The average salary for a political scientist in the United States is around $142,080 per year.
Avg Salary
Political scientists earn an average yearly salary of $142,080.
Wages typically start from $83,350 and go up to $195,190.
107% above national average Updated in 2025
Political scientist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$93.84 per hour
$195,190 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$83.74 per hour
$174,180 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$68.31 per hour
$142,080 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$54.82 per hour
$114,030 per year
10th percentile
Starting level political scientist earnings begin at:
$40.07 per hour
$83,350 per year
Approximate values based on highest and lowest earning segments.
Political scientist salary by state
| State Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| California | $99,340 |
| Michigan | $86,290 |
| Florida | $83,200 |
| New Hampshire | $74,560 |
| Georgia | $73,740 |
| Maine | $73,200 |
| Kentucky | $60,270 |
| Vermont | $59,500 |
| Virginia | $158,510 |
| Maryland | $153,380 |
| District of Columbia | $152,530 |
| Washington | $147,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $140,020 |
| Massachusetts | $133,930 |
| Colorado | $127,260 |
| Oregon | $119,460 |
| Ohio | $119,370 |
| Texas | $114,050 |
| Arizona | $108,770 |
| Illinois | $103,780 |
| New York | $102,220 |
How do political scientist salaries compare to similar careers?
Political scientists earn 56% more than similar careers in the United States.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Sociologist salary | $106K |
| Intelligence analyst salary | $94K |
| Social worker salary | $72K |
| Archaeologist salary | $71K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)