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Sociologist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$106,030median pay per year, or $50.98 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $65,160lowest 10% earn less
  2. $82,30025th percentile
  3. $106,030median
  4. $137,42075th percentile
  5. $172,550top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[5]

Sociologists earned a median of $106,030 a year in May 2025[1]. Jobs are projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, a little above the 3.5% rate for all occupations[2][3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+3.8%[2]
Openings per year
200[6]
Typical entry education
Master's degree[7]

How much do sociologists make?

The median pay for sociologists was $106,030 a year, or $50.98 an hour, in May 2025[1]. That is about twice the median for all occupations, which was $50,980[5]. The average was higher, at $114,920 a year or $55.25 an hour[8].

Pay varies a lot within the job. BLS publishes percentile wages as boundaries, not as a starting salary[9]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $65,160 a year, and the lowest-paid 25% earned less than $82,300[4]. The highest-paid 25% earned more than $137,420, and the top 10% earned more than $172,550[4]. In hourly terms, the 10th percentile was $31.33 and the 90th was $82.96[10].

Measure Annual wage Source
10th percentile[4] $65,160
Median[1] $106,030
90th percentile[4] $172,550

These figures cover wage and salary workers. They leave out the self-employed, bonuses that are not part of regular production pay, and the cost of benefits to employers[11].

Pay by state and city

Illinois had the highest median wage among the 11 states with published data, at $140,770[12]. Kentucky was next at $136,870, then North Carolina at $126,760 and California at $125,770[12]. Florida was the lowest of the 11, at $46,950[12]. Some of these states have very few jobs. Kentucky had 30 and Alaska had 40[12].

California had the most sociologist jobs, 590, followed by Massachusetts with 250[13]. In metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont area had the highest median, $134,770, followed by Boston-Cambridge-Newton at $106,530[14]. Boston had the most jobs of any metro area, 240[15].

Show median pay in 11 states
StateMedian per yearJobs
Illinois[12]$140,770n/a
Kentucky$136,87030
North Carolina$126,760170
California$125,770590
Alaska$108,17040
Massachusetts$106,530250
Maryland$100,66050
Washington$97,170130
Michigan$88,04090
Ohio$78,850130
Florida$46,950160

How to become a sociologist

BLS lists a master's degree as the usual education needed to enter this job. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[7].

In an O*NET survey of 20 workers, 50% said a doctoral degree was required, 30% said a master's degree, 10% said a bachelor's degree and 10% said post-doctoral training[18]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture only.

BLS also names useful qualities: adaptability, analytical skills, communication skills, critical thinking, interpersonal skills and problem solving[19][20][21][22][23][24].

What sociologists do

Sociologists study society and social behavior by looking at the groups and institutions people form[25]. O*NET lists these tasks, with the most important first[26]:

Where they work

Sociologists typically work in an office. They may go elsewhere to do interviews or observations, or to present results[27]. Full-time schedules are the norm[28]. Educational services employers, including state, local and private ones, accounted for 31% of sociologist jobs in 2025[29]. About 6.2% of sociologists were self-employed that year[30].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment of sociologists to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 2,700 to 2,800 jobs, a gain of about 100[2]. All occupations together are projected to grow 3.5%[3]. These projection counts include self-employed workers[2]. The OEWS count of about 2,260 jobs covers wage and salary workers only[31].

BLS expects about 200 openings a year on average[6]. Openings include jobs created when people retire or switch occupations, not only new jobs[6]. Each year, an estimated 1.7% of sociologists leave the labor force and 4.9% move to a different occupation[32].

Is it a good fit?

The facts describe a small field with strong pay compared with all occupations[1][5]. Entry typically takes a master's degree, and some employers prefer a Ph.D.[17]. With only about 200 openings a year, the number of positions is limited[6]. Growth is slightly above the all-occupations rate[2][3]. Pay also differs widely by state, so local figures matter[12].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[33].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a sociologist make an hour?
The median was $50.98 an hour and the average was $55.25 in May 2025[1][8].
What degree do you need to be a sociologist?
BLS lists a master's degree as the typical entry education[7]. Some employers prefer a Ph.D.[17].
Are sociologists in demand?
Employment is projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[2][3]. About 200 openings a year are expected[6].
What is the highest paying state for sociologists?
Illinois had the highest median annual wage at $140,770, among 11 states with published data[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Sociologists in the US was $106,030 per year and $50.98 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Sociologists is projected to grow 3.8% from 2025 to 2035, from about 2,700 to 2,800 jobs (a change of +100). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  3. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Sociologists: 10th percentile $65,160, 25th percentile $82,300, 75th percentile $137,420, 90th percentile $172,550. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 200 openings for Sociologists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Sociologists: education needed for entry: Master's degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Sociologists was $114,920 per year and $55.25 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Sociologists: 10th percentile $31.33, 25th percentile $39.57, 75th percentile $66.07, 90th percentile $82.96. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Sociologists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Sociologists jobs: California 590; Massachusetts 250; North Carolina 170; Florida 160; Ohio 130. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Sociologists (areas with at least 100 jobs): San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $134,770; Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH $106,530; Columbus, OH $82,820. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Sociologists jobs: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 240 (median $106,530); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 110 (median $134,770); Columbus, OH 100 (median $82,820); Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA 90 (median $97,170); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 70 (median $124,540); Lansing-East Lansing, MI 60 (median $64,180). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. O*NET 19-3041.00 survey of workers (20 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 50%, Master's Degree 30%, Bachelor's Degree 10%, Post-Doctoral Training 10% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  23. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. O*NET description of Sociologists. O*NET OnLine
  26. O*NET task list for Sociologists. O*NET OnLine
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of sociologists in 2025: Educational services; state, local, and private 31%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  30. BLS Employment Projections: 6.2% of Sociologists were self-employed in 2025. BLS Employment Projections
  31. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 2,260 people were employed as Sociologists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  32. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Sociologists: 1.7% of workers leave the labor force each year and 4.9% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  33. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.