What the work involves, what it pays, and grounded tasks, skills, tools, and experience you can choose from.
Also called political research scientist, citizen participation specialist, government affairs researcher and government affairs specialist.
$142,080
Median pay a year
5,540
People do this work
6
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An example
A Political Scientist resume, filled in
Common skills that can help you remember what you used on the job.
Advising on public matters
Conducting research on social issues
Evaluating civic projects
Forecasting social trends
Interpreting research data
Planning social sciences research
Developing physical theories
Reviewing professional literature
Preparing scientific reports
Preparing information
Presenting information
Instructing college students in social sciences
Every line comes from the same public record as the rest of this page. The greyed parts are the ones only you can answer.
Political Scientist
Summary
Political scientist studying political systems, public opinion, and decision-making while teaching courses, conducting research, and advising students and government officials on political issues
Experience
Political Scientist
Where you worked
Month Year to Month Year
Taught political science courses to undergraduate and graduate students
Maintained current knowledge of government policy decisions and political trends
Developed and tested theories using information from various sources, including interviews and case law
Disseminated research results through academic publications and public presentations
Advised political science students on academic and career paths
Collected, analyzed, and interpreted data from election results and public opinion surveys
Consulted with and advised government officials and civic bodies on political issues
Skills
Core Skills
Conducting research on social issues, Advising on public matters
Checking & Planning
Evaluating civic projects, Forecasting social trends, Interpreting research data, Planning social sciences research, Developing physical theories, Reviewing professional literature
Technical Skills
Preparing scientific reports, Preparing information
Open to
On site, Remote
Education
Doctorate (PhD) Your university, Year
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What to put on a Political Scientist resume
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Taught political science coursesMaintained knowledge of government policiesDeveloped and tested political theoriesDisseminated research through publicationsAdvised political science studentsCollected and analyzed election data
becomes
On your resume
Taught political science courses, engaging students in critical analysis of government policies and political theories
Developed and tested political theories, utilizing data from interviews, newspapers, and case law to inform research
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Add how many courses you taught each semester
The line
Taught several political science courses each semester, engaging students in critical analysis of government policies and political theories
Add how many courses you taught each semester
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Several courses each semesterA few courses every termMultiple classes each academic year
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Adding it to the line…
Added to your resume
Show what insights or findings came from your theories
The line
Developed and tested political theories, utilizing data from interviews, newspapers, and case law to inform research
Show what insights or findings came from your theories
Pick one that fits
Identified key trends in political behaviorProvided new perspectives on policy impacts
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In your wordsAdd it
Adding it to the line…
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The work itself
What a Political Scientist does
The public record of what this job is, in one paragraph.
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.
What it pays
How much does a Political Scientist make?
Annual pay across the United States. The middle figure is the median: half earn less than that, and half earn more.
25th percentile
$114,030
Median
$142,080
75th percentile
$174,180
About 5,540 people do this work in the United States.
What it pays in each state
State
25th percentile
Median
75th percentile
AZ
$81,200
$108,770
$159,120
CO
$82,540
$127,260
$175,530
DC
$128,610
$152,530
$180,480
IL
$85,570
$103,780
$117,590
MA
$106,960
$133,930
$170,110
MD
$115,650
$153,380
$183,080
MI
$78,950
$86,290
$109,580
NH
$51,370
$74,560
$159,730
OH
$94,700
$119,370
$135,620
OR
$113,550
$119,460
$119,460
PA
$89,750
$140,020
$169,580
TX
$101,900
$114,050
$128,320
WA
$95,240
$147,060
$193,450
Other names
Other names for this job
political research scientist, citizen participation specialist, government affairs researcher, government affairs specialist, health policy analyst, legislative affairs specialist, legislative analyst, legislative liaison, legislative policy analyst, local governance specialist, medical policy analyst, policy advisor.
More names for this work
policy analyst, policy associate, policy officer, policy specialist, political advisor, political aide, political analyst, political consultant, political researcher, project policy analyst, strategist.
If you served
Military jobs this work counts as
From the crosswalk the US Department of Labor publishes itself. If one of these was your job, this page is about the civilian work it maps to.
What you can already claim as a Political Scientist
Below are the tasks a Political Scientist job is made of. Choose the ones you have really done. There is no wrong answer here, and you can change any of it later.
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You can already claim 4 of the 9 tasks this job is made of.
What you have not done yet. Interpreting research data, Planning social sciences research, Developing physical theories
Your resume, already started
Political Scientist
Advising on public matters
Conducting research on social issues
Evaluating civic projects
Forecasting social trends
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This page is about the occupation Political Scientists. What this job involves and what it is made of come from O*NET 30.3, the US Department of Labor's occupation database, refreshed July 2026; Rung writes those records into the plain sentences you see. Pay comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS release for 2025. How Rung handles accuracy is on the accuracy page, and the full data credits are on the credits page.