Political Scientists
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.
SOC: 19-3094.00
Wage Data According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Annual wage data for Political Scientists (2024)
Estimated Total Employment (U.S.)
5,950
Wage Distribution by Percentile
| Metric | U.S. |
|---|---|
| 10% of workers earn the following or less | $74,750 |
| 10% of workers earn the following or more | $191,880 |
| Workers on average earn | $137,600 |
+ indicates wage is at or above the BLS reporting cap ($239,200/year)
Skills & Requirements
Key competencies for this occupation, ranked by importance
- Law and Government4.7/5
- English Language4.4/5
- Education and Training4.3/5
- History and Archeology3.4/5
- Mathematics3.4/5
Tools & Technology
Equipment and software commonly used in this occupation
In-Demand Technology
Frequently requested by employers in job postings
Adobe AcrobatIBM SPSS StatisticsMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft Active Server Pages ASPMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft SharePointMicrosoft VisioMicrosoft WordPythonRSAP softwareSASTableau
Technology Skills
Bare Bones Software BBEditCQ Press Political Reference SuiteData visualization softwareDataMystic TextPipe ProEBSCO Publishing Academic Search PremierEBSCO Publishing Political Science CompleteEmail softwareEuropa World Plus
Tools & Equipment
Conference phonesDesktop computersDigital audio recordersDigital video disk DVD playersHandheld calculatorsLaptop computersOverhead display projectors