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Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2003


19-3041 Sociologists

Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.

National estimates for this occupation
Industry profile for this occupation
State profile for this occupation
Metropolitan area profile for this occupation


National estimates for this occupation: Top

Employment estimate and mean wage estimates for this occupation:

Employment (1) Employment
RSE (3)
Mean hourly
wage
Mean annual
wage (2)
Wage RSE (3)
3,060 12.3 % $28.16 $58,570 4.5 %

Percentile wage estimates for this occupation:

Percentile 10% 25% 50%
(Median)
75% 90%
Hourly Wage $14.68 $19.53 $26.16 $35.22 $44.84
Annual Wage (2) $30,530 $40,630 $54,410 $73,260 $93,270


Industry profile for this occupation: Top

Industries with the highest levels of employment in this occupation:

Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Employment rank Wage rank
Scientific research and development services 1,500 $34.20 $71,140 1 2
Colleges and universities 580 $19.01 $39,530 2 8
Local government (OES designation) 180 $25.20 $52,410 3 3
State government (OES designation) 180 $21.41 $44,530 4 7
Elementary and secondary schools 110 $21.88 $45,500 5 6

Top paying industries for this occupation:

Industry Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Employment rank Wage rank
Federal government (OES designation) 50 $37.93 $78,900 7 1
Scientific research and development services 1,500 $34.20 $71,140 1 2
Local government (OES designation) 180 $25.20 $52,410 3 3
Social advocacy organizations (6) $24.97 $51,930 (6) 4
Nursing care facilities 60 $22.52 $46,850 6 5


State profile for this occupation: Top

States with the highest concentration of workers in this occupation:

State Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of State employment Wage rank within State
Idaho 80 $21.97 $45,690 0.014% 122
Oklahoma 90 $19.91 $41,410 0.006% 179
California 680 $28.96 $60,240 0.005% 173
Wisconsin 120 $16.79 $34,910 0.004% 363
New York 330 $31.62 $65,780 0.004% 122

Top paying States for this occupation:

State Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of State employment Wage rank within State
Florida 90 $34.05 $70,830 0.001% 55
New York 330 $31.62 $65,780 0.004% 122
California 680 $28.96 $60,240 0.005% 173
Pennsylvania 90 $25.99 $54,060 0.002% 146
North Carolina 90 $23.38 $48,620 0.002% 149


Metropolitan area profile for this occupation: Top

Metropolitan areas with the highest concentration of workers in this occupation:

MSA Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of MSA employment
Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV PMSA 760 $33.80 $70,300 0.028%
Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA 60 $23.69 $49,280 0.009%
Philadelphia, PA-NJ PMSA 50 $26.56 $55,250 0.002%
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ MSA (6) $20.91 $43,480 (6)
Oakland, CA PMSA (6) $34.02 $70,760 (6)

Top paying Metropolitan areas for this occupation:

MSA Employment Hourly mean wage Annual mean wage Percent of MSA employment
Atlanta, GA MSA (6) $43.22 $89,890 (6)
New York, NY PMSA (6) $35.58 $74,000 (6)
Oakland, CA PMSA (6) $34.02 $70,760 (6)
Washington, DC-MD-VA-WV PMSA 760 $33.80 $70,300 0.028%
Philadelphia, PA-NJ PMSA 50 $26.56 $55,250 0.002%

About May 2003 National, State, and Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates


To see profiles of other occupations, select from the major groups below:


These estimates are calculated with data collected from employers in all industry sectors in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas in every State and the District of Columbia. The top five employment and wage figures are provided above. The complete list is available in the downloadable Excel files(XLS).

Percentile wage estimates show the percentage of workers in an occupation that earn less than a given wage and the percentage that earn more. The median wage is the 50th percentile wage estimate--50 percent of workers earn less than the median and 50 percent of workers earn more than the median. More about percentile wages.


(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.

(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the hourly mean wage by a "year-round, full-time" hours figure of 2,080 hours; for those occupations where there is not an hourly mean wage published, the annual wage has been directly calculated from the reported survey data.

(3) The relative standard error (RSE) is a measure of the reliability of a survey statistic. The smaller the relative standard error, the more precise the estimate.

(6) Estimates not released.

All Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

2003 May National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

2003 May State Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

2003 May Metropolitan Area Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

2003 May National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates

List of Occupations in SOC Code Number Order

List of Occupations in Alphabetical Order

Download May 2003 Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates in Zipped Excel files

Technical notes

 

Last Modified Date: May 7, 2004

 

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