SOC 19-3094 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Political Scientists — Arizona
Arizona · 1 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Arizona is $108,770 a year, trailing the national median of $142,080 by 23.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Arizona is $108,770 a year, trailing the national median of $142,080 by 23.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $81,200 and $159,120. The lowest tenth earn under $71,800, while the highest tenth earn more than $163,430.
The area has 50 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.42 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Arizona ranks number 10th out of 13 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Phoenix records the highest median at $114,320. Of the 712 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 75th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $71,800 | −49.5% |
| 25th | $81,200 | −42.8% |
| Median (50th) | $108,770 | −23.4% |
| 75th | $159,120 | +12.0% |
| 90th | $163,430 | +15.0% |
| Mean | $117,910 | −17.0% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Arizona
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phoenix | $114,320 | 30 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Arizona sit close to the national average, so $108,770 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$108,770as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$108,014US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $108,770 a year, 23.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $71,800 to $163,430 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 50 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 10th of 13 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Phoenix, at $114,320.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Political Scientists in Arizona?
The median annual wage is $108,770, or $52.29 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $142,080, so pay in Arizona is 23.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Arizona earns more than $163,430 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $71,800 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in Phoenix, at $114,320 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 50 jobs in this occupation in Arizona. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.
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