Sociologists Salary
Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2.3K employed in the U.S.
Median annual
$106,030
Median hourly
$51
Average annual
$114,920
Typical range
$65,160–$172,550
Pay distribution
10th to 90th percentile, with the median marked.
What this role pays
The median annual salary for Sociologists is $106,030 as of May 2025, based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey. That works out to about $51 an hour at a full-time schedule.
Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members..
Most earn between $65,160 and $172,550 a year. There are roughly 2.3K people employed as sociologists in the United States. Use the state and metro pages below to see how pay changes by location, and the calculator to convert any hourly or annual figure.
Salary calculator
Convert your pay and see where it lands for Sociologists.
- Hourly
- $50.98
- Daily
- $408
- Weekly
- $2,039
- Bi-weekly
- $4,078
- Monthly
- $8,836
- Annual
- $106,030
$106,030 a year is around the 50th percentile for Sociologistss. The median is $106,030.
Highest-paying states
Median annual wage by state.
- 1Illinois$140,770
- 2Kentucky$136,870
- 3North Carolina$126,760
- 4California$125,770
- 5Alaska$108,170
- 6Massachusetts$106,530
- 7Maryland$100,660
- 8Washington$97,170
- 9Michigan$88,040
- 10Ohio$78,850
- 11Florida$46,950
Top-paying metro areas
Median annual wage by metro area.
- 1San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA$134,770
- 2Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA$131,170
- 3Stockton-Lodi, CA$131,170
- 4Durham-Chapel Hill, NC$126,760
- 5Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$124,540
- 6Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH$106,530
- 7Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$103,840
- 8Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$97,170
- 9Columbus, OH$82,820
- 10Lansing-East Lansing, MI$64,180
Related job titles
Employers advertise Sociologists roles under these titles.
Related occupations
What a Sociologists does
- 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.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
- Present research findings at professional meetings.
- Explain sociological research to the general public.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Sociologists make?
- The median annual wage for Sociologists is $106,030 ($51 per hour). Pay ranges from about $65,160 at the 10th percentile to $172,550 at the 90th percentile.
- What is the average salary for a Sociologists?
- The average (mean) annual salary is $114,920, which is higher than the median because a small number of high earners pull the average up.
- Which state pays Sociologistss the most?
- Illinois has the highest median annual wage for this occupation at $140,770.
- Is Sociologists a growing occupation?
- BLS employment data for May 2025 counts about 2.3K people in this occupation. Projected growth is published separately in the BLS Employment Projections program.
- What does a Sociologists do?
- 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..