Sociologists examine groups, cultures, organization and social institutions to study how people behave in society. They can specialize in education, crime, race, health, families, gender, poverty and aging. Most work in offices, researching and writing reports, but they also may perform field research. They typically work a standard 40-hour week during regular business hours.
Sociologists earned an average $79,460 per year, or $38.20 per hour, as of May 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Salaries could rise to over $129,780 annually, or $62.40 per hour, or fall below $43,870 per year, or $21.09 hourly. Sociologists study human social lives, activities and interactions in social, political, religious and business organizations. They collect data through surveys, interviews and observations; analyze information and draw conclusions; and prepare research reports and presentations to their clients or decision-makers. They often collaborate with other sociologists and other social scientists.
The biggest employers of sociologists were scientific research and development services, which had 1,150 out of the total 2,830 positions, and paid a mean annual $89,650, or $43.10 per hour. The federal government paid the highest salaries at an average $97,510 per year, or $46.88 per hour. Employers typically require a master’s degree or Ph.D. Those who get a master’s degree in applied, clinical and professional programs usually enter the workplace. Those who get a master’s in traditional programs enter a Ph.D. program to typically become professors or teachers. Those with bachelor’s degrees may find employment as sociology research assistants, but they typically go into other fields, such as social services, management or sales.
The state with the most jobs for sociologists was California, with 880 positions and average compensation at $79,860 per year, or $38.40 per hour. The state with the highest paying employers was New York, with mean wages of $106,070 annually, or $51 per hour. For metropolitan areas, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, topped the opportunity list with 250 positions at an average compensation of $79,030 per year, or $38 hourly. New York City had the highest-paying employers at an average annual $110,390, or hourly $53.07. Washington, D.C., was second both for jobs and pay, with 230 sociologists receiving an average $104,940 per year, or $50.45 per hour.
Jobs for sociologists will grow by 18 percent from 2010 to 2020, according to the BLS, which is the same rate for all social scientists, and more than the expected 14 percent for all jobs in all industries. Driving the demand is the growing interest in using sociology to understand society, and to study and address social issues and programs. Competition for jobs will be strong because of the relatively small number of research positions. So, many bachelor’s and master’s degree holders find jobs in related fields such as social services, education and public policy. An advanced degree with strong statistical and research skills will provide the best employment advantages.
- Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images