Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2023
19-3094 Political Scientists
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents. Excludes “Survey Researchers” (19-3022).
National estimates for Political Scientists
Industry profile for Political Scientists
Geographic profile for Political Scientists
National estimates for Political Scientists:
Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for Political Scientists:
| Employment (1) |
Employment
RSE (3) |
Mean hourly
wage |
Mean annual
wage (2) |
Wage RSE (3) |
| 5,580 |
3.4 % |
$ 63.47 |
$ 132,020 |
0.9 % |
Percentile wage estimates for Political Scientists:
| Percentile |
10% |
25% |
50%
(Median) |
75% |
90% |
| Hourly Wage |
$ 34.84 |
$ 46.44 |
$ 63.63 |
$ 80.60 |
$ 88.22 |
| Annual Wage (2) |
$ 72,470 |
$ 96,600 |
$ 132,350 |
$ 167,650 |
$ 183,500 |
Industry profile for Political Scientists:
Industries with the highest published employment and wages for Political Scientists are provided.
For a list of all industries with employment in Political Scientists, see the Create Customized Tables function.
Industries with the highest levels of employment in Political Scientists:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) |
3,620 |
0.17 |
$ 68.46 |
$ 142,390 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
870 |
0.09 |
$ 65.20 |
$ 135,620 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) |
320 |
0.01 |
$ 45.58 |
$ 94,810 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools |
260 |
0.01 |
$ 43.63 |
$ 90,740 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) |
170 |
0.01 |
$ 37.66 |
$ 78,340 |
Industries with the highest concentration of employment in Political Scientists:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) |
3,620 |
0.17 |
$ 68.46 |
$ 142,390 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
870 |
0.09 |
$ 65.20 |
$ 135,620 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations |
90 |
0.04 |
$ 46.70 |
$ 97,130 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations |
100 |
0.02 |
$ 39.39 |
$ 81,940 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools |
260 |
0.01 |
$ 43.63 |
$ 90,740 |
Top paying industries for Political Scientists:
| Industry |
Employment (1) |
Percent of industry employment |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) |
3,620 |
0.17 |
$ 68.46 |
$ 142,390 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services |
870 |
0.09 |
$ 65.20 |
$ 135,620 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations |
90 |
0.04 |
$ 46.70 |
$ 97,130 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) |
320 |
0.01 |
$ 45.58 |
$ 94,810 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools |
260 |
0.01 |
$ 43.63 |
$ 90,740 |
Geographic profile for Political Scientists:
States and areas with the highest published employment, location quotients, and wages for Political Scientists are provided.
For a list of all areas with employment in Political Scientists, see the Create Customized Tables function.
States with the highest employment level in Political Scientists:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| District of Columbia |
2,960 |
4.22 |
114.73 |
$ 70.48 |
$ 146,600 |
| Virginia |
710 |
0.18 |
4.84 |
$ 69.76 |
$ 145,100 |
| Illinois |
210 |
0.03 |
0.93 |
$ 42.42 |
$ 88,230 |
| California |
200 |
0.01 |
0.30 |
$ 61.28 |
$ 127,460 |
| Washington |
180 |
0.05 |
1.37 |
$ 63.47 |
$ 132,010 |
States with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Political Scientists:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| District of Columbia |
2,960 |
4.22 |
114.73 |
$ 70.48 |
$ 146,600 |
| Virginia |
710 |
0.18 |
4.84 |
$ 69.76 |
$ 145,100 |
| Washington |
180 |
0.05 |
1.37 |
$ 63.47 |
$ 132,010 |
| Maryland |
100 |
0.04 |
1.00 |
$ 74.77 |
$ 155,520 |
| Illinois |
210 |
0.03 |
0.93 |
$ 42.42 |
$ 88,230 |
Top paying states for Political Scientists:
| State |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Maryland |
100 |
0.04 |
1.00 |
$ 74.77 |
$ 155,520 |
| District of Columbia |
2,960 |
4.22 |
114.73 |
$ 70.48 |
$ 146,600 |
| Virginia |
710 |
0.18 |
4.84 |
$ 69.76 |
$ 145,100 |
| New York |
100 |
0.01 |
0.28 |
$ 65.89 |
$ 137,060 |
| Washington |
180 |
0.05 |
1.37 |
$ 63.47 |
$ 132,010 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest employment level in Political Scientists:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
