SOC 19-3041 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
Sociologists
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries
Nationally, sociologists earned a median of $106,030 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 2,260 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.
National pay distribution
Pay by state
Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.
| State | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $140,770 | $67.68 | Not published | Not published |
| Kentucky | $136,870 | $65.80 | 30 | 0.0 |
| North Carolina | $126,760 | $60.94 | 170 | 0.0 |
| California | $125,770 | $60.47 | 590 | 0.0 |
| Alaska | $108,170 | $52.01 | 40 | 0.1 |
| Massachusetts | $106,530 | $51.22 | 250 | 0.1 |
| Maryland | $100,660 | $48.39 | 50 | 0.0 |
| Washington | $97,170 | $46.72 | 130 | 0.0 |
| Michigan | $88,040 | $42.33 | 90 | 0.0 |
| Ohio | $78,850 | $37.91 | 130 | 0.0 |
| Florida | $46,950 | $22.57 | 160 | 0.0 |
Pay by metro area
All 10 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.
Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.
| Metro area | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,770 | $64.80 | 110 | 0.0 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $131,170 | $63.06 | 40 | 0.0 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $131,170 | $63.06 | 30 | 0.1 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $126,760 | $60.94 | Not published | Not published |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,540 | $59.87 | 70 | 0.0 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $106,530 | $51.22 | 240 | 0.1 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $103,840 | $49.93 | 60 | 0.0 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $97,170 | $46.72 | 90 | 0.0 |
| Columbus, OH | $82,820 | $39.82 | 100 | 0.1 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | $64,180 | $30.86 | 60 | 0.3 |
About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.