Political Scientists Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for political scientistss across the U.S. Source: BLS OEWS May 2025 (data.bls.gov OEWS tool /OESServices/combo/table, all-occupation crawl by area).
Job Outlook, 2024–2034
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.
Salary Map
Brighter tiles = higher average pay; dashed tiles have no data. Click a state for details.
💰 Top 5 Highest-Paying States
- District of Columbia$154,300
- Maryland$148,440
- Washington$143,510
- Massachusetts$139,440
- Pennsylvania$136,350
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- New Hampshire$99,590
- Michigan$102,060
- Illinois$104,460
- Ohio$110,980
- Texas$114,140
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $154,300 | $152,530 | $74 | +8.3% | 3,070 |
| 2 | Maryland | $148,440 | $153,380 | $71 | +4.2% | 100 |
| 3 | Washington | $143,510 | $147,060 | $69 | +0.7% | 110 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $139,440 | $133,930 | $67 | -2.2% | 170 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $136,350 | $140,020 | $66 | -4.3% | 70 |
| 6 | Colorado | $128,590 | $127,260 | $62 | -9.8% | 30 |
| 7 | Arizona | $117,910 | $108,770 | $57 | -17.3% | 50 |
| 8 | Oregon | $117,330 | $119,460 | $56 | -17.7% | — |
| 9 | Texas | $114,140 | $114,050 | $55 | -19.9% | 160 |
| 10 | Ohio | $110,980 | $119,370 | $53 | -22.1% | 40 |
| 11 | Illinois | $104,460 | $103,780 | $50 | -26.7% | 110 |
| 12 | Michigan | $102,060 | $86,290 | $49 | -28.4% | 180 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $99,590 | $74,560 | $48 | -30.1% | — |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 8 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $156,730 | $156,310 | 3,700 |
| 2 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $153,960 | $146,970 | 80 |
| 3 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $133,930 | $135,740 | 190 |
| 4 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $114,320 | $124,870 | 30 |
| 5 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $103,780 | $105,230 | 90 |
| 6 | Ann Arbor, MI | $86,290 | $110,690 | 60 |
| 7 | Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | $79,990 | $89,470 | — |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing political scientistss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $172,170 | $171,010 | 420 |
| 2 | Scientific Research and Development Services | $169,710 | $171,100 | 480 |
| 3 | Federal Executive Branch (OEWS Designation) | $151,990 | $150,540 | 3,860 |
| 4 | Federal Government, including the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $151,990 | $150,540 | 3,860 |
| 5 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $147,220 | $146,550 | 4,200 |
| 6 | Sector 99 - Federal, State, and Local Government, excl. State & Local Schools & Hospitals & USPS | $147,220 | $146,550 | 4,200 |
| 7 | Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $144,680 | $143,560 | 4,470 |
| 8 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $142,080 | $142,510 | 5,540 |
| 9 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $137,930 | $154,760 | 670 |
| 10 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $137,930 | $154,760 | 670 |
| 11 | Educational Services, Privately Owned | $133,930 | $137,510 | 130 |
| 12 | Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools, Privately Owned | $133,930 | $137,510 | 130 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do political scientists make in the U.S.?
The median political scientists salary in the United States is $142,080 per year (mean $142,510), and about 80% earn between $83,350 and $195,190.
How much do political scientists make per hour?
Roughly $69 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $142,510 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays political scientists the most?
District of Columbia has the highest average pay for political scientists at $154,300 per year (median $152,530).
What is the job outlook for political scientists?
Employment is projected to change -3.1% from 2024 to 2034 (Decline), with about 500 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.