Political Science
Social Sciences · federal classification: Political Science and Government
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $60,984 | $54,331 to $68,377 | 600 | 97% |
| Master's Degree | $70,319 | $65,896 to $83,033 | 19 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +2% (2024 to 2034), about 182,300 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managers, All Other | $136,550 | +4.5% | 106,700 |
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $64,580 | -1.6% | 66,200 |
| Social Science Research Assistants | $58,040 | +4.4% | 5,200 |
| Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $94,680 | +2% | 1,600 |
| Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $119,980 | +2.1% | 1,200 |
| Economists | $115,440 | +1.2% | 900 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.