Sociologists pay range in Washington
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,770 a year or less, while the top 10% make $162,680 or more. The middle half of sociologists in Washington earn between $81,410 and $136,660.
- $68K10th
- $81K25th
- $104KMedian
- $137K75th
- $163K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $105,420 | $8,785 | $50.68 |
| Median | $103,840 | $8,653 | $49.92 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,410 | $6,784 | $39.14 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $136,660 | $11,388 | $65.70 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year.
Sociologists salary after taxes in Washington
On the average salary of $105,420, a single filer in Washington takes home about $77,001 a year, or $6,417 a month and $2,962 every two weeks. Taxes take 27% of gross pay.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in WV | $79,054 | $6,588 |
| Working in MD | $78,192 | $6,516 |
| Working in VA | $77,745 | $6,479 |
| Working in DC | $77,001 | $6,417 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Washington a good place for sociologists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Washington area are 9% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 108.9), so the average $105,420 buys what about $96,819 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.5 times the median wage of all jobs in Washington ($71,060). A typical home costs $583,013, or 5.5 years of this average salary before tax.
Sociologists salary in nearby metro areas
- Durham, NC$129,900
- Columbus, OH$84,660
- Boston, MA$123,880
- Lansing, MI$81,650
- Riverside, CA$124,360
- Los Angeles, CA$125,220
Highest-paying cities for sociologists
San Francisco, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($131,480).
- San Francisco, CA$131,480
- Durham, NC$129,900
- Los Angeles, CA$125,220
- Riverside, CA$124,360
- Boston, MA$123,880
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Sociologists salary in Washington: questions
How much do sociologists make an hour in Washington?
$50.68 an hour on average, and $49.93 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level sociologists salary in Washington?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $67,770 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,410, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the sociologists take-home pay in Washington?
About $77,001 a year ($6,417 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $105,420.
Do sociologists earn more in Washington than elsewhere?
The average here is 7% less than the U.S. metro average for this job ($113,040).
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; area Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV (47900). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 2.2%.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.34, this job is 1.3 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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