The average salary for a political scientist in the United States is around $122,220 per year.
Avg Salary
Political scientists earn an average yearly salary of $122,220.
Wages typically start from $60,960 and go up to $245,041.
114% above national average Updated in 2019
Political scientist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$117.81 per hour
$245,041 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$84.74 per hour
$176,254 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$58.76 per hour
$122,220 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$40.75 per hour
$84,751 per year
10th percentile
Starting level political scientist earnings begin at:
$29.31 per hour
$60,960 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Political scientist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Arizona | $94,420 |
| Florida | $88,470 |
| Texas | $88,070 |
| Ohio | $86,220 |
| Massachusetts | $82,110 |
| Washington | $76,660 |
| Michigan | $76,560 |
| Georgia | $73,740 |
| Maine | $67,760 |
| Illinois | $64,423 |
| California | $63,970 |
| Virginia | $141,340 |
| Maryland | $129,870 |
| New York | $124,620 |
| District of Columbia | $123,130 |
| Pennsylvania | $102,110 |
How do political scientist salaries compare to similar careers?
Political scientists earn 46% more than similar careers in the United States.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Economist salary | $105K |
| Sociologist salary | $83K |
| Intelligence analyst salary | $77K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)