Average Salary for Sociologists
SOC 19-3041 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Sociologists in the United States is $101,690 ($48.89/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $60,710 at the 10th percentile to $168,590 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 2,950 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 39.7% since 2014.
Median Annual
$101,690
Mean Annual
$111,670
10th Pct
$60,710
75th Pct
$134,780
Employment
2,950
Salary Distribution
$61k
10th
$78k
25th
$102k
Median
$135k
75th
$169k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $134,730 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $132,200 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $130,180 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $128,600 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $128,600 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $114,230 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $111,750 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $108,990 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $108,050 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $103,510 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $95,310 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $87,630 |
| Columbus, OH | $79,300 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $60,710 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Oregon | $211,560 |
| Illinois | $134,730 |
| New York | $130,180 |
| California | $120,610 |
| North Carolina | $108,060 |
| Massachusetts | $103,510 |
| Maryland | $95,300 |
| Washington | $88,330 |
| Michigan | $82,910 |
| Wisconsin | $82,570 |
| Minnesota | $79,370 |
| Ohio | $77,560 |
| Florida | $40,000 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Sociologists broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $144,760 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $135,230 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $135,110 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $135,110 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $130,180 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $130,180 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $130,180 |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $128,360 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $113,520 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $113,520 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $107,560 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $103,910 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $103,510 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $103,400 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $103,400 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $102,760 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $99,940 |
| Educational Services | $99,560 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $99,110 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $95,670 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $95,510 |
| Educational Services | $87,630 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $84,860 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $101,690 |
| 2023 | $101,770 |
| 2022 | $98,590 |
| 2021 | $92,910 |
| 2020 | $86,110 |
| 2019 | $83,420 |
| 2018 | $82,050 |
| 2017 | $79,650 |
| 2016 | $79,750 |
| 2015 | $73,760 |
| 2014 | $72,810 |