Sociologist salary in Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Sociologists in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area earn a median of $64,180 a year ($30.86 an hour), based on BLS data for 60 workers.
Pay ranges from $52,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,450 for the top 10%. That is 39% lower than the national median of $106,030. Pay here is 27% lower than the Michigan statewide median of $88,040. There are 0.28 sociologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 18.9× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $81,650, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for sociologists in Lansing-East Lansing, MI
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $52,520 | $25.25 |
| 25th percentile | $64,180 | $30.86 |
| Median | $64,180 | $30.86 |
| 75th percentile | $111,450 | $53.58 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $111,450 | $53.58 |
| Average (mean) | $81,650 | $39.26 |
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 | $5,348.33 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $2,674.17 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $2,468.46 |
| Weekly | $1,234.23 |
| Hourly | $30.86 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $64,180 salary, see how much house you can afford in Michigan 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 Michigan statewide figures.
Related jobs in Lansing-East Lansing, MI
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Urban and Regional Planners | $89,170 | $42.87 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $61,210 | $29.43 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $82,870 | $39.84 |
| School Psychologist | $85,930 | $41.31 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $62,520 | $30.06 |
| Economist | $88,320 | $42.46 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $60,950 | $29.30 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $85,180 | $40.95 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $64,220 | $30.87 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $68,470 | $32.92 |
| Physicist | $71,580 | $34.41 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $65,390 | $31.44 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $67,860 | $32.62 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $82,760 | $39.79 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in Lansing-East Lansing, MI
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 Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
The median salary for sociologists in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area is $64,180 a year, or $30.86 an hour. Pay ranges from $52,520 for the lowest-paid 10% to $111,450 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sociologists make in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
The top 10% of sociologists in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area earn at least $111,450 a year. The top 25% earn $111,450 or more.
What is the starting pay for sociologists in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $52,520 a year, and a quarter of sociologists earn $64,180 or less.
How many sociologists work in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
About 60 sociologists are employed in the Lansing-East Lansing, MI metro area, not counting the self-employed.