Sociology

What the Numbers Say About Sociology

As of the March 2025 reporting window, 20 people work in the Sociology occupation (OPM code 184) across federal agencies, 0.0% of the 2,289,472-strong federal civilian workforce. Headcount moved sideways by 0.0% from the prior period, though at this small a headcount, year-to-year swings can reflect a handful of hires or departures rather than a broad hiring trend.

The average salary for Sociology is $136,636 per year, placing it 24.4% above the overall federal civilian average of $109,869. Salaries moved up by 2.4% from the prior period, a broad shift as locality pay tables and grade-level adjustments moved through the workforce. Average length of service in this role is 13.6 years, a mid-length average tenure, reflecting a mix of career employees and those who transfer or exit mid-career.

Code 1, the Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare Group family, is where the federal government classifies Sociology alongside 27 related occupations. Candidates browsing USAJOBS for Sociology postings should also review these sibling occupations, since federal hiring managers often cross-post positions across closely related codes when recruitment is difficult. All figures here come directly from OPM FedScope Employment Cubes, the same official source referenced in federal workforce planning, budget justifications, and GAO reports.

Inside the Social Science, Psychology, and Welfare Group family (28 occupations, 113,996 employees combined), Sociology holds the #28 spot by headcount, a 0.0% share of the family total.