Political Scientists Wages
SOC 19-3094 • Full occupation profile
The median annual wage for Political Scientists is $132,350 nationally (2023 BLS OEWS). The 10th percentile is $72,470 and the 90th percentile is $183,500, showing the wide spread of wages in this occupation.
National Wage Distribution (2023)
Employment
5,580
P10
$72,470
P25
$96,600
Median
$132,350
P75
$167,650
P90
$183,500
National Wage Trend
How national median and mean wages for Political Scientists have moved across BLS OEWS release years.
| Year | Median | Mean | P10 | P90 | Employment | YoY Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $132,350 | $132,020 | $72,470 | $183,500 | 5,580 | — |
| 2022 | $128,020 | $126,140 | $65,200 | $176,280 | 5,660 | -3.27% |
| 2021 | $122,510 | $120,430 | $61,480 | $172,490 | 5,650 | -4.3% |
| 2020 | $125,350 | $124,100 | $62,840 | $170,800 | 6,010 | +2.32% |
Wages by State (2023)
State-level OEWS wage estimates for Political Scientists. The highest median is in Virginia at $154,420, 17% above the U.S. median.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Mean Annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $154,420 | +16.7% | $145,100 | 710 |
| Maryland | $150,010 | +13.3% | $155,520 | 100 |
| District of Columbia | $145,600 | +10% | $146,600 | 2,960 |
| Washington | $138,020 | +4.3% | $132,010 | 180 |
| New York | $133,830 | +1.1% | $137,060 | 100 |
| Massachusetts | $127,260 | -3.8% | $121,160 | — |
| California | $119,320 | -9.8% | $127,460 | 200 |
| Texas | $106,270 | -19.7% | $104,930 | 160 |
| Arizona | $101,980 | -22.9% | $102,950 | 70 |
| Illinois | $95,810 | -27.6% | $88,230 | 210 |
| Michigan | $81,550 | -38.4% | $81,790 | 60 |
| New Jersey | $72,460 | -45.3% | $78,560 | 70 |
| Georgia | $65,230 | -50.7% | $74,400 | 30 |
| Florida | — | — | — | 140 |
| Pennsylvania | — | — | — | 40 |