Science
Sociologist
Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.
Median pay
$106,030
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
200
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Sociologist
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Master's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Exposure to disease
Sociologist: 65% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
- Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
- Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach sociology.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
- Present research findings at professional meetings.
- Explain sociological research to the general public.
Also called: Demographer · Evaluation Specialist · Medical Sociologist · Policy Analyst · Research Associate · Research Coordinator · Research Scientist · Research Specialist
Outlook and AI
Sociologists held 2,700 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 2,800 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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- Sociologist vs. Survey researcher
- Sociologist vs. Political science teachers, postsecondary
- Sociologist vs. Social science research assistant
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- Sociologist vs. Area, ethnic, and cultural studies teachers, postsecondary
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