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Top 10 cities for sociologists by average salary
| San Francisco, CA | $131,480 |
|---|---|
| Durham, NC | $129,900 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $125,220 |
| Riverside, CA | $124,360 |
| Boston, MA | $123,880 |
| Stockton, CA | $120,950 |
| Washington, DC | $105,420 |
| Seattle, WA | $101,990 |
| Columbus, OH | $84,660 |
| Lansing, MI | $81,650 |
Map: Sociologists salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Sociologists salary by state
| State | Metros | Highest average | Lowest average |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 4 | $131,480 | $120,950 |
| North Carolina | 1 | $129,900 | $129,900 |
| Massachusetts | 1 | $123,880 | $123,880 |
| Washington, D.C. | 1 | $105,420 | $105,420 |
| Washington | 1 | $101,990 | $101,990 |
| Ohio | 1 | $84,660 | $84,660 |
| Michigan | 1 | $81,650 | $81,650 |
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Sociologists salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $131,480 | $134,770 | $63.21 | 110 |
| Durham, NC | $129,900 | $126,760 | $62.45 | n/a |
| Los Angeles, CA | $125,220 | $124,540 | $60.20 | 70 |
| Riverside, CA | $124,360 | $131,170 | $59.79 | 40 |
| Boston, MA | $123,880 | $106,530 | $59.56 | 240 |
| Stockton, CA | $120,950 | $131,170 | $58.15 | 30 |
| Washington, DC | $105,420 | $103,840 | $50.68 | 60 |
| Seattle, WA | $101,990 | $97,170 | $49.03 | 90 |
| Columbus, OH | $84,660 | $82,820 | $40.70 | 100 |
| Lansing, MI | $81,650 | $64,180 | $39.26 | 60 |
Related jobs
- Clinical and Counseling PsychologistsU.S. metro average $112,715
- School PsychologistsU.S. metro average $101,705
- EconomistsU.S. metro average $145,984
- Survey ResearchersU.S. metro average $83,986
- Urban and Regional PlannersU.S. metro average $97,928
- Anthropologists and ArcheologistsU.S. metro average $77,133
- HistoriansU.S. metro average $91,171
- Social Scientists and Related Workers, All OtherU.S. metro average $110,833
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Sociologists salary: questions
Where do sociologists make the most money?
In San Francisco, CA, with an average of $131,480 a year, among the 10 metro areas we cover.
What is the average sociologists salary in the U.S.?
$113,040 a year across all U.S. metro areas, weighted by employment (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
Where is sociologists pay the lowest?
Lansing, MI, at $81,650 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3041.
- U.S. metro average: employment-weighted mean of every metro area in the OEWS file (not only the ones listed here).
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.