Economists vs Sociologists
Median pay is about $19k higher for Economists. The usual entry education is doctoral for Economists and master's for Sociologists.
marks the higher pay or growth. Education, difficulty and the AI rows depend on what you want, so they are not marked.
| Measure | Economists | Sociologists |
|---|---|---|
| Pay | ||
| Median pay | $124,720, higher | $106,030 |
| Entry pay 25th percentile | $89,330, higher | $82,300 |
| Experienced pay 75th percentile | $174,720, higher | $137,420 |
| Outlook, 2025 to 2035 | ||
| Projected growth | +4.7% Growing fast, higher | +3.8% Growing |
| Openings a year | 1,100 | 200 |
| Getting in | ||
| Typical education | Doctoral | Master's |
| Difficulty modeled | 3 / 5 | 3 / 5 |
| AI | ||
| Displacement risk modeled | Very high | Very high |
| AI exposure modeled, percentile | 94th pct | 90th pct |
Where the skills differ
Only Economists
- Mathematics
Only Sociologists
- Speaking
Both lean on reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, active listening, active learning.
More comparisons
Compare Economists with
Pay and outlook: BLS (OEWS 2025, Employment Projections 2025-2035). Skills: O*NET 30.3. Difficulty, displacement risk and AI exposure are modeled estimates. How these numbers are made.