Sociologist salary in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
Sociologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn a median of $134,770 a year ($64.80 an hour), based on BLS data for 110 workers.
Pay ranges from $88,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,830 for the top 10%. That is 27% higher than the national median of $106,030. Pay here is 7% higher than the California statewide median of $125,770. There are 0.05 sociologists per 1,000 jobs here — the job is 3.3× more common than nationally. The average (mean) salary is $131,480, close to the median.
Pay range for sociologists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $88,630 | $42.61 |
| 25th percentile | $114,790 | $55.19 |
| Median | $134,770 | $64.80 |
| 75th percentile | $138,710 | $66.69 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $165,830 | $79.72 |
| Average (mean) | $131,480 | $63.21 |
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 | $11,230.83 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $5,615.42 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $5,183.46 |
| Weekly | $2,591.73 |
| Hourly | $64.80 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Buying a home? On a $134,770 salary, see how much house you can afford in California at today's mortgage rates, or work out a payment with the mortgage calculator.
Sociologist salary in other metro areas nearby
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $131,170 | 40 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $131,170 | 30 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $124,540 | 70 |
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 California statewide figures.
Related jobs in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $166,400 | $80.00 |
| Urban and Regional Planners | $136,250 | $65.50 |
| School Psychologist | $130,540 | $62.76 |
| Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other | $101,090 | $48.60 |
| Anthropologists and Archeologists | $75,480 | $36.29 |
| Psychologists, All Other | $168,040 | $80.79 |
| Economist | $142,400 | $68.46 |
| Survey Researcher | $110,540 | $53.14 |
| Historian | $88,790 | $42.69 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $160,180 | $77.01 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $138,160 | $66.42 |
| Biological Technician | $95,220 | $45.78 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $126,860 | $60.99 |
| Chemist | $127,790 | $61.44 |
More: Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · all salaries in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
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 San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The median salary for sociologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area is $134,770 a year, or $64.80 an hour. Pay ranges from $88,630 for the lowest-paid 10% to $165,830 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid sociologists make in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
The top 10% of sociologists in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area earn at least $165,830 a year. The top 25% earn $138,710 or more.
What is the starting pay for sociologists in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $88,630 a year, and a quarter of sociologists earn $114,790 or less.
How many sociologists work in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA?
About 110 sociologists are employed in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, not counting the self-employed.