Sociologists
Sociologists (SOC 19-3041) earn a median $106,030 a year ($50.98 an hour) in the United States, with 2,260 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is Illinois.
What sociologists do
Sociologists study human society and social behavior, looking at the groups, institutions, and organizations people form, including social, religious, political, and business organizations. They investigate how these groups arise and grow and how they influence their members. Typical tasks include designing and carrying out methods of collecting data, such as questionnaires, interviews, and observation, collecting data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, analyzing and interpreting that data to deepen understanding of social behavior, and preparing publications and reports on the findings. Some specialize in areas such as criminology, demography, or evaluation research. The occupation differs from anthropologists, who study cultures and human origins, from economists, who study production and exchange, and from social workers, who provide services to individuals and families. They also report their research findings at professional conferences and teach sociology.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a doctoral degree.
Also called: Criminologist, Demographer, Clinical Sociologist, Evaluation Specialist, Clinical Evaluator.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $31.33 | $39.57 | $50.98 | $66.07 | $82.96 | $55.25 | 2,260 |
| Annual | $65,160 | $82,300 | $106,030 | $137,420 | $172,550 | $114,920 | ||
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 sociologists 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 | ||||||
| Illinois | Hourly | $36.69 | $50.28 | $67.68 | $83.81 | $110.33 | $69.20 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $76,320 | $104,580 | $140,770 | $174,320 | $229,480 | $143,940 | ||||
| Kentucky | Hourly | $49.30 | $50.42 | $65.80 | $67.69 | $78.05 | $58.60 | 30 | 0.02 | 1.16 |
| Annual | $102,540 | $104,870 | $136,870 | $140,790 | $162,350 | $121,880 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $33.64 | $39.57 | $60.94 | $81.70 | $102.05 | $62.37 | 170 | 0.04 | 2.43 |
| Annual | $69,980 | $82,300 | $126,760 | $169,940 | $212,260 | $129,740 | ||||
| California | Hourly | $40.88 | $47.49 | $60.47 | $66.69 | $77.74 | $59.18 | 590 | 0.03 | 2.24 |
| Annual | $85,030 | $98,770 | $125,770 | $138,710 | $161,710 | $123,090 | ||||
| Alaska | Hourly | $31.42 | $32.49 | $52.01 | $55.42 | $73.38 | $48.51 | 40 | 0.11 | 7.45 |
| Annual | $65,340 | $67,570 | $108,170 | $115,260 | $152,620 | $100,910 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $40.88 | $47.49 | $60.47 | $66.69 | $77.74 | $59.18 | 590 | 0.03 | 2.24 |
| Annual | $85,030 | $98,770 | $125,770 | $138,710 | $161,710 | $123,090 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $31.44 | $40.33 | $51.22 | $69.89 | $91.56 | $59.36 | 250 | 0.07 | 4.71 |
| Annual | $65,400 | $83,880 | $106,530 | $145,360 | $190,440 | $123,460 | ||||
| North Carolina | Hourly | $33.64 | $39.57 | $60.94 | $81.70 | $102.05 | $62.37 | 170 | 0.04 | 2.43 |
| Annual | $69,980 | $82,300 | $126,760 | $169,940 | $212,260 | $129,740 | ||||
| Florida | Hourly | $18.82 | $19.81 | $22.57 | $60.55 | $82.39 | $41.61 | 160 | 0.02 | 1.13 |
| Annual | $39,150 | $41,200 | $46,950 | $125,950 | $171,360 | $86,550 | ||||
| Ohio | Hourly | $32.71 | $34.46 | $37.91 | $45.97 | $50.27 | $40.59 | 130 | 0.02 | 1.59 |
| Annual | $68,040 | $71,680 | $78,850 | $95,620 | $104,560 | $84,440 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $42.61 | $55.19 | $64.80 | $66.69 | $79.72 | $63.21 | 110 | 0.05 | 3.29 |
| Annual | $88,630 | $114,790 | $134,770 | $138,710 | $165,830 | $131,480 | ||||
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | Hourly | $42.92 | $48.99 | $63.06 | $64.96 | $77.99 | $59.79 | 40 | 0.02 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $89,280 | $101,890 | $131,170 | $135,110 | $162,230 | $124,360 | ||||
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | Hourly | $33.94 | $49.06 | $63.06 | $66.06 | $74.90 | $58.15 | 30 | 0.12 | 8.28 |
