How much does a Sociologist make?
Sociologists in the United States bring home a median salary of $106,030 a year, or around $50.98 an hour. Pay spans a wide range: the bottom 10% earn under $65,160, while the top 10% earn $172,550.
That is $44,640 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Sociologist salary range by percentile
Half of all Sociologists earn between $82,300 and $137,420 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,160 | $31.33 | |
| 25th percentile (early career) | $82,300 | $39.57 | |
| 50th percentile (median) | $106,030 | $50.98 | |
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $137,420 | $66.07 | |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,550 | $82.96 |
Highest-paying states for Sociologist
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Illinois leads the country for Sociologist pay at $140,770 a year, followed by Kentucky ($136,870) and North Carolina ($126,760). At the other end, Florida posts the lowest median at $46,950 — a gap of $93,820 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
| # | State | Median salary | Hourly | vs national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Illinois | $140,770 | $67.68 | +33% |
| 2 | Kentucky | $136,870 | $65.80 | +29% |
| 3 | North Carolina | $126,760 | $60.94 | +20% |
| 4 | California | $125,770 | $60.47 | +19% |
| 5 | Alaska | $108,170 | $52.00 | +2% |
Sociologist salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 11 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
Workforce and education
About 2,000 people work as Sociologists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $114,920 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
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