The average salary for a political scientist in California is around $99,340 per year.
Avg Salary
Political scientists earn an average yearly salary of $99,340.
Wages typically start from $66,150.
53% above national average Updated in 2021
Political scientist earnings by seniority
75th percentile
Senior-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$71.96 per hour
$149,670 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$47.76 per hour
$99,340 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$38.14 per hour
$79,330 per year
10th percentile
Starting level political scientist earnings begin at:
$31.80 per hour
$66,150 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 33% more than similar careers in California.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Intelligence analyst salary | $104K |
| Sociologist salary | $105K |
| Archaeologist salary | $64K |
| Anthropologist salary | $64K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)



