# Sociologists

> 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.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sociologists
- SOC code: 19-3041.00
- Career family: Science
- Median annual pay: $106,030 (10th percentile $65,160, 90th percentile $172,550)
- Projected growth: As fast as average, +3.8%
- Openings a year: 200
- Typical entry education: Master's degree
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code ISA)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 9 |
| Investigative (I) | 92 |
| Artistic (A) | 50 |
| Social (S) | 56 |
| Enterprising (E) | 35 |
| Conventional (C) | 43 |

## What you'd do

- Getting Information (importance 96/100)
- Analyzing Data or Information (importance 95/100)
- Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others (importance 91/100)
- Processing Information (importance 91/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 88/100)
- Working with Computers (importance 84/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 84/100)
- Training and Teaching Others (importance 83/100)
- Documenting/Recording Information (importance 76/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 75/100)

## Skills

Active Listening, Speaking, Active Learning, Critical Thinking, Reading Comprehension, Writing, Learning Strategies, Social Perceptiveness, Complex Problem Solving, Instructing

## Knowledge

Sociology and Anthropology, English Language, Education and Training, Mathematics, History and Archeology, Computers and Electronics, Law and Government, Philosophy and Theology, Psychology, Communications and Media

## Also called

Clinical Evaluator, Clinical Sociologist, Criminologist, Demographer, Evaluation Specialist, Family Sociologist, Medical Sociologist, Penologist, Policy Advisor, Policy Analyst

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- [Sociology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4511) (CIP 4511, 1,168 colleges)
- [Social Sciences, General](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4501) (CIP 4501, 547 colleges)
- [Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/5132) (CIP 5132, 352 colleges)
- [Criminology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4504) (CIP 4504, 252 colleges)
- [Urban Studies/Affairs](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4512) (CIP 4512, 130 colleges)
- [Sociology and Anthropology](https://www.collegesref.com/programs/4513) (CIP 4513, 65 colleges)
- Demography (CIP 4505, 22 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [Vanderbilt University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/vanderbilt-university-3113) | Social Sciences, General | $74,534 | $103,229 | $15,000 |
| [Columbia University in the City of New York](https://www.collegesref.com/college/columbia-university-in-the-city-of-new-york-656) | Sociology | $59,638 | $101,536 | $20,750 |
| [New York University NYU](https://www.collegesref.com/college/new-york-university-nyu-1866) | Social Sciences, General | $51,431 | $91,917 | $21,125 |
| [William & Mary](https://www.collegesref.com/college/william-mary-3270) | Sociology | $38,559 | $87,655 | $15,000 |
| [Dartmouth College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/dartmouth-college-769) | Sociology | $67,796 | $81,722 | $10,911 |
| [Barnard College](https://www.collegesref.com/college/barnard-college-181) | Urban Studies/Affairs | $76,413 | $79,807 | $13,192 |
| [Harvard University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/harvard-university-1157) | Social Sciences, General | $55,717 | $78,996 | $25,000 |
| [George Washington University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/george-washington-university-1066) | Sociology | $58,458 | $78,857 | not reported |

## Related careers

- [Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sociology-teachers-postsecondary): $84,290 median pay
- [Anthropologists and Archeologists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/anthropologists-and-archeologists): $70,770 median pay
- [Political Scientists](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/political-scientists): $142,080 median pay
- [Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/social-work-teachers-postsecondary): $77,570 median pay
- [Survey Researchers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/survey-researchers): $69,460 median pay
- [Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/political-science-teachers-postsecondary): $98,070 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.