Career Explorer Science
Changing shape
Political scientists
Study the origin, development, and operation of political systems. May study topics, such as public opinion, political decisionmaking, and ideology. May analyze the structure and operation of governments, as well as various political entities. May conduct public opinion surveys, analyze election results, or analyze public documents.
Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 4% of the 831 careers we score. AI exposure is very high (the Bureau of Labor Statistics rates it very high), and US jobs are projected to change by -2.0% by 2035, expected to shrink. The work leans on creative vision.
AI can do many of the tasks, and hiring is expected to grow slower than average or to shrink. The job is likely to change, so build the human parts of it.
- Median pay (2025)
- $142,080
- Job growth to 2035
- -2.0%
- Openings a year
- 400
- People doing it (2025)
- 6,100
- Usual route in
- Master's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Present research or technical information
- Teach academic or vocational subjects
- Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Analyze data to improve operations
- Serve on organizational committees
- Prepare legal or regulatory documents
What the work looks like
- Teach political science.
- Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
- Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.
- Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
- Advise political science students.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- SociologistsGrows with AI, Index 15, +3.8%
- Environmental scientists and specialists, including healthGrows with AI, Index 34, +6.1%
- Survey researchersChanging shape, Index 5, -4.8%
- Sociology teachers, postsecondaryChanging shape, Index 20, +2.2%
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Sources: US Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2025 to 2035; O*NET 31.0; Microsoft Research (2025); Anthropic Economic Index (2026); Eloundou and colleagues (Science, 2024); Felten, Raj and Seamans (2023). How we score. Updated 12 October 2026.