Sociologists
Life, Physical, and Social Science
Most of the work is research: designing questionnaires and interviews, then gathering information through observation, conversations, and document review. The data are analyzed to test ideas about issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging, and to show how organizations and institutions influence their members. Findings are written up in reports and publications, presented at professional meetings, and sometimes explained to the public. Some also teach sociology. It tends to suit people who like close reading of social patterns, careful method design, and turning evidence into clear writing.
Typical education: Doctoral Degree (Ph.D., Ed.D.)
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$106'030
Median Wage Market Position
$106'030
What you might do
- Analyze data on how people behave in groups
- Plan studies of crime, poverty, and aging
- Design surveys, interviews, and observation methods
- Write reports and papers on research findings
- Present findings at professional meetings
- Explain research findings to the public
Skills that matter
- Listening during interviews and group observation
- Writing reports on social behavior research
- Designing questionnaires and interview methods
- Teaching sociology
- Explaining research to the general public
- Testing theories about crime, poverty, or aging
AI & the future of this role
Literature reviews, survey coding, and draft write-ups may move to automated tools that synthesize large text and data sets quickly. Field insight, ethical judgment about people and institutions, and original theory still matter, though demand for routine analysis could soften.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details