Career Explorer Science
Grows with AI
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.
Among the careers AI is changing fastest: more resilient than 15% 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 +3.8% by 2035, faster than average. The work leans on creative vision and emotional intelligence.
AI can help with many of the tasks, and demand is still growing. Being fluent with AI is the edge here.
- Median pay (2025)
- $106,030
- Job growth to 2035
- +3.8%
- Openings a year
- 200
- People doing it (2025)
- 2,700
- Usual route in
- Master's degree
Where people already use AI for this work
- Present research or technical information
- Research historical or social issues
- Provide information or assistance to the public
From Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025).
Work AI rarely helps with
- Develop research plans or methodologies
- Collect information about patients or clients
- Analyze data to improve operations
What the work looks like
- 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.
From O*NET 31.0, US Department of Labor.
Careers using similar strengths, with a stronger outlook
- Sociology teachers, postsecondaryChanging shape, Index 20, +2.2%
- Geography teachers, postsecondaryChanging shape, Index 21, +2.7%
- Anthropologists and archeologistsGrows with AI, Index 44, +6.0%
- Urban and regional plannersGrows with AI, Index 23, +3.9%
Also known as: Demographer, Medical Sociologist, Social Scientist, Sociologist, Evaluation Specialist, Policy Analyst, Research Associate, Research Coordinator.
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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.