CAREER

Sociologists

Overview

Salary Median (2020)

$86,110

Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)

+3.6% (slower than the average)

Most Common Level of Education

Master's degree

Career

What Sociologists Do

Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

Other Job Titles Sociologists May Have

Research Associate, Research Coordinator, Research Scientist, Research Specialist, Social Scientist, Sociologist

How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work

Executive Vice President ,

Institute for Women's Policy Research

I do internet research, write, prepare presentations, and talk with others to gather information.

Senior Research Fellow ,

Strada Education Network

From the morning to the early afternoon, I'm usually managing multiple research projects, writing, researching, and analyzing data. In the afternoons, I'm communicating with my team to via Slack, meetings, and other venues to share updates, provide feedback, strategize, and plan new work. I also have a steady diet of collaborating with internal and external colleagues and a steady digest of reading new research and articles to stay abreast on the state of our field.


Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

  • Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
  • Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
  • Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
  • Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
  • Teach sociology.

This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.