Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, aged to 2026 using compounded market movement. State selections show BLS state-level figures where published. Actual pay varies with experience, industry, and organization size.
Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
Teach sociology.
Top skills:SpeakingActive ListeningWritingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive Learning
Includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (CC BY 4.0).
Sociologist pay by experience level
Entry level$67,500
Typical starting pay (about the 10th percentile)
Early career$85,000
A few years in (about the 25th percentile)
Experienced$109,500
Mid-career median pay
Senior$142,000
Seasoned professionals (about the 75th percentile)
Top earners$178,500
Highest earners (about the 90th percentile)
Experience tiers are derived from the BLS wage percentile distribution for this occupation, aged to 2026. Actual pay varies by employer, location, and specialization.
Job outlook
+3.6%
projected change in jobs, 2024–2034
300
projected openings per year
Growing about as fast as average
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (2024–2034). Openings include growth and replacement needs.
Sociologist salary by industry
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
840 workers
$137,000
Scientific Research and Development Services
800 workers
$138,000
Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS
670 workers
$107,500
Educational Services
640 workers
$103,500
State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation)
620 workers
$107,000
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
610 workers
$103,500
Educational Services, State Government Owned
410 workers
$99,500
Educational Services, Privately Owned
220 workers
$110,500
Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations
50 workers
$140,000
Social Advocacy Organizations
50 workers
$147,500
National sector-level figures, BLS OEWS May 2025, aged to 2026.
Related occupations from O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Sociologist make?
The average base salary for a Sociologist in the United States is $119,000 per year, or about $57.21 per hour.
What is the typical salary range?
Pay typically falls between $85,000 and $142,000 per year (25th to 75th percentile) depending on experience, location, industry, and organization size.
How does this compare with other Life, Physical, and Social Science roles?
The Life, Physical, and Social Science job family averages $100,500 across 66 roles tracked by WePayFairly.
Need a defensible market price for this role? WePayFairly data is compiled from published survey sources and maintained by compensation professionals.
Need Sociologist pay benchmarked for your organization, or defensible compensation analysis for a dispute or valuation? Grahall builds it from primary sources, backed by an expert who testifies.
