Political Scientists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for political scientists is $142,080, or $68.31 per hour. About 5,540 people work in this occupation nationwide. Wages vary substantially by state — from $153,380 in Maryland to $74,560 in New Hampshire.
Wage distribution nationwide
Earnings spread across all U.S. workers in this occupation.
Salary by state
All 13 states with published data, ranked by median annual wage.
| # | State | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maryland | $153,380 | $73.74 | 100 | 1.05 |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $152,530 | $73.33 | 3,070 | 122.81 |
| 3 | Washington | $147,060 | $70.70 | 110 | 0.83 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $140,020 | $67.32 | 70 | 0.33 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $133,930 | $64.39 | 170 | 1.30 |
| 6 | Colorado | $127,260 | $61.18 | 30 | 0.32 |
| 7 | Oregon | $119,460 | $57.43 | — | — |
| 8 | Ohio | $119,370 | $57.39 | 40 | 0.22 |
| 9 | Texas | $114,050 | $54.83 | 160 | 0.32 |
| 10 | Arizona | $108,770 | $52.29 | 50 | 0.42 |
| 11 | Illinois | $103,780 | $49.89 | 110 | 0.49 |
| 12 | Michigan | $86,290 | $41.49 | 180 | 1.12 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $74,560 | $35.84 | — | — |
Related occupations
Same job family, ranked by national employment.
Frequently asked questions
How much do political scientists make?
The median annual wage for political scientists in the United States is $142,080, or $68.31 per hour. Entry-level workers (10th percentile) earn $83,350, and the top 10% earn $195,190.
How many political scientists are employed in the U.S.?
About 5,540 people work as political scientists nationwide.
Which state pays political scientists the most?
Maryland pays the most at a median of $153,380, followed by District of Columbia ($152,530) and Washington ($147,060).
Which state pays political scientists the least?
New Hampshire has the lowest median at $74,560.
Where are political scientists jobs most concentrated?
The location quotient measures employment concentration relative to the national average. The highest is District of Columbia at 122.81×.