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Sociologists
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 titles employers use
Demographer · Evaluation Specialist · Medical Sociologist · Policy Analyst · Research Associate · Research Coordinator · Research Scientist · Research Specialist
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.
- Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.
- Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.
- Teach sociology.
- Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to analytical, helping and creative work.
- Analytical
- Investigating questions, testing ideas, and solving problems
- Creative
- Making, designing, writing, or performing without one set answer
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
Subjects to know
- Sociology and Anthropology
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Mathematics
- History and Archeology
Useful strengths
- Oral Comprehension
- Oral Expression
- Written Comprehension
- Written Expression
- Inductive Reasoning
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 3.0 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.3 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.5 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 1.9 | Little of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a master's degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A doctorate or professional degree 60%
- A master's degree 30%
- A four-year degree 10%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Analytical or scientific software
- Web page creation and editing software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Word processing software
- Document management software
- Graphics or photo imaging software
- Geographic information system
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 390
- Job openings each year
- 30
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 14.7%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 390 | 30 | 14.7% |
| Maryland | 200 | 20 | 11.1% |
| Florida | 180 | 10 | — |
| Massachusetts | 160 | 10 | — |
| Michigan | 130 | 10 | — |
| Washington | 130 | 10 | 18.2% |
| Ohio | 90 | 10 | — |
| New Jersey | 60 | 0 | 20.0% |
| Minnesota | 40 | 0 | — |
| Delaware | 30 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
University of California-Santa Barbara
- Degrees each year
- 692
- Admit rate
- 28%
- Annual cost after aid
- $13,000
University of California-Los Angeles
- Degrees each year
- 669
- Admit rate
- 9%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
California State University-Northridge
- Degrees each year
- 449
- Admit rate
- 93%
- Annual cost after aid
- $8,000
University of California-Irvine
- Degrees each year
- 804
- Admit rate
- 26%
- Annual cost after aid
- $12,000
California State University-Los Angeles
- Degrees each year
- 394
- Admit rate
- 92%
- Annual cost after aid
- $5,000
California State University-Fullerton
- Degrees each year
- 392
- Admit rate
- 87%
- Annual cost after aid
- $6,000
California State University-San Marcos
- Degrees each year
- 568
- Admit rate
- 96%
- Annual cost after aid
- $9,000
California State University-San Bernardino
- Degrees each year
- 351
- Admit rate
- 98%
- Annual cost after aid
- $5,000