Last updated: 2025 BLS data · Page refreshed:
How does Sociologists salary grow from entry-level to senior? National salary progression based on 11 states with BLS data.
139% career growth potentialData: BLS OEWS 2025 • National averages across 11 states • Updated 2026-05-19
The salary range for Sociologists spans from $70,248 at entry-level to $167,625 at senior level — a difference of $97,377 per year.
Senior Sociologistss earn $97,377 more per year than entry-level professionals.
Complete percentile breakdown showing how Sociologists salary increases with experience, from entry-level (10th percentile) to senior (90th percentile).
| Experience Level | Percentile | Annual Salary | Monthly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-Level | P10 | $70,248 | $5,854 | $33.77 |
| Early Career | P25 | $81,598 | $6,800 | $39.23 |
| Mid-Career | Median | $105,140 | $8,762 | $50.55 |
| Experienced | P75 | $133,468 | $11,122 | $64.17 |
| Senior / Expert | P90 | $167,625 | $13,969 | $80.59 |
Sociologists shows strong salary progression over a career. Entry-level professionals start around $70,248, while senior-level professionals earn $167,625 — a 139% increase. The biggest salary jump typically occurs between mid-career ($105,140) and experienced level ($133,468), suggesting that specialization and leadership responsibilities are the key drivers of higher pay.
Which states pay the highest senior-level salaries for Sociologists? Top 10 states ranked by 90th percentile (senior) pay.
Entry-level Sociologistss (10th percentile) earn approximately $70,248 per year, or $5,854 per month. Early-career professionals (25th percentile) earn around $81,598. Based on 2025 BLS OEWS data across all U.S. states.
Senior Sociologistss (90th percentile) earn approximately $167,625 per year. Experienced professionals (75th percentile) earn around $133,468. This represents a career premium of 139% over entry-level pay.
The career salary growth potential for Sociologistss is 139%. Entry-level professionals start at $70,248, while senior-level can earn up to $167,625 — a difference of $97,377 per year.
The highest-paying state for senior Sociologistss is Illinois, where 90th-percentile salaries reach $229,480 per year. See the full state-by-state comparison above.
We use BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) 2025 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.
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Salary percentile data is sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. National averages are computed across 11 states and the District of Columbia. P10 approximates entry-level compensation; P90 approximates senior/expert-level compensation. Actual salaries vary based on location, employer, experience, education, and certifications.
Our Methodology · Data Sources · Source: BLS OEWS