Sociologists Salaries by State
Mean and median pay, wage percentiles, employment, and top-paying metro areas for sociologistss 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
- Illinois$143,940
- North Carolina$129,740
- Massachusetts$123,460
- California$123,090
- Kentucky$121,880
📉 5 Lowest-Paying States
- Ohio$84,440
- Florida$86,550
- Alaska$100,910
- Maryland$100,930
- Washington$103,430
State Rankings
| # | State | Mean | Median | Hourly | vs. U.S. | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $143,940 | $140,770 | $69 | +25.3% | — |
| 2 | North Carolina | $129,740 | $126,760 | $62 | +12.9% | 170 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $123,460 | $106,530 | $59 | +7.4% | 250 |
| 4 | California | $123,090 | $125,770 | $59 | +7.1% | 590 |
| 5 | Kentucky | $121,880 | $136,870 | $59 | +6.1% | 30 |
| 6 | Michigan | $105,120 | $88,040 | $51 | -8.5% | 90 |
| 7 | Washington | $103,430 | $97,170 | $50 | -10% | 130 |
| 8 | Maryland | $100,930 | $100,660 | $49 | -12.2% | 50 |
| 9 | Alaska | $100,910 | $108,170 | $49 | -12.2% | 40 |
| 10 | Florida | $86,550 | $46,950 | $42 | -24.7% | 160 |
| 11 | Ohio | $84,440 | $78,850 | $41 | -26.5% | 130 |
Top-Paying Metro Areas
Highest median pay among 10 metro areas.
| # | Metro area | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,770 | $131,480 | 110 |
| 2 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $131,170 | $124,360 | 40 |
| 3 | Stockton-Lodi, CA | $131,170 | $120,950 | 30 |
| 4 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $126,760 | $129,900 | — |
| 5 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,540 | $125,220 | 70 |
| 6 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $106,530 | $123,880 | 240 |
| 7 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $103,840 | $105,420 | 60 |
| 8 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $97,170 | $101,990 | 90 |
| 9 | Columbus, OH | $82,820 | $84,660 | 100 |
| 10 | Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $64,180 | $81,650 | 60 |
Pay by Industry
Highest-paying industries employing sociologistss (BLS OEWS, by median).
| # | Industry | Median | Mean | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Social Advocacy Organizations | $135,080 | $142,750 | 50 |
| 2 | Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $132,720 | $135,380 | 50 |
| 3 | Sector 81 - Other Services (except Public Administration) | $132,720 | $135,380 | 50 |
| 4 | Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $130,560 | $130,770 | — |
| 5 | Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $125,950 | $135,420 | 780 |
| 6 | Scientific Research and Development Services | $125,770 | $133,420 | 800 |
| 7 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $125,480 | $132,470 | 840 |
| 8 | Sector 54 - Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $125,480 | $132,470 | 840 |
| 9 | Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $112,660 | $128,190 | 1,160 |
| 10 | Cross-Industry, Private, Federal, State, and Local | $106,030 | $114,920 | 2,260 |
| 11 | Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Schools and Hospitals and USPS | $104,390 | $103,740 | 670 |
| 12 | State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $104,390 | $103,270 | 620 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do sociologists make in the U.S.?
The median sociologists salary in the United States is $106,030 per year (mean $114,920), and about 80% earn between $65,160 and $172,550.
How much do sociologists make per hour?
Roughly $55 per hour, based on a mean annual wage of $114,920 and 2,080 work hours per year.
Which state pays sociologists the most?
Illinois has the highest average pay for sociologists at $143,940 per year (median $140,770).
What is the job outlook for sociologists?
Employment is projected to change +3.6% from 2024 to 2034 (About as fast as average), with about 300 openings per year.
What People Search
Common U.S. search queries related to this occupation.