The average salary for a political scientist in Washington is around $147,060 per year.
Avg Salary
Political scientists earn an average yearly salary of $147,060.
Wages typically start from $81,310 and go up to $214,960.
78% above national average Updated in 2025
Political scientist earnings by seniority
90th percentile
Top-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$103.35 per hour
$214,960 per year
75th percentile
Senior-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$93.00 per hour
$193,450 per year
50th percentile
Mid-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$70.70 per hour
$147,060 per year
25th percentile
Junior-level political scientist earnings begin at:
$45.79 per hour
$95,240 per year
10th percentile
Starting level political scientist earnings begin at:
$39.09 per hour
$81,310 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 43% more than similar careers in Washington.
| Career | Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Intelligence analyst salary | $116K |
| Sociologist salary | $97K |
| Social worker salary | $103K |
| Archaeologist salary | $75K |
Source: CareerExplorer (Aggregated)