The median annual wage for political scientists was $99,730 in May 2015.
The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $47,210, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $162,500.
In May 2015, the median annual wages for political scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
Federal government, excluding postal service
$120,510
Professional, scientific, and technical services
115,400
Educational services; state, local, and private
48,880
Political scientists typically work full time in an office. They may work additional hours to finish reports and meet deadlines.
Political Scientists
Median annual wages, May 2015
Political scientists
$99,730
Social scientists and related workers
$72,570
Total, all occupations
$36,200
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
