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

Political Scientists Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			political scientists imagePolitical scientists research policies, trends, and issues.							
						Quick Facts:     Political Scientists2023     Median Pay
            						$132,350     per year
										$63.63     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Master's degreeWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    NoneNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    6,200Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    7% (Faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    400What Political Scientists Do
                                                
                        
                        
Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Political scientists typically work full time in an office. They sometimes work additional hours to finish reports and meet deadlines.
            
                                                How to Become a Political Scientist
                                                
                        
To enter the occupation, political scientists typically need at least a master’s degree in political science, public administration, or a related field.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for political scientists was $132,350 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of political scientists is projected to grow							 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 600 openings for political scientists 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 political scientists.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of political scientists with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about political scientists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Political Scientists Do 
            

			Political scientistsPolitical scientists often present their findings.			
Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. They research political ideas and analyze governments, policies, political trends, and related issues.
Duties
Political scientists typically do the following:
Research political subjects, such as the U.S. political system and foreign relations
Collect and analyze data from sources such as public opinion surveys
Develop and test political theories
Evaluate the effects of policies and laws on government, businesses, and people
Monitor current events, policy decisions, and other related issues
Forecast political, economic, and social trends
Submit research results by giving presentations and publishing articlesPolitical scientists usually conduct research in one of the following areas: national politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory.
Often, political scientists use qualitative methods in their research, gathering information from numerous sources. For example, they may use historical documents to analyze past government structures and policies. Political scientists also rely on quantitative methods to develop and research theories. For example, they may analyze voter registration data to identify voting patterns. Political scientists study a wide range of topics such as U.S. political parties, how political structures differ among countries, globalization, and the history of political thought.
Political scientists also work as *policy analysts* for organizations that have a stake in policy, such as government, labor unions, and political groups. They evaluate current policies and events using public opinion surveys, economic data, and election results. From these sources, they try to anticipate the effects of new policies.
Political scientists often research the effects of government policies on a particular region or population, both domestically and internationally. As a result, they provide information and analysis that help in planning, developing, or carrying out policies.
Many people with a political science background become postsecondary teachers and high school teachers.
 Work Environment
			Political scientistsPolitical scientists work in a variety of organizations that have a stake in policy, such as government, labor, and political organizations.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Political scientists held about 6,200 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of political scientists were as follows:
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                61%Professional, scientific, and technical services
                18Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                10Educational services; state, local, and private
                5Work Schedules
Political scientists typically work full time in an office. They may work additional hours to finish reports and meet deadlines.
 How to Become a Political Scientist

			Political scientistsPolitical scientists learn to analyze quantitative and qualitative data.			
To enter the occupation, political scientists typically need at least a master’s degree in political science, public administration, or a related field.
Education
Political scientists typically need to complete either a master’s or Ph.D. program to enter the occupation. Applicants to a graduate program should have completed undergraduate courses in political science, writing, and statistics. They also may benefit from having related work or internship experience.
Political scientists often complete a master of public administration (MPA), master of public policy (MPP), or master of public affairs degree. These programs usually combine several disciplines, and students can choose to concentrate in a specific area of interest. Most offer core courses in research methods, policy formation, program evaluation, and statistics. Some colleges and universities also offer master’s degrees in political science, international relations, or other applied political science specialties.
Some political scientists also complete a Ph.D. program, which requires several years of coursework followed by independent research for a dissertation. Most Ph.D. candidates choose to specialize in one of four primary subfields of political science: national politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory.
Jobseekers with a bachelor’s degree in political science usually qualify for entry-level positions in a related occupation, such as assistants in research organizations, political campaigns, or nonprofit organizations. They may also qualify for some government positions. Others work outside of politics and policymaking, such as in business or law.
Other Experience
Entry-level jobseekers can benefit from internships or volunteer work through clubs and political organizations. These activities can give students a chance to apply their academic knowledge in a professional setting and to develop the analytic, research, and writing skills needed for the field.
Important Qualities
***Analytical skills.*** Political scientists often use qualitative and quantitative research methods. They require analytical skills to collect, evaluate, and interpret data.
***Communication skills.*** Political scientists often collaborate with other researchers when writing reports or giving presentations. They must communicate their findings to a wide variety of audiences.
***Creativity.*** Political scientists must continually explore new ideas and information to produce original papers and research. They must stay current on political subjects and come up with new ways to think about and address issues.
***Critical-thinking skills.*** Political scientists must be able to examine and process available information and draw logical conclusions from their findings.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Political ScientistsMedian annual wages, May 2023Political scientists$132,350  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 political scientists was $132,350 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 $72,470, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $183,500.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for political scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Federal government, excluding postal service
                $145,600Professional, scientific, and technical services
                127,260Religious, grantmaking, civic, professional, and similar organizations
                86,800Educational services; state, local, and private
                78,970Political scientists typically work full time in an office. They may work additional hours to finish reports and meet deadlines.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Political ScientistsPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Political scientists7%  Social scientists and related workers5%  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 political scientists is projected to grow				 7 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 600 openings for political scientists 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
	
			
Increased demand for public policy analysis will support employment growth for these workers. Political scientists will continue to be needed in government to assess the impact of public policy and proposals, such as service efficiencies, budget changes, and other improvements.
Political organizations, lobbying firms, and labor unions rely on political scientists’ knowledge to manage complex regulations. Political scientists will be needed at research and policy institutes to focus on politics and political theory. Organizations that research or advocate for specific causes, such as healthcare or the environment, need political scientists to analyze policies relating to their field.
			

                        Employment projections data for     political scientists, 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**Political scientists**
			19-3094
			6,200
			6,600
			7
			400
			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. Political scientists **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 political scientists. 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**Market Research Analysts**
            Market research analysts study consumer preferences, business conditions, and other factors to assess potential sales of a product or service.
            Bachelor's degree
            $74,680**Postsecondary Teachers**
            Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.
            See How to Become One
            $84,380**Sociologists**
            Sociologists study society and social behavior.
            Master's degree
            $101,770**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
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about political scientists and political science careers, visit
American Political Science Association
American Association of Political Consultants
For more information about college programs in public affairs and administration, visit
Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration

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


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