Political Scientists

Summary

Political scientists research policies, trends, and issues.

Quick Facts: Political Scientists
2024 Median Pay	$139,380 per year $67.01 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education	Master's degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2024	6,500
Job Outlook, 2024–34	-3% (Decline)
Employment Change, 2024–34	-200

What Political Scientists Do

Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.

Work Environment

Most political scientists work full time in an office setting. They sometimes work additional hours.

How to Become a Political Scientist

To enter the occupation, political scientists typically need a master’s degree in political science, public administration, or a related field. However, some employers consider candidates who have a bachelor’s degree; others may prefer a Ph.D.

Pay

The median annual wage for political scientists was $139,380 in May 2024.

Job Outlook

Employment of political scientists is projected to decline 3 percent from 2024 to 2034.

Despite declining employment, about 500 openings for political scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

State & Area Data

Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for political scientists.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of political scientists with similar occupations.

More Information, Including Links to O*NET

Learn more about political scientists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

What Political Scientists Do About this section

Political scientists often present their findings.

Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. They may research topics such as public opinion, political decision-making, and ideology. They also may analyze the structure of governments and political entities.

Duties

Political scientists typically do the following:

• Research political subjects, such as the U.S. political system and foreign relations
• Collect and analyze data from public opinion surveys and other sources
• Develop and test political theories
• Evaluate the effects of policies and laws on government, businesses, and people
• Monitor current events, policy decisions, and related issues
• Forecast political, economic, and social trends
• Share research results by giving presentations and publishing articles

Political scientists conduct research in many areas, such as national politics, comparative politics, international relations, and political theory.

Political scientists gather and analyze information from numerous sources. They evaluate current policies and events and try to anticipate the effects of new policies. For example, they may use historical documents to study past government structures and policies. Or they may review voter registration data to identify voting patterns.

Political scientists may have other job titles, such as government affairs specialist, political consultant, and political research scientist. Their research on domestic or international policies that affect a particular region or population may help in planning and development.

Work Environment About this section

Political scientists work in a variety of organizations that have a stake in policy, such as government, labor, and political organizations.

Political scientists held about 6,500 jobs in 2024. The largest employers of political scientists were as follows:

Work Schedules

Most political scientists work full time. They sometimes work additional hours to finish reports and meet deadlines.

How to Become a Political Scientist About this section

Political scientists learn to analyze quantitative and qualitative data.

To enter the occupation, political scientists typically need a master’s degree in political science, public administration, or a related field. However, some employers consider candidates who have a bachelor’s degree; others may prefer a Ph.D.

Education

Political scientists typically need a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Relevant master’s degree programs include fields such as political science, public administration, and public policy. These programs often have courses in other disciplines, such as psychology and economics, as well as in government, policy, and politics.

Employers may consider candidates who have a bachelor’s degree in political science for certain entry-level positions, such as with political campaigns or in government. Some employers prefer that political scientist candidates have a Ph.D., which requires several years of study beyond a bachelor’s degree.

Prospective political scientists may benefit from participating in internship or volunteer opportunities while in school. These experiences may offer students a chance to develop the analytical, research, and other skills they need to be successful.

Important Qualities

The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page.

Adaptability. Political scientists must be able to adjust their research methods as current events develop.

Communication skills. Political scientists must be able to explain their findings to a variety of audiences.

Creativity. Political scientists must continually explore new ideas, stay current on political subjects, and come up with new ways to address issues.

Critical-thinking skills. Political scientists must be able to draw logical conclusions from the data and information they collect, analyze, and interpret.

Decision-making skills. Political scientists need to balance a variety of objectives and choose appropriate research methods for the topics they study.  

Detail oriented. Political scientists need to be precise in evaluating and recording the results of their research.

Interpersonal skills. Political scientists may collaborate with other researchers when writing reports or giving presentations.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage for political scientists was $139,380 in May 2024. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $74,750, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $191,880.

In May 2024, the median annual wages for political scientists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:

Most political scientists work full time. They may work additional hours to finish reports and meet deadlines.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of political scientists is projected to decline 3 percent from 2024 to 2034.

Despite declining employment, about 500 openings for political scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. All of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Political scientists will continue to be needed in government to assess the impact of public policy and proposals, such as service efficiencies, budget changes, and other improvements. However, demand for these workers is somewhat tied to federal funding. Therefore, budgetary constraints may directly impact the employment of political scientists.

Political organizations, lobbying firms, and labor unions rely on political scientists’ knowledge to manage complex regulations. Political scientists will be needed at research and policy institutes to focus on politics and political theory. Organizations that research or advocate for specific causes, such as healthcare or the environment, need political scientists to analyze policies relating to their field.

State & Area Data About this section

Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)

The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link below goes to OEWS data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Use the dropdown boxes to select an occupation.

• Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Profiles

Projections Central

Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.org. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved.

CareerOneStop

CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.

Contacts for More Information About this section

O*NET

Political Scientists