National Salary Info » Political Scientists

Highest Paying Industries for Political Scientists

The top 26 highest paying industries for political scientists (ranked by average annual salary) are listed in Table 1. The entry level salary (as measured by the salary of the lowest 10% paid earners) and the number of employment in those industries are also shown. As shown in the table, with an average annual salary of $116,910, federal government, including usps is the highest paying industry for political scientists. It is followed by federal executive branch (oes designation) industry (average annual salary $116,910). The salary and employment information is computed from data published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2015 [1]. For more information about salaries of political scientists in a specific industry, use the links in the table.

Table 1. 26 Highest Paying Industries for Political Scientists

Rank	Industry	Average Salary i	Entry Level Salary i	# of Empl. i
1	Federal government, including USPS	$116,910	$78,130	3,180
2	Federal Executive Branch (OES Designation)	$116,910	$78,130	3,180
3	Federal, State, and Local Government (OES Designation)	$116,890	$70,510	3,500
4	Federal, State, and Local Government	$116,890	$70,510	3,500
5	Public sector -- Federal, state, and local government, including government owned schools and hospit	$109,820	$59,160	3,930
6	Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities	$108,190	$50,280	520
7	Scientific Research and Development Services	$105,090	$50,930	720
8	Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$94,500	$45,270	1,410
9	Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences	$90,870	$51,690	n/a
10	Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services	$87,780	$43,360	450
11	Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations	$77,540	$55,000	60
12	Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services	$76,790	$42,810	180
13	Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations	$71,330	$46,610	250
14	Other Services (except Federal, State, and Local Government)	$71,330	$46,610	250
15	Local government, including schools and hospitals	$67,900	$48,110	220
16	Local Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$67,900	$48,110	220
17	Social Advocacy Organizations	$67,400	$45,160	190
18	State Government, excluding schools and hospitals (OES Designation)	$63,350	$42,580	100
19	State government, including schools and hospitals	$58,500	$38,460	530
20	Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services	$57,460	$43,390	n/a
21	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - State government owned	$57,080	$36,370	430
22	Educational Services - State government owned	$57,080	$36,370	430
23	Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools	$57,060	$36,920	460
24	Educational Services	$57,060	$36,920	460
25	Colleges, universities, and professional schools - Privately owned	$56,760	$41,050	30
26	Educational Services - Privately owned	$56,760	$41,050	30