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Boston Career Explorer

Life, Physical, and Social Science

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.

Median pay in Greater Boston
$133,930
$64.39/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
190
Massachusetts 2024–2034
Not published
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Master's degree

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$72,700$88,450$133,930$170,110$217,810

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • 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.
  • Collect, analyze, and interpret data, such as election results and public opinion surveys, reporting on findings, recommendations, and conclusions.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Higher exposure94 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 97
  • Language-model AIOE 98
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 86

Observed AI use today: Substantial (Anthropic Economic Index)

Political science has higher AI exposure, and observed AI use is substantial. AI tools can help with analyzing polls and statistics, searching documents, and drafting reports. Teaching, advising students, and judging what policy decisions mean for real people rely on human judgment.

Likely to change

  • Analyzing polls and statistical sources
  • Drafting reports and research summaries

Still relies on people

  • Teaching and advising students
  • Judging what policy choices mean for people

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

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Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

51 programs near Boston (plus 36 graduate)

Related occupations

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