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.
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. The role reports a median annual salary of $101,690 in the US and is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Entry typically requires a Master's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.52 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include research design, statistics, sociology, geography, scientific research methodology.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £39,899 a year for Social and humanities scientists (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2115). ONS rates this estimate acceptable: it rests on a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Sociologists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
No single fixed route is listed for this career. These Indian degrees lead to it, according to the US CIP–SOC education-to-occupation crosswalk; open a degree for its entrance exams and colleges.[1]
- Criminology — BA / B.Sc (Hons) Criminology (three or four years)
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Sociology — BA (Hons) Sociology (three years, or four years with research)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- CIP 2020 – SOC 2018 crosswalk (NCES / BLS) (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Sociology and Anthropology
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- History and Archeology
- Computers and Electronics
- Law and Government
- Philosophy and Theology
What you'd actually do
- 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.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Sociologists do?
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.
How much does Sociologists earn?
The median annual salary for Sociologists in the US is $101,690.
What is the job outlook for Sociologists?
The role is projected to grow 4% over the next decade (about as fast as average). Current US employment is approximately 3,400 workers.
How do I become a sociologists?
The typical entry education is a Master's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Sociologists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include research design, statistics, sociology, geography, scientific research methodology, draft scientific or academic papers and technical documentation. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Sociologists?
Our AI-durability model gives Sociologists a score of 0.52 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Sociologists has high barrier to entry — highly gated — a graduate degree or extended training/apprenticeship is typically required.