Sociologist salary in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Sociologists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median of $106,530 a year ($51.22 an hour), based on BLS data for 240 workers.
Pay ranges from $65,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $190,440 for the top 10%. That is about the same as the national median of $106,030. Pay here is about the same as the Massachusetts statewide median of $106,530. There are 0.09 sociologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 6.1× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $123,880, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sociologists in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $65,400 | $31.44 |
| 25th percentile | $83,920 | $40.35 |
| Median | $106,530 | $51.22 |
| 75th percentile | $145,360 | $69.89 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $190,440 | $91.56 |
| Average (mean) | $123,880 | $59.56 |
Half of sociologists earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $8,877.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $4,438.75 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $4,097.31 |
| Weekly | $2,048.65 |
| Hourly | $51.22 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $106,530 salary, see how much house you can afford in Massachusetts at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Highest-paying states for sociologists
| State | Median salary |
|---|---|
| Illinois | $140,770 |
| Kentucky | $136,870 |
| North Carolina | $126,760 |
| California | $125,770 |
| Alaska | $108,170 |
| Massachusetts | $106,530 |
| Maryland | $100,660 |
| Washington | $97,170 |
| Michigan | $88,040 |
| Ohio | $78,850 |
See Sociologist pay in every state or the Massachusetts statewide figures.
Related jobs in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| School Psychologist | $98,670 | $47.44 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $121,270 | $58.30 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $103,460 | $49.74 |
| Economist | $108,140 | $51.99 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $105,670 | $50.81 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $112,900 | $54.28 |
| Political Scientist | $133,930 | $64.39 |
| Survey Researcher | $74,890 | $36.01 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $117,080 | $56.29 |
| Historian | $121,710 | $58.51 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $129,500 | $62.26 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $131,550 | $63.25 |
| Biological Technician | $61,610 | $29.62 |
| Chemist | $127,290 | $61.20 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-3041. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a sociologist make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The median salary for sociologists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area is $106,530 a year, or $51.22 an hour. Pay ranges from $65,400 for the lowest-paid 10% to $190,440 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sociologists make in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
The top 10% of sociologists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn at least $190,440 a year. The top 25% earn $145,360 or more.
What is the starting pay for sociologists in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $65,400 a year, and a quarter of sociologists earn $83,920 or less.
How many sociologists work in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH?
About 240 sociologists are employed in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, not counting the self-employed.