Law & Public
What you can do with Political Science
Government, policy, and power. A common on-ramp to law, advocacy, and public service.
- Careers
- 6
- Early career
- $52,000
- Mid-career
- $100,000
- Growing fast
- 0 of 6
How these numbers work: A major does not have its own salary. Early and mid-career pay is what people who hold this degree earn at the start of their careers and midway through them. Career pay comes from the 6 careers a Political Science degree commonly leads to, and counts everyone in those jobs, including people who have been doing them for thirty years. The two answer different questions, which is why they do not match.
53% of people with this degree go on to a graduate degree, so the higher-paying careers below usually mean more school after the bachelor's.
0 of 6 careers this degree leads to are projected to grow faster than average from 2024 to 2034.
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6 careers this degree leads to
Lawyer / Attorney
$159,670Advise and represent clients in legal matters, prepare legal documents, and argue cases.
- Middle half of workers
- $102,990 to $221,370
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 31,500
Work-life35Remote45Satisfaction70- Legal Research
- Writing
- Oral Advocacy
- Critical Thinking
Political Scientist
$142,080Analyze political systems, public opinion, and policy, informing governments, think tanks, and campaigns.
- Middle half of workers
- $114,030 to $174,180
- Growth
- Declining
- Openings a year
- 500
Work-life59Remote58- Policy Analysis
- Research Methods
- Statistics
- Writing
Compliance Officer
$80,730Keep organizations on the right side of laws and regulations by evaluating practices, licenses, and controls.
- Middle half of workers
- $61,280 to $109,010
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 33,300
- Regulatory Analysis
- Auditing
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Criminal Justice / Law Enforcement
$76,210Maintain law and order, prevent crime, and protect communities.
- Middle half of workers
- $59,290 to $97,600
- Growth
- About average
- Openings a year
- 53,700
Work-life32Remote5Satisfaction62- Law Enforcement
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
- Problem Solving
Paralegal
$62,890Do the legal legwork behind every case: research precedent, draft documents, and keep matters moving for attorneys.
- Middle half of workers
- $50,340 to $80,080
- Growth
- Slower than average
- Openings a year
- 39,300
Work-life69Remote66- Legal Research
- Document Drafting
- Writing
- Organization
Journalist / Reporter
$62,200Report and tell the stories that keep the public informed, across print, broadcast, and digital newsrooms.
- Middle half of workers
- $45,370 to $98,450
- Growth
- Declining
- Openings a year
- 4,100
- Reporting
- Interviewing
- Writing
- Fact-Checking
Related majors
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Where these pay figures come from
Early and mid-career pay is the median annual wage of full-time workers who hold a bachelor's degree in that major, ages 22 to 27 and ages 35 to 45, from 2024 data. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (IPUMS). Published as Outcomes by Major by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
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.