How to Become a Political Scientist
Analyze political systems, public opinion, and policy, informing governments, think tanks, and campaigns. It typically requires a doctoral degree, with a median salary of $142,080 per year and declining projected job growth.
Median pay
$142,080/yr
Middle half
$114,030 to $174,180
Job growth
Declining
Openings / yr
500
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Policy Analysis
- Research Methods
- Statistics
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
Helpful certifications
- Graduate degree (MA/PhD path)
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
58/100
Work-life balance
59/100
Stress level
42/100
Related careers
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950 median
- Sociologist$106,030 median
- Geographer$102,040 median
- Historian$76,750 median
- Anthropologist / Archeologist$70,770 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Political Scientist make?
The median pay for a Political Scientist is $142,080 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $114,030 and $174,180 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Political Scientist?
The usual entry point is a doctoral degree. Common majors are Political Science, Public Policy, Economics, and International Relations.
Is Political Scientist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is declining (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 500 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Political Scientist use most?
Common skills for this role are Policy Analysis, Research Methods, Statistics, Writing, and Critical Thinking.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).