A political scientist’s starting salary is more than $40,000 per year. Political scientists work in government and politics, education, law enforcement, research organizations and in business. Schools hire them as political science professors, while businesses employ them as consultants or lobbyists.
Political science is one of the most popular majors, with students seeking to gain a broad knowledge of politics. Political science careers vary greatly and offer numerous advantages for students who choose this field. Let’s see what we can do for those students who are interested in the political science field.
A career in political science can mean a lot of different things, but one thing is clear: it’s an excellent way to work with people and make a difference while also having a healthy bank account balance. You’ll find your average base salary will vary depending on the type of organization you work for.
Starting Salary For Political Science Major Overview
Political science is a field that has a broad range of career opportunities. What you can do with a political science degree depends on the type of job you choose to work in. Some common jobs for political science majors include:
Public policy analyst – This position requires an understanding of government and public policy, as well as the ability to create solutions that help individuals and communities.
Corporate public relations manager – This position requires an understanding of how the public perceives companies and organizations, as well as knowledge about how to manage information flow within an organization.
Community organizer – This position requires an understanding of how communities function, as well as knowledge about how to create change within them.
In addition to these jobs, many other careers are open to political science majors because they require some knowledge of government or public policy. For example:
Lawyer – Lawyers spend their days working with clients on legal issues related to civil law or criminal law, which means they must understand both sides of an issue and be able to explain it clearly in court documents or oral arguments before judges or juries. Lawyers use many different skills including research skills (they must find relevant cases), writing skills (they must write briefs), speaking skills (they must speak
The Starting Salaries for a Political Scientist
Political scientists are educated professionals with good incomes. They work in television, the military, in institutions of higher learning, for nonprofit organizations and for the government. They must have knowledge of law and government, sociology, philosophy and geography. They analyze and report on political systems, study the structure of governments, monitor current events and forecast political and social trends.
Often, political scientists go into academia as professors and teachers. For those who are fascinated by government, politics and public policy, a political science degree is well worth it. Political science average salary was $124,000 as of May 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistic, or BLS.
Political Scientist Salary
The BLS, reports that, as of May 2020, the lowest 10 percent of political scientists earn salaries around $62,840. This figure was slightly above the starting salaries of other humanities and social sciences graduates reported by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, or NACE, in Winter 2021. Political scientists can expect their starting salaries to increase substantially with advanced education and media exposure from authoring books or working in television. Annual median pay for a political scientist is $125,350, the BLS reports. Those at the 90th percentile on the salary continuum annually earn upwards of $170,800.
Political Scientist Training and Education
A versatile political science bachelor’s degree qualifies candidates for jobs in many types of settings. Examples such as entry-level political science jobs include research assistant, paralegal, political reporter, community organizer, social media coordinator and campaign worker. Political scientists with master’s degrees or doctorates might become television commentators, legislative analysts or university department heads, with higher accompanying salaries. Common master’s degrees that political science students earn include Master of Public Affairs, Master of Public Policy or Master of Public Administration. Common doctorate themes for political scientists include American politics, political theory, international relations and comparative politics.
Best Places to Work
The BLS reports that, as of May 2020, the states with the highest employment of political scientists included the District of Columbia, Virginia and Texas. States with the highest mean wages in 2020 for political scientists were Maryland at $151,660, Virginia at $145,780 and Michigan at $142,750. Some of the highest-paying metropolitian areas for political scientists included Baltimore; New York City; Washington, D.C.; Virginia Beach, N.C. and Boston.
Entry-Level Political Science Jobs
Graduates interested in pursuing a political science-related career straight out of college may look for an entry-level position that only requires a bachelor’s degree and no prior work experience. These careers may be available across many different fields, including business, government, law, and communications. For example, students may pursue careers as legislative aides, political consultants, community relations coordinators, and congressional aides. Compare some of these entry-level careers for those with a background in political science and their salaries in the table below.
| Job Title | Median Annual Salary (2018)* |
|---|---|
| Writers | $62,170 |
| Reporters, Correspondents, and Broadcast News Analysts | $43,490 |
| Paralegals and Legal Assistants | $50,940 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $46,640 |
| Budget Analysts | $76,220 |
| Market Research Analysts | $63,120 |
| Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $38,880 |
Advanced Political Science Jobs
Many graduates with a political science degree may wish to become a political scientist to study and research political systems and issues. In 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that political scientists made a median annual salary of $117,570. However, these professionals typically need to have at least a master’s degree in the field. Other advanced job options for those with a background in political science that may require additional training at the graduate level include:
- Professor
- Survey researcher
- Historian
- Economist
- Attorney
Is a Political Science Degree Worth It?
Determining if a degree in political science is worth it really comes down to personal goals, preferences, and interests. As we have seen, one of the great benefits to a political science degree is its flexibility to help prepare students for a wide range of careers. However, students should consider any additional training or education requirements for these positions, even entry-level positions. For example, although it may not be required, it may be beneficial for budget analysts to pursue budget analyst certification programs or aspiring legal assistants to take online legal assistant courses.
We have also seen that many political science-related positions (including entry-level positions) lead to higher salaries (average or median salaries greater than $50,000). Students considering a career in political science may wish to pursue advanced education at the graduate level to even further expand their career options and salary potential.
