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Sociologist

Overview and Key Facts

people chatting
Education
Education
Master's degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$101,690
Job Growth
Job Growth
3.60%
(US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
3,600

What Do They Do?

A sociologist could...

 
graduation cap throw
Determine if access to a community college affects the high school graduation rate.
child with computer
Research how access to computer technology impacts the educational achievements of children.
basketball team
Investigate whether having city-sponsored sports camps reduces teen violence and is cost-effective.
cat and old man
Evaluate whether pet ownership can reduce loneliness in elderly populations.
 
graduation cap throw child with computer basketball team cat and old man

Overview Listen to this section

Any time there is more than one person in a room, there is potential for a social interaction to occur or for a group to form. Sociologists study these interactions—how and why groups and societies form, and how outside events like health issues, technology, and crime affect both the societies and the individuals. If you already like to think about how people interact as individuals and in groups, then you're thinking like a sociologist!
Learn all about what sociology is and what sociologists do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFvy_Jll8eY

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Sociologist?


  1. Active Listening: ?
  2. Speaking: ?
  3. Writing: ?
  4. Active Learning: ?
  5. Reading Comprehension: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Sociologist might do:
  • Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
  • Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
  • Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
  • Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
  • Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
  • Teach sociology.
  • Present research findings at professional meetings.
  • Explain sociological research to the general public.
  • Develop problem intervention procedures, using techniques such as interviews, consultations, role playing, and participant observation of group interactions.
  • Consult with and advise individuals such as administrators, social workers, and legislators regarding social issues and policies, as well as the implications of research findings.
  • Direct work of statistical clerks, statisticians, and others who compile and evaluate research data.
  • Collaborate with research workers in other disciplines.
  • Write grants to obtain funding for research projects.
  • Develop approaches to the solution of groups' problems, based on research findings in sociology and related disciplines.
  • Observe group interactions and role affiliations to collect data, identify problems, evaluate progress, and determine the need for additional change.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

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Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Sociologist Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Sociologist jobs (3.60%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Sociologist

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Bachelor's degree holders have limited opportunities and do not qualify for most positions as a research sociologist. A bachelor's degree does, however, provide a suitable background for many different kinds of entry-level jobs in related occupations, such as research assistant, writer, management trainee, or market analyst.

Sociologists usually require at least a master's degree. For positions at a college, university, or think-tank, a PhD is needed. To advance to the top positions in the corporate world, a PhD or a MBA (master's in business administration) is advantageous.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Master's degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

A master's degree or higher is recommended for a career as a sociologist. A bachelor's degree in sociology has great potential in related careers, but not as a research sociologist.

In addition to traditional sociology classes, students who are interested in becoming sociologists should take a variety of statistics, mathematics, and data-modeling classes. The size and complexity of data sets available to sociologists for analysis has steadily increased as Internet and other telecommunication resources grow. Such data sets require you know more complex mathematics in order to analyze them.

Companies That Hire Sociologists

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Meet Marta Tienda, professor of sociology and public affairs at Princeton University.
My research has focused on race and ethnic differences in various metrics of social inequality – ranging from poverty and welfare to education and employment – to address how ascribed attributes acquire their social and economic significance. 
Marta Tienda, Ph.D.

Nature of the Work

Sociologists study society and social behavior by examining the groups, cultures, organizations, and social institutions that people form. They also study the activities in which people participate, including social, religious, political, economic, and business organizations. They study the behavior of, and interaction among, groups, organizations, institutions, and nations and how they react to phenomena such as the spread of technology, health epidemics, crime, and social movements. They also trace the origin and growth of these groups and interactions. Sociologists analyze how social influences affect different individuals. They are also concerned with the ways organizations and institutions affect the daily lives of individuals and groups.

To analyze social patterns, sociologists design research projects that use a variety of methods, including historical analysis, comparative analysis, and quantitative and qualitative techniques. The results of sociological research aid educators, lawmakers, administrators, and others who are interested in resolving social problems and formulating public policy. Most sociologists work in one or more specialties, such as social organization, stratification, and mobility; racial and ethnic relations; education; the family; social psychology; urban, rural, political, and comparative sociology; gender relations; demography; gerontology; criminology; and sociological practice.

Work Environment

Most sociologists have regular hours. Generally working behind a desk, either alone or in collaboration with other social scientists, they analyze data and read and write research articles or reports. Many experience the pressures of writing and publishing, as well as those associated with deadlines and tight schedules. Sometimes they must work overtime, for which they usually are not compensated.

Occasionally travel may be necessary to collect information or attend meetings. When working in the field, sociologists may need to adjust to unfamiliar cultures, foods, climates, and languages.

Sociologists employed by colleges and universities usually have flexible work schedules, often dividing their time among teaching, research, writing, consulting, and administrative responsibilities.

More Information

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