Jobs Similar to Political Scientists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to political scientists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Sociologists, Political Science Teachers and Economists.
Political Scientists: $142,080 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Political Scientists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SociologistsSame group | 86% | $106,030−25% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 81% | $98,070−31% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | EconomistsSame group | 80% | $124,720−12% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 78% | $128,500−10% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 78% | $84,290−41% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | History Teachers, Postsecondary | 77% | $83,820−41% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 76% | $123,920−13% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Climate Change Policy Analysts | 76% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Anthropologists and ArcheologistsSame group | 76% | $70,770−50% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Environmental EconomistsSame group | 75% | $124,720Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Intelligence Analysts | 75% | $93,790Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 75% | $80,260−44% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsSame group | 75% | $193,950+37% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $85,020−40% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $80,340−43% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Survey ResearchersSame group | 74% | $69,460−51% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Business Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $99,080−30% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $97,590−31% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | HistoriansSame group | 74% | $76,750−46% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $99,650−30% | Graduate degree |
- 1Sociologists
86% similar · $106,030 (−25%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
81% similar · $98,070 (−31%) · Graduate degree
- 3Economists
80% similar · $124,720 (−12%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Law Teachers, Postsecondary
78% similar · $128,500 (−10%) · Graduate degree
- 5Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
78% similar · $84,290 (−41%) · Graduate degree
- 6History Teachers, Postsecondary
77% similar · $83,820 (−41%) · Graduate degree
- 7Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
76% similar · $123,920 (−13%) · Graduate degree
- 8Climate Change Policy Analysts
76% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 9Anthropologists and Archeologists
76% similar · $70,770 (−50%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Environmental Economists
75% similar · $124,720 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 11Intelligence Analysts
75% similar · $93,790 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
75% similar · $80,260 (−44%) · Graduate degree
- 13Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
75% similar · $193,950 (+37%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 14Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
74% similar · $85,020 (−40%) · Graduate degree
- 15Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
74% similar · $80,340 (−43%) · Graduate degree
- 16Survey Researchers
74% similar · $69,460 (−51%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Business Teachers, Postsecondary
74% similar · $99,080 (−30%) · Graduate degree
- 18Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
74% similar · $97,590 (−31%) · Graduate degree
- 19Historians
74% similar · $76,750 (−46%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 20Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
74% similar · $99,650 (−30%) · Graduate degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than political scientists.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for political scientists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where political scientists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (91)
- Law Teachers, Postsecondary (82)
- Climate Change Policy Analysts (80)
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (78)
- History Teachers, Postsecondary (77)
- Economics Teachers, Postsecondary (76)
- Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary (75)
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (74)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (74)
- Business Teachers, Postsecondary (74)
Questions about jobs like political scientists
What jobs are most similar to political scientists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Sociologists (86% similar), Political Science Teachers (81% similar), Economists (80% similar), Law Teachers (78% similar) and Sociology Teachers (78% similar).
Which jobs like political scientists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists ($193,950, +37%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with political scientists ($142,080). Without more preparation than political scientists usually need: Industrial-Organizational Psychologists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.