How long does it take to become a sociologist?

Typically about six years of study in total. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do sociologists make?

The US median is $106,030 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree to become a sociologist?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train to become a sociologist?

1,166 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

🎓 My University View

Home › Careers › Sociologists

How to become a sociologist

Science · SOC 19-3041

$106,030US median pay, 2025

+3.8%Projected growth, 2025–35

200Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Master's degree
Work as a sociologist

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Sociology, General	CIP 45.1101	1,050
Criminology	CIP 45.0401	218
Urban Studies/Affairs	CIP 45.1201	87
Sociology and Anthropology	CIP 45.1301	50
Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods	CIP 45.0102	47
Medical/Health Humanities	CIP 51.3204	20
Demography and Population Studies	CIP 45.0501	14
Applied/Public Sociology	CIP 45.1102	9
Rural Sociology	CIP 45.1103	3
Survey Research/Methodology	CIP 45.0103	1
Applied Demography	CIP 45.0502	1
Demography, Other	CIP 45.0599	0
Sociology, Other	CIP 45.1199	0

See the 1,166 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become a sociologist?: Typically about six years of study in total. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do sociologists make?: The US median is $106,030 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree to become a sociologist?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train to become a sociologist?: 1,166 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

Related careers in Science

Occupational health and safety specialists · Life, physical, and social science technicians, all other · Medical scientists, except epidemiologists · Biological technicians · Chemical technicians · Environmental scientists and specialists, including health · Chemists · Environmental science and protection technicians, including health