Sociologist

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Work Tasks

• Study human society and social behavior
• Examine groups that people form, including families, communities, tribes, governments, and religious organizations
• Do surveys and interviews to get data
• Use the information to see how differences in age, gender, and race change the way people are treated and the way they live
• Work for the government, the World Bank, the United Nations, research and consulting firms, schools, corporations, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, or in private practice as counselors or consultants
• Work with surveys, interviews, census data, historical data, clinical records, attitude scales, case histories, and computers

Salary, Size & Growth

• $66,500 average per year ($32.00 per hour)
• A small occupation (3,700 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (2.2% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in sociology for entry-level jobs in research, administration, or management
• Employers Prefer: A master's degree for professional positions other than teaching; a Ph.D. for college teaching positions and research
• Certification/Licensing: Certification is available.