Political Scientists
SOC 19-3094 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Political Scientists is $132,350, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $132,020, and an estimated 5,580 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +5.6% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -10.3% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will shrink 3.1% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Political Scientists has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $132,350 | $132,350 | 5,580 |
| 2022 | $128,020 | $133,290 | 5,660 |
| 2021 | $122,510 | $137,761 | 5,650 |
| 2020 | $125,350 | $147,576 | 6,010 |
Nominal change
+5.6%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-10.3%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
-3.1%
Declining
Employment 2024
6,500
Projected 2034
6,300
Annual Openings
500
Typical entry-level education: Master's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Political Scientists earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $132,350. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $154,420 | +16.7% | 710 |
| Maryland | $150,010 | +13.3% | 100 |
| District of Columbia | $145,600 | +10% | 2,960 |
| Washington | $138,020 | +4.3% | 180 |
| New York | $133,830 | +1.1% | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $127,260 | -3.8% | — |
| California | $119,320 | -9.8% | 200 |
| Texas | $106,270 | -19.7% | 160 |
| Arizona | $101,980 | -22.9% | 70 |
| Illinois | $95,810 | -27.6% | 210 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$72,470
25th Pct
$96,600
Median
$132,350
75th Pct
$167,650
90th Pct
$183,500
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Asian American Foundation | NY | 3 | $80,000 |
| Harvard University | MA | 3 | $61,145 |
| New York University | NY | 2 | $101,120 |
| The Commercial Club of Chicago | IL | 2 | $90,000 |
| The Leland Stanford, Jr University | CA | 2 | $175,000 |
| GoElite, Inc. | CA | 1 | $77,875 |
| NEW ENERGY NEXUS NEW YORK LLC | NY | 1 | $117,151 |
| THE TRUSTEES OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY | NJ | 1 | $60,000 |
| Veracity Worldwide LLC | NY | 1 | $135,000 |
| RESOURCES FOR THE FUTURE | DC | 1 | $145,000 |
| Texas A&M University | TX | 1 | $75,000 |
| The Pennsylvania State University | PA | 1 | $61,500 |
| Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC | CA | 1 | $138,745 |
| Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, Inc. | DC | 1 | $85,700 |
| Kroll Associates, Inc. | CA | 1 | $119,000 |
| The University of Arizona | AZ | 1 | $60,000 |
| University of California, Berkeley | CA | 1 | $66,868 |
| Open Philanthropy Project | CA | 1 | $140,086 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Life, Physical & Social Science
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