Sociologist Salary
Sociologists earn a median $106,030 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$106,030
$50.98 per hour
Range
$65,160 – $172,550
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
2,260
across the U.S.
Sociologist take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$83,422
per year · effective tax rate 21.3%
$6,952Monthly
$3,476Twice a month
$3,209Every 2 weeks
$40.11Hourly
- Federal income tax$14,497
- Social Security (6.2%)$6,574
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,537
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$83,422
Marginal rate: 22% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,160 | $31.33 | $54,536 |
| 25th percentile | $82,300 | $39.57 | $66,728 |
| Median (50th) | $106,030 | $50.98 | $83,422 |
| 75th percentile | $137,420 | $66.07 | $105,193 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $172,550 | $82.96 | $129,204 |
Sociologist salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $140,770 | $100,659 | $76,320 – $229,480 | — |
| Kentucky | $136,870 | $100,144 | $102,540 – $162,350 | 30 |
| North Carolina | $126,760 | $93,357 | $69,980 – $212,260 | 170 |
| California | $125,770 | $88,128 | $85,030 – $161,710 | 590 |
| Alaska | $108,170 | $84,928 | $65,340 – $152,620 | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $106,530 | $78,667 | $65,400 – $190,440 | 250 |
| Maryland | $100,660 | $75,227 | $67,770 – $162,680 | 50 |
| Washington | $97,170 | $77,189 | $80,640 – $138,000 | 130 |
| Michigan | $88,040 | $67,275 | $52,520 – $158,420 | 90 |
| Ohio | $78,850 | $62,915 | $68,040 – $104,560 | 130 |
| Florida | $46,950 | $39,904 | $39,150 – $171,360 | 160 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sociologist make?
The national median salary for sociologists is $106,030 a year ($50.98 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $65,160 and the top 10% earn over $172,550. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays sociologists the most?
Illinois has the highest median pay at $140,770.
How many sociologists are there in the U.S.?
About 2,260 people work as sociologists nationwide.