SOC 19-3094 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Political Scientists — Michigan
Michigan · 2 metro areas compared
Median pay in Michigan is $86,290 a year, 39.3% under the national median of $142,080 for this occupation.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay in Michigan is $86,290 a year, 39.3% under the national median of $142,080 for this occupation. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $78,950 and $109,580. The lowest tenth earn under $68,380, while the highest tenth earn more than $155,740.
The area has 180 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 1.12 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Michigan ranks number 12th out of 13 states by median pay for this occupation. Within the state, Ann Arbor records the highest median at $86,290. Of the 774 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 158th.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $68,380 | −51.9% |
| 25th | $78,950 | −44.4% |
| Median (50th) | $86,290 | −39.3% |
| 75th | $109,580 | −22.9% |
| 90th | $155,740 | +9.6% |
| Mean | $102,060 | −28.2% |
Highest-paying metro areas in Michigan
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Michigan run 3.8% below the national average, so the median of $86,290 goes as far as $89,699 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way it compares to the national median at 36.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$86,290as reported by BLSLocal price level
96.2US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$89,699US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $86,290 a year, 39.3% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $68,380 to $155,740 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 180 jobs in this occupation.
- It ranks 12th of 13 states for this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is Ann Arbor, at $86,290.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Political Scientists in Michigan?
The median annual wage is $86,290, or $41.49 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 Michigan is 39.3% 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 Michigan earns more than $155,740 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $68,380 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 Ann Arbor, at $86,290 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 180 jobs in this occupation in Michigan. 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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