66.47 | $79.92 | $93.84 | $68.00 | 6,220 | 1.98 | 8.31 |
| Annual | $84,590 | $114,920 | $138,250 | $166,230 | $195,190 | $141,440 | ||||
| Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | Hourly | $39.89 | $52.16 | $65.09 | $74.50 | $83.92 | $62.94 | 100 | 0.30 | 1.27 |
| Annual | $82,970 | $108,490 | $135,390 | $154,960 | $174,550 | $130,910 | ||||
| New Haven, CT | Hourly | $38.59 | $44.02 | $60.87 | $64.18 | $80.58 | $56.96 | 70 | 0.25 | 1.03 |
| Annual | $80,260 | $91,560 | $126,610 | $133,490 | $167,600 | $118,480 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $28.69 | $42.82 | $59.90 | $71.49 | $82.20 | $57.82 | 1,070 | 0.79 | 3.31 |
| Annual | $59,660 | $89,070 | $124,590 | $148,700 | $170,980 | $120,260 | ||||
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH | Hourly | $32.50 | $47.14 | $57.80 | $68.31 | $77.63 | $56.83 | 680 | 1.84 | 7.70 |
| Annual | $67,600 | $98,050 | $120,220 | $142,080 | $161,470 | $118,200 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $40.67 | $55.25 | $66.47 | $79.92 | $93.84 | $68.00 | 6,220 | 1.98 | 8.31 |
| Annual | $84,590 | $114,920 | $138,250 | $166,230 | $195,190 | $141,440 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $35.83 | $40.48 | $51.52 | $60.25 | $65.33 | $51.39 | 2,700 | 0.29 | 1.19 |
| Annual | $74,520 | $84,200 | $107,170 | $125,320 | $135,880 | $106,880 | ||||
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Hourly | $28.69 | $42.82 | $59.90 | $71.49 | $82.20 | $57.82 | 1,070 | 0.79 | 3.31 |
| Annual | $59,660 | $89,070 | $124,590 | $148,700 | $170,980 | $120,260 | ||||
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | Hourly | $37.59 | $38.84 | $42.60 | $48.06 | $60.72 | $44.79 | 890 | 0.31 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $78,180 | $80,790 | $88,610 | $99,960 | $126,300 | $93,170 | ||||
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | Hourly | $31.31 | $40.87 | $49.68 | $49.69 | $62.66 | $46.55 | 860 | 0.44 | 1.85 |
| Annual | $65,120 | $85,000 | $103,330 | $103,360 | $130,330 | $96,830 | ||||
Top industries employing social scientists and related workers, all other
Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) employ 53.3% of social scientists and related workers, all other nationally (19,770 jobs) at a median $104,420 a year ($50.20 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (11.6%) and Scientific Research and Development Services (9.6%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999100 | 19,770 | 53.3% | $104,420 | $50.20 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 4,320 | 11.6% | $85,000 | $40.87 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 3,550 | 9.6% | $109,290 | $52.54 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 2,040 | 5.5% | $107,170 | $51.52 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 1,940 | 5.2% | $82,380 | $39.60 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (37,100). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $84,430 for social scientists and related workers, all other in May 2021 and $101,110 in May 2025, with employment of 34,330 and 37,100.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $84,430 | $40.59 | 34,330 |
| May 2022 | $88,900 | $42.74 | 33,210 |
| May 2023 | $95,890 | $46.10 | 35,210 |
| May 2024 | $100,340 | $48.24 | 36,970 |
| May 2025 | $101,110 | $48.61 | 37,100 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
50 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Virginia profile | $67.63 | $140,670 | $82,660 | $218,040 | 3,380 | 0.82 | 3.45 |
| 2 | Maryland profile | $63.37 | $131,810 | $70,430 | $175,720 | 2,600 | 0.94 | 3.95 |
| 3 | District of Columbia profile | $61.75 | $128,440 | $83,890 | $170,980 | 2,480 | 3.53 | 14.81 |
| 4 | Massachusetts profile | $50.79 | $105,640 | $78,530 | $169,520 | 820 | 0.23 | 0.95 |
| 5 | Colorado profile | $50.67 | $105,390 | $66,010 | $152,730 | 790 | 0.27 | 1.15 |
| 6 | New York profile | $50.37 | $104,770 | $67,210 | $138,590 | 3,410 | 0.35 | 1.47 |
| 7 | Nebraska profile | $50.20 | $104,420 | $65,830 | $131,270 | 120 | 0.12 | 0.48 |
