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Sociologists

	Median Wage (USD, 2024)	Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)	Projected Growth (2023-2033)
National Statistics	$101,690	300	6.9%
State Statistics	-	-	-
City Statistics	-	-	-

Statistics

National

State

City

State

City

$101,690

Median Wage (USD, 2023)

300

Projected Job Openings (2023-2033)

6.9%

Projected Growth (2023-2033)

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.

Experience Requirements Overview

Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Education, Training and Experience

Required Level of Education: Doctoral Degree

Related Work Experience: N.A.

On-Site or In-Plant Training: N.A.

On-the-Job Training: Over 4 years, up to and including 10 years

Detailed Work Activities

Present research results to others.
Present research results to others.
Present information to the public.
Inform viewers, listeners, or audiences.
Write grant proposals.
Prepare proposals or grant applications to obtain project funding.
Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
Conduct research on social issues.
Interpret research or operational data.
Conduct research on social issues.
Plan social sciences research.
Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys.
Develop methods of social or economic research.
Instruct college students in social sciences or humanities disciplines.
Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
Advise others on matters of public policy.
Coordinate cross-disciplinary research programs.
Conduct research on social issues.
Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys.
Design psychological or educational treatment procedures or programs.

Work Values

Achievement

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Working Conditions

Recognition

Relationships

Support

Independence

Tasks

Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
Teach sociology.
Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
Present research findings at professional meetings.
Explain sociological research to the general public.
Develop problem intervention procedures, using techniques such as interviews, consultations, role playing, and participant observation of group interactions.
Consult with and advise individuals such as administrators, social workers, and legislators regarding social issues and policies, as well as the implications of research findings.
Direct work of statistical clerks, statisticians, and others who compile and evaluate research data.
Collaborate with research workers in other disciplines.
Write grants to obtain funding for research projects.
Develop approaches to the solution of groups' problems, based on research findings in sociology and related disciplines.
Observe group interactions and role affiliations to collect data, identify problems, evaluate progress, and determine the need for additional change.

Work Styles

Achievement/Effort

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Persistence

Initiative

Leadership

Cooperation

Concern for Others

Social Orientation

Self-Control

Stress Tolerance

Adaptability/Flexibility

Dependability

Attention to Detail

Integrity

Independence

Innovation

Analytical Thinking

Data Source: This page includes information from the O*NET 30.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. This page includes Employment Projections program, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

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