Political Scientists
SOC Code: 19-3094 Job Zone 5: Extensive Preparation Needed
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.
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Prevailing Wage Levels (National)
DOL/OFLC prevailing wage thresholds for Political Scientists. Hourly rates x 2,080 = annual.
FY2027 Weighted Lottery Impact
| Level | Lottery Entries | Est. Selection Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Level I (Entry) | 1 entry | ~16% |
| Level II (Qualified) | 2 entries | ~31% |
| Level III (Experienced) | 3 entries | ~45% |
| Level IV (Expert) | 4 entries | ~61% |
Prevailing Wages by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southwest Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $104,541 | $129,584 | $154,606 | $179,650 |
| Southside Virginia nonmetropolitan area | $104,541 | $129,584 | $154,606 | $179,650 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | $104,541 | $129,584 | $154,606 | $179,650 |
| Roanoke, VA | $104,541 | $129,584 | $154,606 | $179,650 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $104,541 | $129,584 | $154,606 | $179,650 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $104,541 | $129,584 | $154,606 | $179,650 |
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $104,541 | $129,584 | $154,606 | $179,650 |
| Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA | $104,541 | $129,584 | $154,606 | $179,650 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $104,541 | $129,584 | $154,606 | $179,650 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | $114,296 | $133,890 | $153,462 | $173,056 |
Key Skills
| Skill | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.2 | |
| Active Listening | 4.1 | |
| Speaking | 4.1 | |
| Active Learning | 4.1 | |
| Critical Thinking | 4.0 | |
| Writing | 4.0 | |
| Social Perceptiveness | 3.8 | |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.6 | |
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.6 | |
| Instructing | 3.5 |
Knowledge Areas
| Knowledge | Importance |
|---|---|
| Law and Government | 4.7 |
| English Language | 4.4 |
| Education and Training | 4.3 |
| History and Archeology | 3.4 |
| Mathematics | 3.4 |
| Communications and Media | 3.3 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 3.2 |
| Geography | 3.1 |
Education Requirements
| Education Level | % of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-first professional | 88.5% |
| Doctoral degree | 7.7% |
| Other | 3.9% |
Typical Tasks
- Teach political science.
- Disseminate research results through academic publications, written reports, or public presentations.
- Identify issues for research and analysis.
- Develop and test theories, using information from interviews, newspapers, periodicals, case law, historical papers, polls, or statistical sources.
- Maintain current knowledge of government policy decisions.
- Collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as election results and public opinion surveys, reporting on findings, recommendations, and conclusions.
- Interpret and analyze policies, public issues, legislation, or the operations of governments, businesses, and organizations.
- Forecast political, economic, and social trends.
Technology Skills
Green = Hot Technology in demand
Adobe Acrobat IBM SPSS Statistics Microsoft Access Microsoft Active Server Pages ASP Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft SharePoint Microsoft Visio Microsoft Word Python R SAP software SAS
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