How much does a sociologist make?
Median yearly pay in the United States: half earn more and half earn less. That is $50.98 an hour or $8,836 a month.
- Hourly
- $50.98
- Average (mean)
- $114,900
- Jobs
- 2,260
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $65,160 | $31.33 | |
| 25th | $82,300 | $39.57 | |
| Median | $106,000 | $50.98 | |
| 75th | $137,400 | $66.07 | |
| 90th | $172,600 | $82.96 |
By state
Median yearly pay.
| Illinois | $140,800 |
| Kentucky | $136,900 |
| North Carolina | $126,800 |
| California | $125,800 |
| Alaska | $108,200 |
| Massachusetts | $106,500 |
| Maryland | $100,700 |
| Washington | $97,170 |
| Michigan | $88,040 |
| Ohio | $78,850 |
| Florida | $46,950 |
Highest paying cities
Metro areas, median yearly pay.
| San Francisco, CA | $134,800 |
| Riverside, CA | $131,200 |
| Stockton, CA | $131,200 |
| Durham, NC | $126,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $124,500 |
| Boston, MA | $106,500 |
| Washington, DC | $103,800 |
| Seattle, WA | $97,170 |
| Columbus, OH | $82,820 |
| Lansing, MI | $64,180 |
In other countries
Sociologist belongs to the international group "Sociologists, anthropologists and related professionals".
Compare pay in 140 countriesSimilar jobs
- Economist$124,700
- Survey Researcher$69,460
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$194,000
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist$100,600
- School Psychologist$95,990
- Psychologist$110,800
- Urban and Regional Planner$89,320
- Anthropologist and Archeologist$70,770
- Geographer$102,000
- Historian$76,750
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sociologist make an hour?
The median hourly pay is $50.98 ($106,000 a year).
How much does a sociologist make a month?
About $8,836 a month before tax, based on a median of $106,000 a year.
How much does a sociologist make starting out?
The lowest-paid 10% make $65,160 or less a year ($31.33 an hour); the top 10% make $172,600 or more.
Which state pays sociologists the most?
Illinois, with a median of $140,800 a year, followed by Kentucky ($136,900) and North Carolina ($126,800).
Which city pays sociologists the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA, with a median of $134,800 a year.
How many sociologists are there in the United States?
About 2,260 people work as sociologists.
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.