How does Political Scientists salary grow from entry-level to senior in Virginia? State salary progression based on 2024 BLS data.
145% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2024 • Virginia salary data • Updated 2026-04-06
The salary range for Political Scientists in Virginia spans from $74,800 at entry-level to $183,500 at senior level — a difference of $108,700 per year.
Senior Political Scientistss in Virginia earn $108,700 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Political Scientists salary increases with experience in Virginia, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $74,800 | $6,233 | $35.96 |
| Early Career | P25 | $115,730 | $9,644 | $55.64 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $154,420 | $12,868 | $74.24 |
| Experienced | P75 | $183,500 | $15,292 | $88.22 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $183,500 | $15,292 | $88.22 |
Political Scientists in Virginia shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $74,800, while senior-level professionals earn $183,500 — a 145% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($154,420) and experienced level ($183,500), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.
Where does Virginia rank for Political Scientists senior-level salaries? Compare Virginia's P90 pay to other top-paying states.
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Entry-level Political Scientistss (10th percentile) earn approximately $74,800 per year, or $6,233 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $115,730. Based on 2024 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Political Scientistss (90th percentile) earn approximately $183,500 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $183,500. This represents a career premium of 145% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Political Scientistss is 145%. Entry-level professionals start at $74,800, while senior-level can earn up to $183,500 — a difference of $108,700 per year.
The highest-paying state for senior Political Scientistss is Virginia, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $183,500 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.
We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2024 data. The 10th percentile (P10) approximates entry-level pay — the salary that 90% of workers earn more than. The 90th percentile (P90) approximates senior/expert-level pay — only 10% of workers earn above this threshold. National averages are computed across all reporting U.S. states.
Salary percentile data for Virginia from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2024. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. State averages differ from national averages due to regional variations in cost of living, demand, and workforce composition. Actual salaries vary based on employer, experience, education, certifications, and specific location within Virginia.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS