Sociologist

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.

On the job, you would:

Present research findings at professional meetings.
Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Sociologists must be able to examine data and other information, often using statistical methods to test their theories.

Communication skills. Sociologists need strong communication skills when they conduct interviews, collaborate with colleagues, and write and present research results.

Critical-thinking skills. Sociologists design research projects and collect, process, and analyze information to draw logical conclusions about society and various groups of people.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		96%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		89%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		89%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		88%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		83%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		83%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		79%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		77%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		75%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		74%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		74%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		72%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		71%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		71%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		69%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		64%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Investigative - Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.
		72%	Artistic - Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.
		61%	Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		78%	Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
		78%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
		72%	Recognition - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
		70%	Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		81%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		81%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		78%	Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
		78%	Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
		78%	Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
		75%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		72%	Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
		66%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		66%	Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
		63%	Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
		63%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		56%	Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
		53%	Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
		53%	Originality - The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		68%	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
		68%	Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
		66%	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
		66%	Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
		63%	Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
		63%	Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
		61%	Learning Strategies - Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
		61%	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
		55%	Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
		55%	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
		54%	Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
		54%	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Present research results to others.

Present information to the public.

Inform viewers, listeners, or audiences.

Write grant proposals.

Prepare proposals or grant applications to obtain project funding.

Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.

Conduct research on social issues.

Interpret research or operational data.

Conduct research on social issues.

Plan social sciences research.

Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys.

Develop methods of social or economic research.

Instruct college students in social sciences or humanities disciplines.

Supervise scientific or technical personnel.

Advise others on matters of public policy.

Coordinate cross-disciplinary research programs.

Conduct research on social issues.

Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys.

Design psychological or educational treatment procedures or programs.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		100%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		93%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		91%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		88%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		83%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		75%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		72%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		72%	Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
		69%	Public Speaking - How often do you have to perform public speaking in this job?
		69%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		67%	Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos?
		66%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		61%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		57%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		54%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		83%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		96%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		95%	Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
		91%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		91%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		88%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		84%	Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
		84%	Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
		83%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
		76%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		75%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		75%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		74%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		74%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		73%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		73%	Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
		70%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		66%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		64%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		59%	Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
		56%	Providing Consultation and Advice to Others - Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
		56%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		56%	Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
		55%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		53%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		51%	Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates - Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.

What Sociologists Do

Some sociologists conduct interviews for their research.

Sociologists study society and social behavior by examining the groups, cultures, organizations, social institutions, and processes that develop when people interact and work together.

Duties

Sociologists typically do the following:

Design research projects to test theories about social issues
Collect data through surveys, observations, interviews, and other sources
Analyze and draw conclusions from data
Prepare reports, articles, or presentations detailing their research findings
Collaborate with and advise other social scientists, policymakers, or other groups on research findings and sociological issues

Sociologists study human behavior, interaction, and organization. They observe the activity of social, religious, political, and economic groups, organizations, and institutions. They examine the effect of social influences, including organizations and institutions, on different individuals and groups. They also trace the origin and growth of these groups and interactions. For example, they may research the impact of a new law or policy on a specific demographic.

Sociologists often use both quantitative and qualitative methods when conducting research, and they frequently use statistical analysis programs during the research process.

Their research may help administrators, educators, lawmakers, and social workers to solve social problems and formulate public policy. Sociologists may specialize in a wide range of social topics, including, but not limited to:

education and health;
crime and poverty;
families and population;
and gender, racial, and ethnic relations.

Sociologists who specialize in crime may be called criminologists or penologists. These workers apply their sociological knowledge to conduct research and analyze penal systems and populations and to study the causes and effects of crime.

Many people with a sociology background become postsecondary teachers and high school teachers. Most others find work in related jobs outside the sociologist profession such as policy analysts, demographers, survey researchers, and statisticians.

Work Environment

Sociologists held about 3,300 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of sociologists were as follows:

Scientific research and development services	37%
State government, excluding education and hospitals	20
Educational services; state, local, and private	14
Local government, excluding education and hospitals	6
Self-employed workers	2

Sociologists typically work in an office. They may work outside of an office setting when conducting research through interviews or observations or presenting research results.

Work Schedules

Most sociologists work full time during regular business hours.

Getting Started

Education:

50%

Doctoral Degree

30%

Master's Degree

How to Become a Sociologist

Many sociology programs offer opportunities to gain experience through internships or by preparing reports.

Sociologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation. Bachelor’s degree holders may find positions in related fields, such as social services, education, or public policy.

Education

Sociologists typically need a master’s degree or Ph.D. to enter the occupation. There are two types of sociology master’s degree programs: traditional programs and applied, clinical, and professional programs. Traditional programs prepare students to enter a Ph.D. program. Applied, clinical, and professional programs prepare students to enter the workplace, teaching them the necessary analytical skills to perform sociological research in a professional setting.

Courses in research methods and statistics are important for candidates in both master’s and Ph.D. programs. Many programs also offer opportunities to gain experience through internships or by preparing reports for clients.

Jobseekers who have a bachelor's degree in sociology may find entry-level positions in related fields, such as social services, education, or public policy.

Other Experience

Candidates with a bachelor’s degree may benefit from internships or volunteer work when looking for entry-level positions in sociology or a related field. These types of opportunities give students a chance to apply their academic knowledge in a professional setting and develop skills needed for the field.

Job Outlook

Employment of sociologists is projected to grow 5 percent from 2022 to 2032, faster than the average for all occupations.

About 300 openings for sociologists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Sociologists will continue to be needed to apply sociological research to other disciplines. For example, sociologists may collaborate with researchers in other social sciences, such as economists, psychologists, and survey researchers, to study how social structures or groups influence policy decisions about health, education, politics, criminal justice, business, or economics.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about careers in sociology, visit

American Sociological Association

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of sociologists.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Anthropologists and Archeologists	Anthropologists and archeologists study the origin, development, and behavior of humans.	Master's degree	$63,940
Economists	Economists conduct research, prepare reports, and evaluate issues related to monetary and fiscal policy. They also may collect and analyze statistical data.	Master's degree	$113,940
Political Scientists	Political scientists study the origin, development, and operation of political systems.	Master's degree	$128,020
Postsecondary Teachers	Postsecondary teachers instruct students in a variety of academic subjects beyond the high school level.	See How to Become One	$80,840
Psychologists	Psychologists study cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior by observing, interpreting, and recording how individuals relate to one another and to their environments.	See How to Become One	$85,330
Social Workers	Social workers help people prevent and cope with problems in their everyday lives.	See How to Become One	$55,350
Survey Researchers	Survey researchers design and conduct surveys and analyze data.	Master's degree	$60,410
Urban and Regional Planners	Urban and regional planners develop land use plans and programs that help create communities, accommodate population growth, and revitalize physical facilities.	Master's degree	$79,540
Geographers	Geographers study the Earth and the distribution of its land, features, and inhabitants.	Bachelor's degree	$88,900
Historians	Historians research, analyze, interpret, and write about the past by studying historical documents and sources.	Master's degree	$64,540
Mathematicians and Statisticians	Mathematicians and statisticians analyze data and apply computational techniques to solve problems.	Master's degree	$99,960

Sociologist

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Important Qualities

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

What Sociologists Do

Duties

Work Environment

Work Schedules

Getting Started

How to Become a Sociologist

Education

Other Experience

Job Outlook

Employment

Contacts for More Information

Similar Occupations