How much does a political scientist make in Boston?
$133,900a year
Median yearly pay for political scientists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area. That is $64.39 an hour or $11,160 a month.
- Hourly
- $64.39
- Vs. national median
- -6%
- Rank among cities
- 3 of 7
- Jobs in the area
- 190
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $72,700Median: $133,900Highest 10%: $217,800
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $72,700 | $34.95 | |
| 25th | $88,450 | $42.52 | |
| Median | $133,900 | $64.39 | |
| 75th | $170,100 | $81.78 | |
| 90th | $217,800 | $104.72 |
Other cities in Massachusetts
Median yearly pay for political scientists.
| No other city in the state with data. |
Related jobs in Boston
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Physical Scientist | $137,100 |
| Materials Scientist | $132,600 |
| Biochemist and Biophysicist | $131,600 |
| Medical Scientist | $129,500 |
| Chemist | $127,300 |
| Microbiologist | $122,400 |
| Historian | $121,700 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $121,300 |
| Anthropologist and Archeologist | $117,100 |
| Epidemiologist | $115,900 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a political scientist make an hour in Boston?
The median hourly pay in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $64.39 ($133,900 a year).
Do political scientists make more in Boston than the national average?
No: $133,900 against $142,100 nationally, 6% less.
How does Boston compare with the rest of Massachusetts?
The median in Massachusetts is $133,900, so Boston pays 0% more.
Where does Boston rank for political scientist pay?
3 of 7 metro areas with data.
How much does a political scientist make starting out in Boston?
The lowest-paid 10% make $72,700 or less a year; the top 10% make $217,800 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.