The salary statistics and trend of political scientists in the industry of research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences are shown in the following tables and chart. In Table 3 we compare political scientist salaries in different industries within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector.
| Percentile Bracket | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th Percentile Wage | $85,730 |
| 25th Percentile Wage | $105,420 |
| 50th Percentile Wage | $131,810 |
| 75th Percentile Wage | $163,230 |
| 90th Percentile Wage | $193,900 |
Table 1 shows the average annual salaries for political scientists in the industry of research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences. The salaries are shown in 5 percentile scales. The average annual salary for the 90th percentile (the top 10 percent of the highest paid) political scientists is $193,900. The median annual salary (50th percentile) is $131,810. The average annual salary for the bottom 10 percent political scientists is $85,730.
The table and chart below show the trend of the median salary of political scientists in the industry of Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences from 2012 to 2017.
| Year | Median Salary | Yearly Growth | 5-Year Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | $131,810 | 2.22% | 15.58% |
| 2016 | $128,890 | 9.22% | - |
| 2015 | $117,000 | 22.33% | - |
| 2014 | $90,870 | -3.81% | - |
| 2013 | $94,330 | -17.96% | - |
| 2012 | $111,270 | - | - |
The average salaries of political scientists in two industries within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector are shown in Table 3. For salary information of political scientists in a specific industry, use the links in the table.
| Industry | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | |
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | |