Political Scientists

People in this field analyze political decisionmaking, public opinion, and ideologies. On a day-to-day basis, they gather and process information, analyze data, and interpret their findings for others. They may study election results, public documents, or opinion surveys. This work requires strong investigative interests and intellectual curiosity.

To succeed, political scientists rely on skills like reading comprehension, critical thinking, active learning, and writing. They must communicate their findings clearly through speaking and writing. Their daily tasks require deep knowledge of law and government, history, English, and communications. They also use mathematics, sociology, and geography to understand societal trends. Because the work involves complex problem solving, professionals must show attention to detail, dependability, and a tolerance for ambiguity while working with computers to process data.

Entering this career typically requires extensive preparation. Most professionals in this field need a graduate degree, such as a master's degree, PhD, JD, or MD. A master's degree is the typical minimum education level required to enter the occupation.

Students preparing for this career often choose specific college majors. Relevant programs of study include political science and government, international relations and national security studies, and international or globalization studies. Other helpful majors include public policy analysis, history and political science, or philosophy, politics, and economics. These programs help students build the necessary foundation in research methods, government structures, and analytical writing.

The median annual pay for political scientists is $142,080. The lowest 10% of earners in this field make less than $83,350, while the highest 10% earn more than $195,190.

This is a relatively small occupation, with only 5,540 people employed. Between 2025 and 2035, employment in this field is projected to decline by -2%. Despite this slight decline in total jobs, about 400 openings are still projected to occur each year.