Political Scientist salary
From 148 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 19-3094: Political Scientists
At a glance
- Mostly Level I (entry-level). 45% of Political Scientist filings are Level I, compared with 19% across all H-1B filings.
- Median up 7% since FY2020. From $95,000 in FY2020 to $102,000 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Political Scientist H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 148 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Political Scientist jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 19-3094, Political Scientists). The median base salary is $99,416, 19% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $75,000 and $120,000. The most common wage level is Level I (entry-level), at 45% of filings.
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Enter the base salary in your offer. We compare it with certified H-1B filings for Political Scientist jobs, nationally or in one metro area.
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 45% of filings
Mid-level · 29% of filings
Senior · 15% of filings
Expert · 11% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $74,154 | 62 |
| Level II · Qualified | $108,000 | 40 |
| Level III · Experienced | $126,155 | 20 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $173,035 | 15 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Political Scientist pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 2 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $114,297 | 43 |
| New York, NY | $100,838 | 25 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Political Scientist does
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.
Typical tasks
- Teach political science.
- Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
- Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.
- Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
- Advise political science students.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as election results and public opinion surveys, reporting on findings, recommendations, and conclusions.
Preparation
Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
O*NET occupation: Political Scientists (19-3094.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Political Scientists), the median annual wage was $142,080 in May 2025, with 5,540 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $99,416, 30% lower.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $65,000 | $83,350 |
| 25th percentile | $75,000 | $114,030 |
| Median | $99,416 | $142,080 |
| 75th percentile | $120,000 | $174,180 |
| 90th percentile | $153,139 | $195,190 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $65,000 |
| 25th | $75,000 |
| 50th (median) | $99,416 |
| 75th | $120,000 |
| 90th | $153,139 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $95,000 | $81,390 | $123,750 | 46 |
| FY2021 | $88,616 | $70,813 | $130,000 | 50 |
| FY2022 | $86,800 | $70,000 | $111,478 | 75 |
| FY2023 | $89,300 | $70,000 | $120,000 | 89 |
| FY2024 | $92,500 | $73,132 | $112,920 | 75 |
| FY2025 | $90,000 | $72,250 | $116,324 | 95 |
| FY2026 | $102,000 | $87,194 | $128,437 | 53 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Political Scientist make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Political Scientist jobs is $99,416 (148 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $75,000 and $120,000.
What does an entry-level Political Scientist earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $74,154. Level I accounts for 45% of Political Scientist filings.
Do H-1B Political Scientists earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($99,416) is 30% lower than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($142,080, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.