Political Scientist

Print

Work Tasks

• Study how politics and laws developed
• Study how other countries differ from the United States and how political power is used
• Study the decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court, and examine election results
• Meet with government officials, research groups, political parties, interest groups, businesses, and the press and share public opinions with them
• Work for the government, research and international organizations, business and consulting firms, trade associations, public interest groups, universities, newspapers, and other media
• Work with computers, documents, census information, news and magazine clippings, law books, legal records, election results, public opinion surveys and documents, libraries, and archives

Salary, Size & Growth

• $69,500 average per year ($33.50 per hour)
• A small occupation (4,500 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow moderately (1.9% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in political science for entry-level jobs in research, administration, or management
• Employers Prefer: A master's degree for positions in fields other than teaching; a Ph.D. for college teaching and research. There are many political science fields, including international politics, political economy, and ethnic politics.
• Skills/Courses: College courses include statistics, math, research methods, computer science, and field experience.