SOC 19-3094 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Political Scientists — Phoenix
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
The median wage for Political Scientists in Phoenix, AZ is $114,320 per year, 19.5% below the national median of $142,080.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
The median wage for Political Scientists in Phoenix, AZ is $114,320 per year, 19.5% below the national median of $142,080. Pay ranges from under $78,390 at the tenth percentile to more than $199,120 at the ninetieth, with the interquartile range running from $86,690 to $162,690.
The area has 30 jobs in this occupation, which works out to 0.0 of every thousand jobs. Set against every other occupation measured in the same area, it ranks 70th of 647 by median pay.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $78,390 | −44.8% |
| 25th | $86,690 | −39.0% |
| Median (50th) | $114,320 | −19.5% |
| 75th | $162,690 | +14.5% |
| 90th | $199,120 | +40.1% |
| Mean | $124,870 | −12.1% |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Phoenix sit close to the national average, so $114,320 is worth roughly its face value against pay elsewhere.
Published median
$114,320as reported by BLSLocal price level
100.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$113,525US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $114,320 a year, 19.5% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $78,390 to $199,120 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 30 jobs in this occupation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Political Scientists in Phoenix, AZ?
The median annual wage is $114,320, or $54.96 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 Phoenix, AZ is 19.5% 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 Phoenix, AZ earns more than $199,120 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $78,390 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.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 30 jobs in this occupation in Phoenix, AZ. 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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