Sociologists held about 3,000 jobs in 2021. The largest employers of sociologists were as follows:
| Research and development in the social sciences and humanities | 41% |
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | 17 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 14 |
| Self-employed workers | 5 |
Sociologists typically work in an office. They may work outside of an office setting when conducting research through interviews or observations or presenting research results.
Work Schedules
Most sociologists work full time during regular business hours.
Sociologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Bachelor’s degree holders may find positions in related fields, such as social services, education, or public policy.
Education
Sociologists typically need a master’s degree or Ph.D. to enter the occupation. There are two types of sociology master’s degree programs: traditional programs and applied, clinical, and professional programs. Traditional programs prepare students to enter a Ph.D. program. Applied, clinical, and professional programs prepare students to enter the workplace, teaching them the necessary analytical skills to perform sociological research in a professional setting.
Courses in research methods and statistics are important for candidates in both master’s and Ph.D. programs. Many programs also offer opportunities to gain experience through internships or by preparing reports for clients.
Jobseekers who have a bachelor's degree in sociology may find entry-level positions in related fields, such as social services, education, or public policy.
Other Experience
Candidates with a bachelor’s degree may benefit from internships or volunteer work when looking for entry-level positions in sociology or a related field. These types of opportunities give students a chance to apply their academic knowledge in a professional setting and develop skills needed for the field.
Sociologists typically have an interest in the Thinking, Creating and Helping interest areas, according to the Holland Code framework. The Thinking interest area indicates a focus on researching, investigating, and increasing the understanding of natural laws. The Creating interest area indicates a focus on being original and imaginative, and working with artistic media. The Helping interest area indicates a focus on assisting, serving, counseling, or teaching other people.
If you are not sure whether you have a Thinking or Creating or Helping interest which might fit with a career as a sociologist, you can take a career test to measure your interests.
Sociologists should also possess the following specific qualities:
Analytical skills. Sociologists must be able to carefully analyze data and other information, often utilizing statistical processes to test their theories.
Communication skills. Sociologists need strong communication skills when they conduct interviews, collaborate with colleagues, and present research results.
Critical-thinking skills. Sociologists must be able to think critically when doing research. They must design research projects and collect, process, and analyze information in order to draw logical conclusions about society and the groups it comprises.
Problem-solving skills. Sociologists’ research typically is focused on identifying, studying, and solving sociological problems.
Writing skills. Sociologists frequently write reports detailing their findings.
The median annual wage for sociologists was $92,910 in May 2021. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $60,770, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $135,420.
In May 2021, the median annual wages for sociologists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| State government, excluding education and hospitals | $105,120 |
| Research and development in the social sciences and humanities | 99,640 |
| Educational services; state, local, and private | 64,670 |
Most sociologists work full time during regular business hours.
Employment of sociologists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2021 to 2031, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 300 openings for sociologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Sociologists will continue to be needed to apply sociological research to other disciplines. For example, sociologists may collaborate with researchers in other social sciences, such as economists, psychologists, and survey researchers, to study how social structures or groups influence policy decisions about health, education, politics, criminal justice, business, or economics.