3,620 |
1.17 |
31.85 |
$ 71.02 |
$ 147,720 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI |
170 |
0.04 |
1.04 |
$ 42.48 |
$ 88,360 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX |
150 |
0.14 |
3.79 |
$ 50.17 |
$ 104,350 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
130 |
0.06 |
1.72 |
$ 63.55 |
$ 132,190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
100 |
0.01 |
0.30 |
$ 61.98 |
$ 128,920 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ |
40 |
0.02 |
0.52 |
$ 51.52 |
$ 107,170 |
| Ann Arbor, MI |
40 |
0.19 |
5.21 |
$ 41.86 |
$ 87,070 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC |
40 |
0.05 |
1.48 |
$ 59.07 |
$ 122,870 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
30 |
0.01 |
0.32 |
$ 35.77 |
$ 74,400 |
Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of jobs and location quotients in Political Scientists:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
3,620 |
1.17 |
31.85 |
$ 71.02 |
$ 147,720 |
| Ann Arbor, MI |
40 |
0.19 |
5.21 |
$ 41.86 |
$ 87,070 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX |
150 |
0.14 |
3.79 |
$ 50.17 |
$ 104,350 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
130 |
0.06 |
1.72 |
$ 63.55 |
$ 132,190 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC |
40 |
0.05 |
1.48 |
$ 59.07 |
$ 122,870 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI |
170 |
0.04 |
1.04 |
$ 42.48 |
$ 88,360 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ |
40 |
0.02 |
0.52 |
$ 51.52 |
$ 107,170 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
30 |
0.01 |
0.32 |
$ 35.77 |
$ 74,400 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
100 |
0.01 |
0.30 |
$ 61.98 |
$ 128,920 |
Top paying metropolitan areas for Political Scientists:
| Metropolitan area |
Employment (1) |
Employment per thousand jobs |
Location quotient (9) |
Hourly mean wage |
Annual mean wage (2) |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV |
3,620 |
1.17 |
31.85 |
$ 71.02 |
$ 147,720 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA |
130 |
0.06 |
1.72 |
$ 63.55 |
$ 132,190 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA |
100 |
0.01 |
0.30 |
$ 61.98 |
$ 128,920 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC |
40 |
0.05 |
1.48 |
$ 59.07 |
$ 122,870 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH |
(8) |
(8) |
(8) |
$ 57.63 |
$ 119,870 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ |
40 |
0.02 |
0.52 |
$ 51.52 |
$ 107,170 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX |
150 |
0.14 |
3.79 |
$ 50.17 |
$ 104,350 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI |
170 |
0.04 |
1.04 |
$ 42.48 |
$ 88,360 |
| Ann Arbor, MI |
40 |
0.19 |
5.21 |
$ 41.86 |
$ 87,070 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA |
30 |
0.01 |
0.32 |
$ 35.77 |
$ 74,400 |
About May 2023 National, State, Metropolitan, and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors, all metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas, and all states and the District of Columbia.
The top employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable XLS files.
The percentile wage estimate is the value of a wage below which a certain percent of workers fall.
The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median.
More about percentile wages.
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours;
for those occupations where there is not an hourly wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.
(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.
(8) Estimate not released.
(9) The location quotient is the ratio of the area concentration of occupational employment to the national average concentration.
A location quotient greater than one indicates the occupation has a higher share of employment than average, and a location quotient less than one indicates the occupation is less prevalent in the area than average.
Other OEWS estimates and related information:
May 2023 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2023 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2023 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2023 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates
May 2023 Occupation Profiles
Technical Notes
Last Modified Date: April 3, 2024
United States Department of Labor
