How much does a sociologist make?
a year · about $51 an hour
A typical sociologist in the United States makes $106,030 a year, about $51 an hour, about 2.1× a typical US worker (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
What do they do?
A sociologist might write survey questions or interview people, then use a computer to sort and analyze their answers. Later, they turn the findings into a report or explain them to colleagues, officials, or the public.
Did you know? In the U.S., the BLS counted about 2,700 sociologist jobs in 2025, making it a small occupation.
Is that a lot?
Compared with jobs you knowIf 100 people had this job
Most earn between $65,160 and $172,550How do you become one?
In the U.S., earn a bachelor’s degree and usually continue to a master’s in sociology; research methods and statistics are useful subjects. Some employers prefer a Ph.D., especially for research or university work.
School needed: Graduate degree or long training
Good for people who like figuring things out and helping and teaching
Why does pay differ?
Pay in the U.S. can differ with experience, advanced education, specialized research skills, and responsibility. Employer type and location matter too; most sociologists work full time, and applied-sociology certification is optional, not a state license.
Where does it pay most?
Highest in Illinois ($140,770), lowest in Florida ($46,950).
See every state
Top 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
Jobs like this
Data table and sources
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $65,160 | $106,030 | $172,550 | about 2,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $140,770 | — |
| Kentucky | $136,870 | about 30 |
| North Carolina | $126,760 | about 170 |
| California | $125,770 | about 590 |
| Alaska | $108,170 | about 40 |
Official definition: 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.
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/sociologists.htm
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-3041.00
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.aacsnet.net/get-certified
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY