We used the latest data and insights to identify the Highest Paying Political Science Jobs so that you can learn and earn more.
As a political science major, which jobs offer you the best salary potential right out of college? To answer that question, we did some research on the highest-paying political science jobs that require a college degree.
We used the data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, among other major sites, to compile these jobs for political science majors.
Though this list is not exhaustive, it can apply to every political science graduate who wants to make a living out of this field.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
#10. Political Campaign Staff
How much do they get paid?
- Source: ZipRecruiter
- Low Range: $19,000 per year
- High Range: $63,000 per year
- Median Pay: $35,994 per year
What do they do?
Campaign staff work on campaigns to help elect candidates running for office. They prepare speeches, plan events, and raise money for the campaign.
These staffers are typically responsible for a variety of tasks, including:
- Fundraising.
- Campaign strategy.
- Public relations.
- Social media management.
- Event planning and coordination.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
This job requires a minimum of a high school diploma, but most employers prefer candidates with at least a bachelor’s political science degree or one in marketing or communications.
In most cases, employers prefer candidates who have experience working on political campaigns or other types of political advocacy.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
Political campaign staff can be found working at every level: from local to national campaigns.
What is the best way to get this job?
The quickest way to get this job is to go to college and get a degree in political science or public administration. These majors can help you learn how government works and how campaigns are run. It’s also helpful to get some experience working on campaigns.
How do you become a political campaign staff?
#9. Paralegal and Legal Assistants
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Payscale
- Low Range: $33,000 per year
- High Range: $77,000 per year
- Median Pay: $50,578 per year
What do they do?
Legal assistants and paralegals are highly-trained professionals working closely with attorneys to help them with research, document preparation, and more.
As an entry-level position, a paralegal or legal assistant will typically research, organize files and documents, answer phones, and schedule appointments for attorneys. As they gain experience, they may take on more complex tasks such as writing motions and preparing legal documents for filing with courts or other government agencies.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Employers prefer paralegal graduates who have completed a bachelor’s degree in paralegal studies or a related field. However, many employers will hire experienced legal assistants as well as paralegal graduates. It is important to note that legal assistants have no specific educational requirements.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
Paralegals and legal assistants can find work in law firms, government agencies, corporations, schools, hospitals, and more.
What is the best way to get this job?
To get this job, you should get a degree in paralegal studies or a related field like criminal justice or law enforcement administration. You can also gain experience by working as an intern at a law firm or other organization that hires paralegals and legal assistants.
What’s it like to be a paralegal or legal assistant?
#8. Community Service Managers
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Salary.com
- Low Range: $46,132 per year
- High Range: $70,816 per year
- Median Pay: $58,065 per year
What do they do?
Community service managers are responsible for the day-to-day operations of a community service organization. They ensure that their organization meets its goals.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Some companies require at least a bachelor’s degree in business or public administration. But some will hire candidates with experience working with budgets or managing people.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
Community service managers can find employment in:
- State or local government agencies.
- Private organizations like housing corporations or homeless shelters.
- Community-based organizations (CBOs).
- Universities.
What is the best way to get this job?
A good way to get this job would be to volunteer at a local non-profit organization that provides services for people who could benefit from your skillset. Then you could use your success there as proof that you’re qualified for this position.
Should you become a community service manager?
#7. Political Scientists
How much do they get paid?
- Source: ZipRecruiter
- Low Range: $18,500 per year
- High Range: $150,000 per year
- Median Pay: $64,894 per year
What do they do?
Political scientists study the relationships between political systems, governments, and societies.
They use their skills to analyze data related to politics and how laws affect society at large to make recommendations based on what they find out through their research studies.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Political scientists have at least an undergraduate political science degree. Employers prefer applicants with advanced degrees such as a master’s or doctorate.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
These scientists work in universities, think tanks, corporations, non-profit organizations, and government agencies like the FBI or CIA.
What is the best way to get this job?
The fastest way to get this job is by earning your public administration or political science degrees from an accredited institution. Employers prefer someone with a master’s degree who has experience working with politicians or other local leaders.
How do you become a political scientist?
#6. Public Relations Managers
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Payscale
- Low Range: $47,000 per year
- High Range: $103,000 per year
- Median Pay: $72,081 per year
What do they do?
Public relations managers are responsible for managing the public image of a company or organization. They do this by communicating with the media.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Public relations managers must have a bachelor’s degree in international relations, communications, public relations, or journalism. Most employers prefer to hire candidates with a master’s degree in PR.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
These public relations specialists work in both small and large companies, as well as nonprofits and government organizations. They work mostly in offices but may frequently travel to meet with clients.
What is the best way to get this job?
You should take classes in public speaking, writing skills, and media relations as part of your undergraduate program to get this job. Once you’ve earned your bachelor’s degree, look for internships that will help you gain experience working on projects similar to what you would do as an employee at a PR agency or company like NASA, where communications are essential components of their operations.
What’s it like to be a public relations manager?
#5. Political Consultant
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Glassdoor
- Low Range: $51,000 per year
- High Range: $126,000 per year
- Median Pay: $75,307 per year
What do they do?
