FederalPay.org
Sociologist - Federal Salaries of 2021
Pay Rates for "Sociologist"
How much does a Sociologist in the federal government get paid? $112,129.92* *Based on the 2021 average.Sociologist was the 493rd most popular job in the U.S. Government in 2021, with 12 employed. The most common payscale was the general schedule payscale.
In 2021, the Environmental Protection Agency hired the most employees titled Sociology, with an average salary of $113,372.
Government Sociology jobs are classified under the General Schedule (GS) payscale. The minimum paygrade for a Sociology job is GS-6, and the highest paygrade that can be attained within this job series is GS-15. Remember that the starting and maximum yearly pay listed above reflect base pay only - your actual salary will be higher based on the Locality Pay Adjustment for the area in which you work.
This occupation includes positions that involve professional work requiring a knowledge of sociology and sociological methods specifically related to the establishment, validation, interpretation, and application of knowledge about social processes. Sociologists and study specialized areas such as: changes in the character, size, distribution, and composition of the population; social mechanisms for enforcing compliance with widely accepted norms and for controlling deviance; social phenomena having to do with human health and disease; the structure and operation of organizations; and the complex interrelationship of the individual and society.
Agencies that have hired a Sociologist
| Agency | Employees Hired | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Protection Agency | 2 | $113,372.00 |
| Veterans Health Administration | 2 | $122,214.50 |
| Food and Drug Administration | 2 | $143,606.00 |
| National Institutes of Health | 2 | $52,175.00 |
| Substance Abuse & Mental Health Service Administration | 1 | $52,175.00 |
| Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality | 1 | $172,500.00 |
| Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | 1 | $123,351.00 |
| Rural Housing Service | 1 | $134,798.00 |
Sociologist Pay Distribution
The average pay for a Sociologist is $112,129.92. The highest paid Sociologist made $172,500 in 2021.
Common Sociologist Payscales
| Payscale | Number of Sociology Employees |
|---|---|
| GS - General Schedule | 6 |
| EI - Advisory Committee Member (other) | 5 |
| EH - Advisory Committee Member (5 U.s.c. 3109) | 1 |
| Starting Paygrade: | $36,070.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-6, Step 1 |
| Maximum Paygrade: | $152,771.00 / year base pay at paygrade GS-15, Step 10 |
| Category: | Professional and Scientific |
| Occupation Family: | 0100 SOCIAL SCIENCE, PSYCHOLOGY, AND WELFARE GROUP |
Other Jobs at the GS-6 Paygrade
GS-6 is the starting paygrade for Sociology jobs. Here are some other Federal Government jobs that can be held by employees at the GS-6 paygrade.
| Occupation | Occupation Category | Starting Paygrade | Maximum Paygrade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recreation/Creative Arts Therapist | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Production Control | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Industrial Engineering Technical | Technical and Medical Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
| Safety Engineering | Professional and Scientific | GS-6 | GS-15 |
| Freight Rate | Clerical and Administrative Support | GS-1 | GS-9 |
Average Sociology Pay Trend from 2004 to 2021
In 2004, the average pay for a Sociologist was $89,645. Since then, the average pay has increased to $112,130 in 2021.
Data Sources
The information provided on these pages is sourced from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 
Enterprise Human Resources Integration (EHRI) dataset. Postal Service data is managed exclusively by the USPS . All information is displayed unmodified and as provided by the source agency.
Federal employee salaries are public information under open government laws (5 U.S.C. § 552). FederalPay provides this data in the interest of government transparency — employee data may not be used for commercial soliciting or vending of any kind. Learn more about the FederalPay Employees Dataset here.
The series code of this occupation is 0184.