The average salary for a political scientist in the United States is around $44,857 per year.
Avg Salary
Political scientists earn an average yearly salary of $44,857.
Wages typically start from $24,562 and go up to $81,921.
24% below national average Updated in 2023
Political scientist earnings by seniority
Top-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$39.39 per hour
$81,921 per year
Senior-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$29.61 per hour
$61,588 per year
Mid-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$21.57 per hour
$44,857 per year
Junior-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$15.71 per hour
$32,671 per year
Starting level political scientist earnings begin at:
$11.81 per hour
$24,562 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Political scientist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $99,340 |
| Texas | $95,890 |
| Arizona | $95,660 |
| Ohio | $86,220 |
| Florida | $83,200 |
| New Hampshire | $82,410 |
| Illinois | $80,450 |
| Michigan | $78,550 |
| Massachusetts | $78,060 |
| Georgia | $73,740 |
| Maine | $73,200 |
| Kentucky | $60,270 |
| Vermont | $59,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $50,730 |
| Virginia | $158,510 |
| Maryland | $145,950 |
| District of Columbia | $127,880 |
| Washington | $119,770 |
| New York | $102,220 |
How do political scientist salaries compare to similar careers?
Political scientists earn about the same as related careers in the United States. On average, they make less than anthropologists but more than behavioral scientists.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Anthropologist salary | $64K |
| Intelligence analyst salary | $57K |
| Political scientist salary | $45K |
| Archaeologist salary | $40K |
| Behavioral scientist salary | $35K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)