Careers / Political Scientists
Political Scientists — Career Decision Dashboard
United States
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Report generated from official BLS OEWS and O*NET data — United States.
Median annual wage
$142,080
United States, 2025
Employment
5,540
United States, 2025
Typical education
Doctoral Degree
Job Zone 5
Skills identified
35
10 related careers
Career overview
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.
- O*NET code
- 19-3094.00
- Job zone
- 5
- Experience required
- Over 6 months, up to and including 1 year
Typical tasks
- Teach political science.
- Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
- Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.
- Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
- Advise political science students.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as election results and public opinion surveys, reporting on findings, recommendations, and conclusions.
- Interpret and analyze policies, public issues, legislation, or the operations of governments, businesses, and organizations.
- Identify issues for research and analysis.
Choose a location
Salary analysis — United States
10th percentile
$83,350
25th percentile
$114,030
75th percentile
$174,180
90th percentile
$195,190
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension4.3
- Active Listening4.1
- Active Learning4.1
- Speaking4.1
- Writing4.0
- Critical Thinking4.0
- Social Perceptiveness3.8
- Judgment and Decision Making3.6
- Complex Problem Solving3.6
- Instructing3.5
- Learning Strategies3.5
- Systems Evaluation3.1
What skills do you need?
Select the skills you already have
Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.
Skill coverage
0%
0 of 16 identified skills
Matched
0
Missing
16
Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.
Skills to develop
| Skill | Importance | Required level | Your level | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.3 | 4.9 | Not selected | 4.9 |
| Speaking | 4.1 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Active Listening | 4.1 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | 4.8 | Not selected | 4.8 |
| Writing | 4.0 | 4.6 | Not selected | 4.6 |
| Active Learning | 4.1 | 4.1 | Not selected | 4.1 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 | 3.9 | Not selected | 3.9 |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Learning Strategies | 3.5 | 3.8 | Not selected | 3.8 |
| Instructing | 3.5 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Systems Evaluation | 3.1 | 3.4 | Not selected | 3.4 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 | 3.5 | Not selected | 3.5 |
| Mathematics | 3.0 | 3.1 | Not selected | 3.1 |
| Coordination | 3.0 | 3.0 | Not selected | 3.0 |
| Service Orientation | 3.0 | 2.9 | Not selected | 2.9 |
Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.
Related careers
Supplemental
National median $76,590
Compare with Political ScientistsSupplemental
National median $80,730
Compare with Political ScientistsSupplemental
National median $99,080
Compare with Political ScientistsHow salary varies by location
| Location | Median | Employment | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $156,730 | 3,700 | 2025 |
| Seattle, WA | $153,960 | 80 | 2025 |
| MD | $153,380 | 100 | 2025 |
| DC | $152,530 | 3,070 | 2025 |
| WA | $147,060 | 110 | 2025 |
| PA | $140,020 | 70 | 2025 |
| MA | $133,930 | 170 | 2025 |
| Boston, MA | $133,930 | 190 | 2025 |
| CO | $127,260 | 30 | 2025 |
| OR | $119,460 | — | 2025 |
| OH | $119,370 | 40 | 2025 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $114,320 | 30 | 2025 |
| TX | $114,050 | 160 | 2025 |
| AZ | $108,770 | 50 | 2025 |
| IL | $103,780 | 110 | 2025 |
| Chicago, IL | $103,780 | 90 | 2025 |
| MI | $86,290 | 180 | 2025 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $86,290 | 60 | 2025 |
| Detroit, MI | $79,990 | — | 2025 |
| NH | $74,560 | — | 2025 |
Career transition paths
Compare the skills of a career you hold today with Political Scientists to see shared skills, target-only skills and skill overlap.
Build a transition comparisonCareer and skills data: O*NET 31.0.
Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).
Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.