State wages ยท Cost of living
Political Scientists pay by state
The highest published median is in Virginia, at $163,950. Virginia leads after cost of living, at $162,160. Virginia has the lowest RPP among states paying at least the national median ($139,380).
National median
$139,380
Highest state median
$163,950
Virginia
Best adjusted pay
$162,160
Virginia
States and territories
52
Blank wages are not estimated
Pay at national average prices
Lower: $60,960Higher: $162,160Puerto Rico: No cost of living index
All states
52 rows
| Virginia | $163,950 | +17.6% | 101.104 | $162,160 | 1 |
| Maryland | $148,680 | +6.7% | 104.959 | $141,660 | 2 |
| District of Columbia | $153,320 | +10.0% | 109.901 | $139,510 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | $132,640 | -4.8% | 97.572 | $135,940 | 4 |
| Washington | $140,970 | +1.1% | 107.013 | $131,730 | 5 |
| Michigan | $125,750 | -9.8% | 96.217 | $130,690 | 6 |
| Massachusetts | $130,580 | -6.3% | 105.757 | $123,470 | 7 |
| California | $130,630 | -6.3% | 110.72 | $117,980 | 8 |
| Texas | $111,720 | -19.8% | 97.057 | $115,110 | 9 |
| Ohio | $99,130 | -28.9% | 92.774 | $106,850 | 10 |
| Arizona | $104,100 | -25.3% | 100.677 | $103,400 | 11 |
| Illinois | $98,300 | -29.5% | 99.958 | $98,340 | 12 |
| Georgia | $80,000 | -42.6% | 96.293 | $83,080 | 13 |
| New Jersey | $74,760 | -46.4% | 108.805 | $68,710 | 14 |
| New York | $74,080 | -46.9% | 107.921 | $68,640 | 15 |
| New Hampshire | $63,500 | -54.4% | 104.165 | $60,960 | 16 |
| Alabama | Not available | Not available | 88.823 | Not available | Not available |
| Alaska | Not available | Not available | 102.359 | Not available | Not available |
| Arkansas | Not available | Not available | 86.937 | Not available | Not available |
| Colorado | Not available | Not available | 103.052 | Not available | Not available |
| Connecticut | Not available | Not available | 103.61 | Not available | Not available |
| Delaware | Not available | Not available | 99.808 | Not available | Not available |
| Florida | Not available | Not available | 103.414 | Not available | Not available |
| Hawaii | Not available | Not available | 109.951 | Not available | Not available |
| Idaho | Not available | Not available | 95.494 | Not available | Not available |
| Indiana | Not available | Not available | 93.329 | Not available | Not available |
| Iowa | Not available | Not available | 87.762 | Not available | Not available |
| Kansas | Not available | Not available | 90.068 | Not available | Not available |
| Kentucky | Not available | Not available | 90.159 | Not available | Not available |
| Louisiana | Not available | Not available | 88.207 | Not available | Not available |
| Maine | Not available | Not available | 97.05 | Not available | Not available |
| Minnesota | Not available | Not available | 98.621 | Not available | Not available |
| Mississippi | Not available | Not available | 86.953 | Not available | Not available |
| Missouri | Not available | Not available | 90.817 | Not available | Not available |
| Montana | Not available | Not available | 94.645 | Not available | Not available |
| Nebraska | Not available | Not available | 90.103 | Not available | Not available |
| Nevada | Not available | Not available | 99.979 | Not available | Not available |
| New Mexico | Not available | Not available | 92.212 | Not available | Not available |
| North Carolina | Not available | Not available | 94.326 | Not available | Not available |
| North Dakota | Not available | Not available | 88.959 | Not available | Not available |
| Oklahoma | Not available | Not available | 87.843 | Not available | Not available |
| Oregon | Not available | Not available | 103.361 | Not available | Not available |
| Rhode Island | Not available | Not available | 102.28 | Not available | Not available |
| South Carolina | Not available | Not available | 93.749 | Not available | Not available |
| South Dakota | Not available | Not available | 88.586 | Not available | Not available |
| Tennessee | Not available | Not available | 91.87 | Not available | Not available |
| Utah | Not available | Not available | 98.864 | Not available | Not available |
| Vermont | Not available | Not available | 97.958 | Not available | Not available |
| West Virginia | Not available | Not available | 89.497 | Not available | Not available |
| Wisconsin | Not available | Not available | 94.095 | Not available | Not available |
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Ranks are supplied source ranks for published wage observations. Cost of living comparisons exclude Puerto Rico. Some nominal source ranks exceed 52; they are retained without correction.