### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Sociologists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			sociologists imageSociologists design research projects to test theories about social issues.							
						Quick Facts:     Sociologists2023     Median Pay
            						$101,770     per year
										$48.93     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Master's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    3,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    5% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    100What Sociologists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Sociologists study society and social behavior.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Sociologists typically work full time during regular business hours.
            
                                                How to Become a Sociologist
                                                
                        
Sociologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for sociologists was $101,770 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of sociologists is projected to grow							 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 300 openings for sociologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for sociologists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of sociologists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about sociologists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Sociologists Do 
            

			SociologistsSome sociologists conduct interviews for their research.			
Sociologists study society and social behavior by examining the groups, cultures, organizations, social institutions, and processes that develop when people interact and work together.
Duties
Sociologists typically do the following:
Design research projects to test theories about social issues
Collect data through surveys, observations, interviews, and other sources
Analyze and draw conclusions from data
Prepare reports, articles, or presentations detailing their research findings
Collaborate with and advise other social scientists, policymakers, or other groups on research findings and sociological issuesSociologists study human behavior, interaction, and organization. They observe the activity of social, religious, political, and economic groups, organizations, and institutions. They examine the effect of social influences, including organizations and institutions, on different individuals and groups. They also trace the origin and growth of these groups and interactions. For example, they may research the impact of a new law or policy on a specific demographic.
Sociologists often use both quantitative and qualitative methods when conducting research, and they frequently use statistical analysis programs during the research process.
Their research may help administrators, educators, lawmakers, and social workers to solve social problems and formulate public policy. Sociologists may specialize in a wide range of social topics, including, but not limited to:
education and health;
crime and poverty;
families and population;
and gender, racial, and ethnic relations.Sociologists who specialize in crime may be called *criminologists* or *penologists*. These workers**apply their sociological knowledge to conduct research and analyze penal systems and populations and to study the causes and effects of crime.
Many people with a sociology background become postsecondary teachers and high school teachers. Most others find work in related jobs outside the sociologist profession such as policy analysts, demographers, survey researchers, and statisticians.
 Work Environment
			SociologistsSociologists may work outside of an office setting when conducting research through interviews or observations or presenting research results.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Sociologists held about 3,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of sociologists were as follows:
        Scientific research and development services
                37%State government, excluding education and hospitals
                20Educational services; state, local, and private
                14Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                6Sociologists typically work in an office. They may work outside of an office setting when conducting research through interviews or observations or presenting research results.
Work Schedules
Most sociologists work full time during regular business hours.
 How to Become a Sociologist

			SociologistsMany sociology programs offer opportunities to gain experience through internships or by preparing reports.			
Sociologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Bachelor’s degree holders may find positions in related fields, such as social services, education, or public policy.
Education
Sociologists typically need a master’s degree or Ph.D. to enter the occupation. There are two types of sociology master’s degree programs: traditional programs and applied, clinical, and professional programs. Traditional programs prepare students to enter a Ph.D. program. Applied, clinical, and professional programs prepare students to enter the workplace, teaching them the necessary analytical skills to perform sociological research in a professional setting.
Courses in research methods and statistics are important for candidates in both master’s and Ph.D. programs. Many programs also offer opportunities to gain experience through internships or by preparing reports for clients.
Jobseekers who have a bachelor's degree in sociology may find entry-level positions in related fields, such as social services, education, or public policy.
Other Experience
Candidates with a bachelor’s degree may benefit from internships or volunteer work when looking for entry-level positions in sociology or a related field. These types of opportunities give students a chance to apply their academic knowledge in a professional setting and develop skills needed for the field.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Sociologists must be able to examine data and other information, often using statistical methods to test their theories.
***Communication skills.*** Sociologists need strong communication skills when they conduct interviews, collaborate with colleagues, and write and present research results.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** Sociologists design research projects and collect, process, and analyze information to draw logical conclusions about society and various groups of people.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                SociologistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Sociologists$101,770  Social scientists and related workers$89,440  Total, all occupations$48,060Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for sociologists was $101,770 in May 2023. 


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 $59,960, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $165,280.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for sociologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Scientific research and development services
                $98,040State government, excluding education and hospitals
                93,800Local government, excluding education and hospitals
                88,380Educational services; state, local, and private
                86,800Most sociologists work full time during regular business hours.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
               SociologistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Social scientists and related workers5%  Sociologists5%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of sociologists is projected to grow				 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 300 openings for sociologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Sociologists will continue to be needed to apply sociological research to other disciplines. For example, sociologists may collaborate with researchers in other social sciences, such as economists, psychologists, and survey researchers, to study how social structures or groups influence policy decisions about health, education, politics, criminal justice, business, or economics.
			

                        Employment projections data for     sociologists, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Sociologists**
			19-3041
			3,300
			3,400
			5
			100
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Sociologists **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of sociologists. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Anthropologists and Archeologists**
            Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans.
            Master's degree
            $63,800**Economists**
            Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data.
            Master's degree
            $115,730**Political Scientists**
            Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.
            Master's degree
            $132,350**Postsecondary Teachers**
            Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.
            See How to Become One
            $84,380**Psychologists**
            Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how people relate to one another and to their environments.
            See How to Become One
            $92,740**Social Workers**
            Social workers help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.
            See How to Become One
            $58,380**Survey Researchers**
            Survey researchers design and conduct surveys and analyze data.
            Master's degree
            $60,960**Urban and Regional Planners**
            Urban and regional planners develop comprehensive plans and programs for use of land and physical facilities in cities, counties, metropolitan areas, and other jurisdictions.
            Master's degree
            $81,800**Geographers**
            Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants.
            Bachelor's degree
            $90,880**Historians**
            Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources.
            Master's degree
            $72,890**Mathematicians and Statisticians**
            Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems.
            Master's degree
            $104,860
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about careers in sociology, visit
American Sociological Association

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Sociologists
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Sociologists, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/sociologists.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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