| Annual | $70,580 | $102,040 | $131,170 | $137,400 | $155,800 | $120,950 | ||||
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | Hourly | $32.99 | $39.57 | $60.94 | $81.71 | $102.47 | $62.45 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $68,610 | $82,300 | $126,760 | $169,950 | $213,140 | $129,900 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $39.75 | $43.15 | $59.87 | $67.50 | $85.60 | $60.20 | 70 | 0.01 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $82,690 | $89,750 | $124,540 | $140,410 | $178,050 | $125,220 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $31.44 | $40.35 | $51.22 | $69.89 | $91.56 | $59.56 | 240 | 0.09 | 6.09 |
| Annual | $65,400 | $83,920 | $106,530 | $145,360 | $190,440 | $123,880 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $42.61 | $55.19 | $64.80 | $66.69 | $79.72 | $63.21 | 110 | 0.05 | 3.29 |
| Annual | $88,630 | $114,790 | $134,770 | $138,710 | $165,830 | $131,480 | ||||
| Columbus, OH | Hourly | $32.71 | $34.46 | $39.82 | $45.81 | $49.33 | $40.70 | 100 | 0.09 | 6.11 |
| Annual | $68,040 | $71,680 | $82,820 | $95,280 | $102,610 | $84,660 | ||||
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | Hourly | $38.77 | $46.72 | $46.72 | $50.21 | $66.35 | $49.03 | 90 | 0.04 | 2.95 |
| Annual | $80,640 | $97,170 | $97,170 | $104,440 | $138,000 | $101,990 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $39.75 | $43.15 | $59.87 | $67.50 | $85.60 | $60.20 | 70 | 0.01 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $82,690 | $89,750 | $124,540 | $140,410 | $178,050 | $125,220 | ||||
Top industries employing sociologists
Scientific Research and Development Services employ 35.4% of sociologists nationally (800 jobs) at a median $125,770 a year ($60.47 an hour), followed by State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (27.4%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (27.0%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 800 | 35.4% | $125,770 | $60.47 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 620 | 27.4% | $104,390 | $50.19 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 610 | 27.0% | $87,290 | $41.97 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations NAICS 813300 | 50 | 2.2% | $135,080 | $64.94 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999300 | 30 | 1.3% | $95,370 | $45.85 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (2,260). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $92,910 for sociologists in May 2021 and $106,030 in May 2025, with employment of 2,640 and 2,260.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $92,910 | $44.67 | 2,640 |
| May 2022 | $98,590 | $47.40 | 2,980 |
| May 2023 | $101,770 | $48.93 | 2,890 |
| May 2024 | $101,690 | $48.89 | 2,950 |
| May 2025 | $106,030 | $50.98 | 2,260 |
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
11 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 | Illinois profile | $67.68 | $140,770 | $76,320 | $229,480 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | Kentucky profile | $65.80 | $136,870 | $102,540 | $162,350 | 30 | 0.02 | 1.16 |
| 3 | North Carolina profile | $60.94 | $126,760 | $69,980 | $212,260 | 170 | 0.04 | 2.43 |
| 4 | California profile | $60.47 | $125,770 | $85,030 | $161,710 | 590 | 0.03 | 2.24 |
| 5 | Alaska profile | $52.01 | $108,170 | $65,340 | $152,620 | 40 | 0.11 | 7.45 |
| 6 | Massachusetts profile | $51.22 | $106,530 | $65,400 | $190,440 | 250 | 0.07 | 4.71 |
| 7 | Maryland profile | $48.39 | $100,660 | $67,770 | $162,680 | 50 | 0.02 | 1.34 |
| 8 | Washington profile | $46.72 | $97,170 | $80,640 | $138,000 | 130 | 0.04 | 2.57 |
| 9 | Michigan profile | $42.33 | $88,040 | $52,520 | $158,420 | 90 | 0.02 | 1.40 |
| 10 | Ohio profile | $37.91 | $78,850 | $68,040 | $104,560 | 130 | 0.02 | 1.59 |
| 11 | Florida profile | $22.57 | $46,950 | $39,150 | $171,360 | 160 | 0.02 | 1.13 |
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 19-3041 Sociologists.
**- 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 19-3041, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-3041.00, 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.