Jobs Similar to Sociologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to sociologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Political Scientists, Sociology Teachers and Political Science Teachers.
Sociologists: $106,030 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. Sociologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Political ScientistsSame group | 86% | $142,080+34% | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary | 83% | $84,290−21% | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 82% | $98,070−8% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary | 80% | $99,650−6% | Graduate degree |
| 5 | History Teachers, Postsecondary | 80% | $83,820−21% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Anthropologists and ArcheologistsSame group | 80% | $70,770−33% | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 80% | $80,340−24% | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary | 79% | $80,260−24% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | 79% | $85,020−20% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary | 79% | $80,340−24% | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary | 78% | $77,570−27% | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Law Teachers, Postsecondary | 78% | $128,500+21% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Economics Teachers, Postsecondary | 78% | $123,920+17% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Geography Teachers, Postsecondary | 78% | $97,590−8% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Education Teachers, Postsecondary | 78% | $75,350−29% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | EconomistsSame group | 77% | $124,720+18% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Survey ResearchersSame group | 77% | $69,460−34% | Graduate degree |
| 18 | English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary | 77% | $78,760−26% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Communications Teachers, Postsecondary | 77% | $78,580−26% | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Industrial-Organizational PsychologistsSame group | 76% | $193,950+83% | Graduate degree |
- 1Political Scientists
86% similar · $142,080 (+34%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary
83% similar · $84,290 (−21%) · Graduate degree
- 3Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary
82% similar · $98,070 (−8%) · Graduate degree
- 4Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $99,650 (−6%) · Graduate degree
- 5History Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $83,820 (−21%) · Graduate degree
- 6Anthropologists and Archeologists
80% similar · $70,770 (−33%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary
80% similar · $80,340 (−24%) · Graduate degree
- 8Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $80,260 (−24%) · Graduate degree
- 9Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $85,020 (−20%) · Graduate degree
- 10Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary
79% similar · $80,340 (−24%) · Graduate degree
- 11Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary
78% similar · $77,570 (−27%) · Graduate degree
- 12Law Teachers, Postsecondary
78% similar · $128,500 (+21%) · Graduate degree
- 13Economics Teachers, Postsecondary
78% similar · $123,920 (+17%) · Graduate degree
- 14Geography Teachers, Postsecondary
78% similar · $97,590 (−8%) · Graduate degree
- 15Education Teachers, Postsecondary
78% similar · $75,350 (−29%) · Graduate degree
- 16Economists
77% similar · $124,720 (+18%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 17Survey Researchers
77% similar · $69,460 (−34%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 18English Language and Literature Teachers, Postsecondary
77% similar · $78,760 (−26%) · Graduate degree
- 19Communications Teachers, Postsecondary
77% similar · $78,580 (−26%) · Graduate degree
- 20Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
76% similar · $193,950 (+83%) · Graduate degree · Same group
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 sociologists.
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for sociologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where sociologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary (87)
- Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary (86)
- Social Work Teachers, Postsecondary (85)
- Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary (80)
- History Teachers, Postsecondary (80)
- Library Science Teachers, Postsecondary (80)
- Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary (79)
- Philosophy and Religion Teachers, Postsecondary (79)
- Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary (79)
- Education Teachers, Postsecondary (78)
Questions about jobs like sociologists
What jobs are most similar to sociologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Political Scientists (86% similar), Sociology Teachers (83% similar), Political Science Teachers (82% similar), Anthropology and Archeology Teachers (80% similar) and History Teachers (80% similar).
Which jobs like sociologists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Industrial-Organizational Psychologists ($193,950, +83%; usually a graduate degree), Political Scientists ($142,080, +34%; usually a graduate degree) and Law Teachers ($128,500, +21%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with sociologists ($106,030). Without more preparation than sociologists usually need: Industrial-Organizational Psychologists, Political Scientists and Law Teachers.
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.