A political consultant helps political candidates plan and execute their campaigns from the very beginning of the process all the way through Election Day.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Political consultants have at least five years of experience in the field. One of the most important things to employers is that you’ve been working in politics for a while. This is because they want to know that you are good at what you do.
Political consultants usually have at least an undergraduate social science degree in political science or communications, though it’s not required. An MBA is also helpful.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
Political consultants work in all kinds of places—from campaigns to think tanks to political lobbying groups.
What is the best way to get this job?
You can get this job by doing it. If you’re interested in working as a political consultant, start getting involved with campaigns and organizations where they hire consultants or ask them for advice. Then, once you’re ready to move on from volunteering or interning, try looking into local or state government jobs first—this will give you more opportunities than federal ones right off the bat.
How do you become a political consultant?
#4. Policy Analysts
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Glassdoor
- Low Range: $62,000 per year
- High Range: $175,000 per year
- Median Pay: $95,623 per year
What do they do?
Policy analysts put their knowledge to work on behalf of the public. They are responsible for researching and analyzing policies affecting their organization or industry. These political science professionals also create proposals for new policies and document the process of developing these policies.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Policy analysts have an undergraduate political science degree. Some employers prefer candidates with a master’s degree in public administration or a related field.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
They work in the government and non-profit sectors, as well as the private sector.
What is the best way to get this job?
The fastest way to get this job is through a degree in public policy or public administration. You can also start out as an intern or an assistant while you’re working on your degree and then move up when you graduate.
Should you become a policy analyst?
#3. Political Science Professor
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Glassdoor
- Low Range: $84,000 per year
- High Range: $183,000 per year
- Median Pay: $119,105 per year
What do they do?
Political science professors study political systems and government organizations, as well as the processes by which they are formed and maintained. They teach political science students about the history of political systems, including how they are shaped by culture and society, as well as how they affect other aspects of society.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
Employers prefer political science professors who have both an undergraduate degree and a master’s political science degree in the field. Some employers prefer those with PhDs, but this is not always necessary for entry-level positions.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
Most political science professors work at colleges or universities, but some also work at high schools or middle schools. Some also work freelance as writers or consultants on various political topics.
What is the best way to get this job?
You’ll want to start by earning your bachelor’s degree in political science from an accredited university to get this job. You’ll then want to enroll in advanced studies before applying for jobs.
How do you become a political science professor?
#2. Management Consultant
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Glassdoor
- Low Range: $85,000 per year
- High Range: $181,000 per year
- Median Pay: $119,775 per year
What do they do?
Management consultants work with companies to help them solve problems. They’ll interview employees, analyze data, and use the research findings to present recommendations to upper management on how to improve processes or systems that are not working as well as they could be.
The life of consultants are quite like the movie “Up in the Air” in the pre-COVID time. Today you might have heard of the names of McKinsey, Bain, or BCG (Boston Consulting Group) being cited in the news.
That is management consultants in action.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
If you ask the human resources managers of major consulting firms, they will likely say they are open to any smart students with any management degree. They are looking for raw talents with good academic results and problem-solving skills (usually in the form of some early-career achievements such as an internship or business project for interesting brands).
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
They can be found working in almost every industry, but they’re most common in technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail.
What is the best way to get this job?
Start backward. Check out the typical resumes that land people in consulting jobs. Then, think of ways to make your CV look similar to those of consulting CVs.
Practice case interviews and group interviews. A good CV gets you an interview opportunity, but it’s all down to your problem-solving skills and interpersonal skills.
What’s it like to be a management consultant?
#1. Politician
How much do they get paid?
- Source: Comparably
- Low Range: $17,337 per year
- High Range: $464,665 per year
- Median Pay: $83,137 per year
What do they do?
Politicians are people who participate in the process of forming and enforcing public policy. They may be elected or appointed to positions that allow them to impact the way laws are made, the way tax dollars are spent, and other aspects of governance.
What degrees and skills are usually required?
There is no ONE degree for it, although having a degree in political science or public administration will give you some ideas of political philosophy and history.
They also need to be able to speak publicly and write effectively. These skills can be learned during an internship with a local politician or by attending a graduate program.
Who’s hiring for these jobs?
The people. Politicians are supposed to be protecting and fighting for the rights of their constituents and upholding the US Constitution. You will most likely start as an assistant or community manager before making your way to the US House Representative. Then, the Senator. Then, if all the stars align, the POTUS.
What’s the best way to get this job?
One way to get this job is by working your way up through local politics. If you’re interested in running for office at any level (local or national), you should start by volunteering for campaigns and working on campaigns for other candidates who share your values.
As you gain more experience working with people from all walks of life, you’ll develop the skills needed to run a successful campaign.
What’s it like to be a politician?
Conclusion
Your understanding of political science will give you the knowledge necessary to work in various fields. Also, your love for research will be an excellent asset to have. Considering these factors and the list of highest-paying political science careers, a political science major can then decide which field to go into and what class to take. The skills you learn from taking political science classes will surely be helpful when looking for a job.