| 8 | Minnesota profile | $49.68 | $103,330 | $65,330 | $130,330 | 1,000 | 0.34 | 1.41 |
| 9 | Washington profile | $49.48 | $102,920 | $71,060 | $163,230 | 1,160 | 0.33 | 1.37 |
| 10 | Texas profile | $48.94 | $101,800 | $74,820 | $156,560 | 2,260 | 0.16 | 0.67 |
| 11 | New Jersey profile | $48.68 | $101,260 | $74,400 | $138,330 | 350 | 0.08 | 0.34 |
| 12 | Arizona profile | $47.75 | $99,320 | $69,240 | $132,430 | 600 | 0.19 | 0.77 |
| 13 | Illinois profile | $47.62 | $99,050 | $68,310 | $130,900 | 730 | 0.12 | 0.50 |
| 14 | Ohio profile | $47.42 | $98,630 | $60,800 | $146,760 | 1,520 | 0.27 | 1.15 |
| 15 | California profile | $47.07 | $97,900 | $66,370 | $147,410 | 2,970 | 0.16 | 0.68 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania profile | $46.94 | $97,640 | $68,430 | $154,960 | 620 | 0.10 | 0.43 |
| 17 | Oregon profile | $46.11 | $95,900 | $73,920 | $129,060 | 350 | 0.18 | 0.75 |
| 18 | Nevada profile | $45.97 | $95,620 | $66,850 | $134,580 | 180 | 0.12 | 0.49 |
| 19 | Alabama profile | $45.85 | $95,370 | $74,170 | $142,670 | 320 | 0.15 | 0.64 |
| 20 | West Virginia profile | $45.44 | $94,520 | $73,140 | $115,210 | 190 | 0.27 | 1.15 |
| 21 | Hawaii profile | $44.48 | $92,520 | $61,970 | $143,020 | 430 | 0.68 | 2.85 |
| 22 | Delaware profile | $44.39 | $92,330 | $67,540 | $225,300 | 100 | 0.20 | 0.84 |
| 23 | Iowa profile | $44.02 | $91,560 | $60,000 | $145,540 | 150 | 0.10 | 0.42 |
| 24 | Utah profile | $44.02 | $91,560 | $71,220 | $128,670 | 180 | 0.10 | 0.42 |
| 25 | Georgia profile | $43.85 | $91,210 | $73,920 | $130,270 | 1,510 | 0.31 | 1.30 |
| 26 | Louisiana profile | $43.83 | $91,170 | $64,190 | $133,770 | 560 | 0.29 | 1.20 |
| 27 | New Mexico profile | $43.83 | $91,170 | $73,920 | $146,580 | 170 | 0.19 | 0.80 |
| 28 | Rhode Island profile | $43.25 | $89,960 | $41,200 | $161,460 | 110 | 0.21 | 0.88 |
| 29 | Indiana profile | $43.00 | $89,440 | $63,130 | $123,710 | ** | ** | ** |
| 30 | Wisconsin profile | $42.71 | $88,830 | $65,170 | $115,210 | 260 | 0.09 | 0.37 |
| 31 | Idaho profile | $42.60 | $88,610 | $62,000 | $112,260 | 70 | 0.08 | 0.35 |
| 32 | Oklahoma profile | $42.60 | $88,610 | $73,920 | $108,890 | 220 | 0.13 | 0.53 |
| 33 | Wyoming profile | $42.60 | $88,610 | $75,570 | $115,210 | 40 | 0.15 | 0.63 |
| 34 | New Hampshire profile | $41.60 | $86,530 | $65,900 | $158,750 | 130 | 0.19 | 0.80 |
| 35 | South Dakota profile | $41.47 | $86,260 | $63,130 | $100,420 | 70 | 0.16 | 0.65 |
| 36 | Mississippi profile | $41.13 | $85,550 | $73,920 | $111,650 | 170 | 0.15 | 0.62 |
| 37 | Kansas profile | $40.94 | $85,160 | $66,250 | $132,080 | 310 | 0.21 | 0.89 |
| 38 | Michigan profile | $40.51 | $84,260 | $61,210 | $131,800 | 660 | 0.15 | 0.63 |
| 39 | South Carolina profile | $40.28 | $83,780 | $63,130 | $115,210 | 300 | 0.13 | 0.54 |
| 40 | Florida profile | $40.13 | $83,460 | $44,990 | $127,190 | 1,740 | 0.18 | 0.73 |
| 41 | Montana profile | $39.60 | $82,380 | $63,420 | $115,920 | 170 | 0.33 | 1.40 |
| 42 | North Carolina profile | $39.15 | $81,420 | $65,140 | $124,840 | 1,770 | 0.36 | 1.50 |
| 43 | Tennessee profile | $38.87 | $80,860 | $53,530 | $129,960 | 320 | 0.10 | 0.41 |
| 44 | Missouri profile | $38.87 | $80,850 | $53,850 | $112,070 | 330 | 0.11 | 0.47 |
| 45 | Vermont profile | $38.20 | $79,450 | $55,700 | $120,430 | 110 | 0.35 | 1.47 |
| 46 | Kentucky profile | $37.91 | $78,850 | $56,590 | $106,330 | 350 | 0.17 | 0.73 |
| 47 | Arkansas profile | $36.73 | $76,400 | $46,350 | $100,920 | 250 | 0.19 | 0.79 |
| 48 | North Dakota profile | $36.73 | $76,400 | $42,630 | $103,380 | 120 | 0.29 | 1.20 |
| 49 | Maine profile | $35.54 | $73,920 | $46,470 | $108,850 | 40 | 0.06 | 0.27 |
| – | Connecticut profile | * | * | * | * | 300 | 0.18 | 0.75 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-3090), with their national median annual wage.
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-3099 Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-3099, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-3099.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.