Political Scientists salary in United States
The median political scientists salary is $142,080 a year, from official US BLS OEWS (national, SOC 2018) data · updated May 2025.
Pay distribution · p10 to p90
Political Scientists salary by region
Pay trend
Up 7.9% from 2023 to 2025.
Source: US BLS OEWS (national, SOC 2018) · updated May 2025 · methodology
Political Scientists salary FAQs
What is the average Political Scientists salary in United States?
The median Political Scientists salary in United States is $142,080 per year, based on US BLS OEWS (national, SOC 2018) (updated May 2025). Half of political scientistss earn more than this and half earn less.
How much does a Political Scientists earn per year in the US?
Pay typically ranges from about $83,350 for lower earners (10th percentile) to $195,190 for top earners (90th percentile), with a median of $142,080.
Do Political Scientists salaries vary by region in the US?
Yes. Pay varies across United States - Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV is among the highest at $156,730, with other areas sitting lower. See the regional breakdown above for the full picture.
Where does this Political Scientists salary data come from?
These figures come from official statistics - US BLS OEWS (national, SOC 2018), last updated May 2025. Rung only shows verified data and never invented or crowd-sourced numbers.