The Political Science major builds core foundations in this discipline and prepares students with practical, career-relevant skills. Use RoEDU™ to find programs that match your goals.
Within Government, students often explore key subfields and specializations that provide targeted expertise.
Graduates translate classroom knowledge into real-world impact across sectors through hands-on projects and internships.
As part of Government, this major connects to diverse, high-demand fields and interdisciplinary pathways.
Typical starting pay soon after graduation.
Estimated after a decade of experience.
Seasoned professionals at ~20 years.
CAGR (compound annual growth rate) summarizes average yearly change across the observed period.
Employment-weighted across mapped SOCs; entry ≈ 85% of median; historical CAGR shown for last 5y; projections capped at 3% CAGR; lifetime is 40-year present value at 3% discount.
Data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) • Median wages, employment, and growth projections
| Occupation | Median Wage | Total Jobs | Growth Rate | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Social Science Research Assistants SOC: 19-4061 Occupation: Social Science Research Assistants | $58,040 | 32,940 | N/A | N/A |
Political Scientists SOC: 19-3094 Occupation: Political Scientists | $139,380 | 5,950 | N/A | N/A |
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC: 25-1065 Occupation: Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $94,680 | 17,170 | N/A | N/A |
Managers, All Other SOC: 11-9199 Occupation: Managers, All Other | $136,550 | 630,980 | N/A | N/A |
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC: 25-1063 Occupation: Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | $119,980 | 12,420 | N/A | N/A |
Economists SOC: 19-3011 Occupation: Economists | $115,440 | 15,880 | N/A | N/A |
Historical data from Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020-2024) • Salary trends and employment growth over 5 years
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $58,040 | 32,940 |
| 2023 | $56,400 | 30,890 |
| 2022 | $50,470 | 28,720 |
| 2021 | $49,720 | 28,690 |
| 2020 | $49,210 | 35,330 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $139,380 | 5,950 |
| 2023 | $132,350 | 5,580 |
| 2022 | $128,020 | 5,660 |
| 2021 | $122,510 | 5,650 |
| 2020 | $125,350 | 6,010 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $94,680 | 17,170 |
| 2023 | $93,810 | 17,090 |
| 2022 | $83,770 | 15,190 |
| 2021 | $81,980 | 14,060 |
| 2020 | $85,760 | 15,130 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $136,550 | 630,980 |
| 2023 | $133,560 | 589,750 |
| 2022 | $128,620 | 543,290 |
| 2021 | $124,650 | 497,890 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $119,980 | 12,420 |
| 2023 | $115,300 | 12,210 |
| 2022 | $103,930 | 11,640 |
| 2021 | $104,940 | 11,790 |
| 2020 | $107,260 | 13,080 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $115,440 | 15,880 |
| 2023 | $115,730 | 16,420 |
| 2022 | $113,940 | 16,370 |
| 2021 | $105,630 | 15,640 |
| 2020 | $108,350 | 17,520 |
| Year | Median Wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $64,580 | 1,072,540 |
| 2023 | $65,220 | 1,045,170 |
| 2022 | $62,360 | 1,042,090 |
| 2021 | $61,820 | 1,020,240 |
| 2020 | $62,870 | 991,000 |