Political Scientist salary: $142,080 median, and how to negotiate yours.
The full pay range by percentile, the 12 states and DC with a published BLS median, the top-paying metro areas and similar roles, from the latest BLS survey. Place your own offer on the range.
Hourly pay, BLS May 2025: 10th percentile $40.07 · 25th $54.82 · median $68.31 · 75th $83.74 · 90th $93.84.
The median annual wage for political scientists in the United States was $142,080 in May 2025 (BLS). The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $83,350 and the top 10% earned more than $195,190. That median is 2.8 times the $50,980 median for all occupations. BLS publishes a state median for 12 states and DC; among them the highest was in Maryland ($153,380).
- 10th percentile
- $83,350
- lowest-paid 10% earn less
- 25th percentile
- $114,030
- a quarter earn less
- 75th percentile
- $174,180
- a quarter earn more
- 90th percentile
- $195,190
- top 10% earn more
More on political scientist pay
The median hourly wage for political scientists in the United States was $68.31 in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
The middle half of political scientists in the United States earned between $114,030 and $174,180 a year in May 2025 (25th to 75th percentile, BLS).
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
The lowest-paid 10% of political scientists in the United States earned less than $83,350 a year in May 2025, and the top 10% more than $195,190 (BLS).
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
The mean annual wage for political scientists in the United States was $142,510 in May 2025, according to BLS; the mean is a different measure from the median.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
BLS estimated that 5,540 people were employed as political scientists in the United States in May 2025, not counting the self-employed.
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Political Scientist salary in the 12 states and DC with a published median
Data BLS state estimates, May 2025. 12 states and DC publish a median for this occupation; together they employ at least 74% of the 5,540 political scientists BLS counts nationally. Every other state is listed below the table with its BLS status. Sort by pay or by number employed.
- Maryland$153,380
- District of Columbia$152,530
- Washington$147,060
- Pennsylvania$140,020
- Massachusetts$133,930
- District of Columbia3,070
- Michigan180
- Massachusetts170
- Texas160
- Illinois110
| State | 10th–90th percentile | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland | $153,380 | $101,400–$195,190 | 100 |
| District of Columbia | $152,530 | $114,920–$195,190 | 3,070 |
| Washington | $147,060 | $81,310–$214,960 | 110 |
| Pennsylvania | $140,020 | $70,450–$203,130 | 70 |
| Massachusetts | $133,930 | $76,010–$217,820 | 170 |
| Colorado | $127,260 | $80,010–$197,490 | 30 |
| Oregon | $119,460 | $107,230–$119,460 | n/a |
| Ohio | $119,370 | $63,590–$142,080 | 40 |
| Texas | $114,050 | $87,530–$139,010 | 160 |
| Arizona | $108,770 | $71,800–$163,430 | 50 |
| Illinois | $103,780 | $71,990–$127,190 | 110 |
| Michigan | $86,290 | $68,380–$155,740 | 180 |
| New Hampshire | $74,560 | $34,960–$174,670 | n/a |
- BLS publishes employment but no wage estimate: Florida (90 employed), New York (130 employed).
- no estimate in BLS's May 2025 state file: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Where the median is highest
Data Metropolitan areas with at least 100 people employed in the occupation, BLS May 2025.
How the pay compares
Data National medians for related occupations (O*NET related roles, BLS pay).
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How this page is built
Wages are BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates for May 2025 (national, state and metropolitan area), for the occupation shown. OEWS wages are straight-time gross pay: they include base pay, commissions, production bonuses and tips, and exclude overtime, shift differentials, non-production bonuses and benefits. Percentiles describe all workers in the occupation, not entry or senior levels.
- Pay at a specific employer, or for self-employed workers (OEWS covers employees).
- Experience level: percentiles are not seniority bands.
- Equity, bonuses outside OEWS's definition, and benefits.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates (public domain).
- O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. TryHired selected, ranked and combined the data; O*NET is not responsible for these pages.
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