I do internet research, write, prepare presentations, and talk with others to gather information.
CAREER
Sociologists
Overview
Salary Median (2020)
$86,110
Projected Job Growth (2019-2029)
+3.6% (slower than the average)
Most Common Level of Education
Master's degree
Career
Roadtrip Nation Leaders in This Career
What 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.
Other Job Titles Sociologists May Have
Research Associate, Research Coordinator, Research Scientist, Research Specialist, Social Scientist, Sociologist
How Leaders Describe a Typical Day at Work
From the morning to the early afternoon, I'm usually managing multiple research projects, writing, researching, and analyzing data. In the afternoons, I'm communicating with my team to via Slack, meetings, and other venues to share updates, provide feedback, strategize, and plan new work. I also have a steady diet of collaborating with internal and external colleagues and a steady digest of reading new research and articles to stay abreast on the state of our field.
Tasks & Responsibilities May Include
- Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
- Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
- Teach sociology.
Education
Level of Education Attained by Sociologists
Most common level of education among people in
this career: Master's degree (42%)
Bachelor's degree
Master's degree
Doctoral or professional degree
Other*
*All other responses combined for clarity.
Majors Related to Career
Educational Paths Suggested by Leaders
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Sociology, General
Graduate
Sociology, General
Doctorate
Sociology, General
Suggested Path
Bachelor
Philosophy
Additional Skills & Experiences That Can Help You Excel
Public speaking, management, and non-profit leadership skills are all very helpful in this position.
Code switching, meaning communicating with a diverse audience of technical and non-technical colleagues and audiences. Storytelling with data, how to bring data to life and reach your audience on multiple levels (ethos, pathos, and logos). Strategic planning, especially understanding how to prioritize effectively and when to say no. Running effective meetings, managing up, and how to develop and manage large projects involving many people.
Getting Started
Recommended First Step for:
College Students
Start reading economics blogs and following economists on Twitter. Learn some basic technical communications skills (writing, social media, HTML, etc.) and try to get an internship. Express an interest in research and see if you can get involved in a project in some capacity (editing, working with data, communications outreach, etc.). Interview researchers and talk to them about what they like/don't like, and think about whether your own talents, interests, and personality are a good match.
Take every opportunity that you can find to do research.
This page includes information from theO*NET 26.1 Databaseby the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under theCC BY 4.0license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
