Political Scientists

Summary

Political scientists use a variety of resources to research political issues and test theories.

Quick Facts: Political Scientists
2010 Median Pay	$107,420 per year $51.65 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Master’s degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	5,600
Job Outlook, 2010-20	8% (Slower than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	400

What Political Scientists Do

Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. They research political ideas and analyze the structure and operation of governments, policies, political trends, and related issues.

Work Environment

Most political scientists—about 53 percent—work for the federal government. Others work for think tanks, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, political lobbying groups, and labor organizations.

How to Become a Political Scientist

Political scientists need a master’s degree or Ph.D. in political science, public administration, or a related field. They should have strong writing skills and research experience.

Pay

The median annual wage of political scientists was $107,420 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of political scientists is expected to grow 8 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Employment will increase in response to a growing interest in public policy and political issues. However, because the number of students graduating with degrees in political science is growing, candidates should face strong competition for most positions.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of political scientists with similar occupations.

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Contacts for More Information

Learn more about political scientists by contacting these additional resources.

What Political Scientists Do About this section

Political scientists advise governments, businesses, or organizations on political issues.

Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. They research political ideas and analyze the structure and operation of governments, policies, political trends, and related issues.

Duties

Political scientists typically do the following:

• Research political subjects, such as the U.S. political system, relations between the United States and foreign countries, and political ideologies
• Collect and analyze data from sources such as public opinion surveys and election results
• Use qualitative sources, such as historical documents, to develop theories
• Use quantitative methods, such as statistical analysis, to test theories
• Evaluate the effects of policies and laws on government, businesses, and people
• Identify new political issues to study
• Monitor current events, recent policy decisions, and other issues relevant to their work
• Forecast political, economic, and social trends
• Present research results by writing reports, giving presentations, and publishing in academic journals

Political scientists usually conduct research within one of four primary subfields: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory.

Often, political scientists use qualitative methods, gathering information from numerous sources. For example, they may use historical documents to analyze the effects of past government structures and policies. They may evaluate current policies and events using public opinion surveys, economic data, and election results. From these sources, they may learn the expected impact of new policies.

Political scientists also rely heavily on quantitative methods to develop and research theories. For example, they may analyze data to see whether a relationship exists between a certain political system and a particular outcome. In so doing, they may study topics such as U.S. political parties, how political structures differ among countries, globalization, and the history of political thought.

Political scientists also work as policy analysts. In this position, they may work for a variety of organizations that have a stake in policy, such as government, labor, and political organizations. They provide information and analysis that help in planning, developing, or carrying out policies. Alternatively, political scientists may assess existing policies and study their impact on different groups.

Many people with a political science background become professors and teachers. For more information, see the profile on postsecondary teachers.

Work Environment About this section

Political scientists may present their findings.

Political scientists held about 5,600 jobs in 2010. Most political scientists—about 53 percent—work for the federal government. Others work for think tanks, nonprofit organizations, colleges and universities, political lobbying groups, and labor organizations.

Work Schedules

Political scientists work in offices. They generally work full time, although some may work overtime to finish reports and meet deadlines.

How to Become a Political Scientist About this section

Political scientists often work alone, collecting information, analyzing data, and writing reports.

Political scientists need a master’s degree or Ph.D. in political science, public administration, or a related field.

Jobseekers with a bachelor’s degree in political science usually qualify for entry-level positions in many related fields. Some qualify for entry-level positions as research assistants, others as policy analysts for research organizations, political campaigns, nonprofit organizations, or government agencies. Many go into fields outside of politics and policy, such as business or law.

Education

Political scientists can complete either a master’s or Ph.D. program. To be admitted to a graduate program, applicants should complete undergraduate courses in political science, writing, and statistics. Applicants also benefit from having related work or internship experience. For example, working in an internship on a congressional staff or for a research organization helps applicants gain experience writing and researching, analyzing data, or working with policy issues.

Political scientists often complete a Master of Public Administration (MPA), Master of Public Policy (MPP), or Master of Public Affairs degree. These programs usually combine several disciplines, and students can choose to concentrate in a specific area of interest. Most offer core courses in research methods, policy formation, program evaluation, and statistics. Some colleges and universities also offer master’s degrees in political science, international relations, or other applied political science specialties.

Political scientists can also complete a Ph.D. program, which requires several years of coursework followed by independent research for a dissertation. Most Ph.D. candidates choose to specialize in one of four primary subfields of political science: American politics, comparative politics, international relations, or political theory. A Ph.D. in political science is primarily a research degree.

Political scientists who teach at colleges and universities need a Ph.D. Graduates with a master’s degree in political science may qualify for teaching positions in community colleges. For more information, see the profile on postsecondary teachers.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Political scientists often use mathematical and statistical research methods. They rely on their analytical skills when they collect, evaluate, and interpret data.

Critical-thinking skills. Political scientists need critical-thinking skills when conducting research and analyzing issues. They must be able to examine and process available information and draw logical conclusions.

Intellectual curiosity. Political scientists must continually explore new ideas and information to produce original papers and research. They must stay current on political subjects and come up with new ways to think about and address issues.

Writing skills. Writing skills are essential for political scientists, who often write papers on political issues and must be able to convey their research results clearly.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of political scientists was $107,420 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $48,720, and the top 10 percent earned more than $155,490.

Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of political scientists in May 2010 were:

Political scientists work in offices. They generally work full time, although some may work overtime to finish reports and meet deadlines.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of political scientists is expected to grow 8 percent from 2010 to 2020, slower than the average for all occupations. Employment will increase in response to a growing interest in public policy and political issues. There will be demand for those with extensive knowledge of political systems, institutions, and policies.

Political organizations, lobbying firms, and many nonprofit, labor, and social organizations will rely on the knowledge of political scientists to manage increasingly complicated legal and regulatory issues and policies. Some political scientists will be needed at think tanks to focus specifically on politics and political theory. Organizations that research or advocate for specific causes, such as immigration, health care, or the environment, will also need political scientists to analyze policies relating to their field.

Because the federal government employs more than half of all political scientists, employment growth will be tempered as overall employment in the federal government declines. However, political scientists will still be needed to assess the impact of government policies, such as the efficiencies of public services, effects of departmental cuts, and advantages of proposed improvements.

Job Prospects

Political scientists should face strong competition for most jobs. The small number of positions, combined with the popularity of political science programs in colleges and universities, means that there will likely be many qualified candidates for relatively few positions. Candidates with a graduate degree, strong writing and analytical skills, and experience researching or performing policy analysis should have the best job prospects. Candidates who have specialized knowledge or experience in their field of interest will also have better opportunities.

Some of those with a bachelor’s degree in political science may find entry-level jobs as research assistants or analysts. Many will also find positions outside of politics and policy in fields such as business and law.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about political scientists, visit

American Political Science Association

For information about college programs in public affairs and administration, visit

National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration