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.
- Median pay
- $106,030
- Doing it now
- 2,700
- By 2035
- Up 3.8%
- Usually needs
- Master's degree
a year
across the country
200 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
- Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
- Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
- Teach sociology.
- Direct work of statistical clerks, statisticians, and others who compile and evaluate research data.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- SociologySee 995 colleges that teach it
- Social Sciences, GeneralSee 348 colleges that teach it
- CriminologySee 222 colleges that teach it
- Urban Studies/AffairsSee 109 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Analytical and curious
Helping and teaching
Creative and expressive
Careers like this one
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $106,030 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.