Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2006

19-3041 Sociologists

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.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
State profile for this occupation
Metropolitan area profile for this occupation

National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
3,440 10.9 % $32.83 $68,300 4.1 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $17.69 $21.45 $28.99 $42.42 $55.66
Annual Wage (2) $36,790 $44,610 $60,290 $88,240 $115,770

Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest published employment and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all industries with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Scientific Research and Development Services 1,590 $34.94 $72,670
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools 660 $24.56 $51,070
Local Government (OES designation) 190 $28.50 $59,280
State Government (OES designation) 160 $24.44 $50,830
Elementary and Secondary Schools 100 $26.68 $55,490

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage
Federal Executive Branch (OES designation) 30 $47.41 $98,610
Social Advocacy Organizations (8) $41.08 $85,450
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (8) $35.75 $74,370
Scientific Research and Development Services 1,590 $34.94 $72,670
Local Government (OES designation) 190 $28.50 $59,280

State profile for this occupation: Top

States with the highest published employment concentrations and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all States with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

States with the highest concentration of workers in this occupation:

State Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of State employment
District of Columbia 710 $41.83 $87,000 0.117%
Idaho 90 $26.70 $55,540 0.014%
Utah 80 $26.48 $55,070 0.007%
Wisconsin 150 $24.97 $51,930 0.005%
Virginia 130 $41.21 $85,710 0.004%

Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of State employment
District of Columbia 710 $41.83 $87,000 0.117%
Virginia 130 $41.21 $85,710 0.004%
Florida 140 $39.83 $82,840 0.002%
Illinois (8) $36.00 $74,880 (8)
New York 170 $32.26 $67,110 0.002%

Metropolitan area profile for this occupation: Top

Metropolitan areas with the highest published employment concentrations and wages for this occupation are provided. For a list of all Metropolitan areas with employment in this occupation, see the Create Customized Tables function.

Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of workers in this occupation:

MSA Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of MSA employment
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 780 $41.96 $87,270 0.034%
Madison, WI 90 $24.27 $50,490 0.027%
Sacramento—Arden-Arcade—Roseville, CA 50 $32.19 $66,950 0.006%
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ 80 $29.29 $60,930 0.004%
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 110 $32.97 $68,580 0.002%

Top paying Metropolitan areas for this occupation:

MSA Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of MSA employment
Oakland-Fremont-Hayward, CA Metropolitan Division (8) $49.47 $102,890 (8)
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Division 780 $41.96 $87,270 0.034%
Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL Metropolitan Division (8) $34.89 $72,570 (8)
Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA NECTA Division (8) $34.45 $71,660 (8)
New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ Metropolitan Division 110 $32.97 $68,580 0.002%

About May 2006 National, State, Metropolitan, and nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas in every State and the District of Columbia. The top five employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable Excel files (XLS).

Percentile wage estimates show the percentage of workers in an occupation that earn less than a given wage and the percentage that earn more. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate—50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(8) Estimate not released.

Other OES estimates and related information:

May 2006 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2006 State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2006 Metropolitan and Nonmetropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

May 2006 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2006 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped Excel files

Technical notes

 

Last Modified Date: December 6, 2007