Political Scientists pay range in Phoenix
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $199,120 or more. The middle half of political scientists in Phoenix earn between $86,690 and $162,690.
- $78K10th
- $87K25th
- $114KMedian
- $163K75th
- $199K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $124,870 | $10,406 | $60.03 |
| Median | $114,320 | $9,527 | $54.96 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $86,690 | $7,224 | $41.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $162,690 | $13,558 | $78.22 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Political Scientists pay in Phoenix vs. Arizona and the U.S.
Political scientists in Phoenix earn 6% more than the Arizona average ($117,910) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($142,510). At the median the gap is -20% against the U.S. median of $142,080.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix | $124,870 | $114,320 | $78,390 | $199,120 | 30 |
| Arizona | $117,910 | $108,770 | $71,800 | $163,430 | 50 |
| United States | $142,510 | $142,080 | $83,350 | $195,190 | 5,540 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Political Scientists salary after taxes in Phoenix
On the average salary of $124,870, a single filer in Phoenix takes home about $93,887 a year, or $7,824 a month and $3,611 every two weeks. Taxes take 25% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
Is Phoenix a good place for political scientists? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Phoenix area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.3), so the average $124,870 buys what about $120,862 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Phoenix ($51,380). A typical home costs $448,352, or 3.6 years of this average salary before tax.
Political Scientists salary in nearby metro areas
- Seattle, WA$146,970
- Chicago, IL$105,230
- Ann Arbor, MI$110,690
- Detroit, MI$89,470
- Washington, DC$156,310
- Boston, MA$135,740
Highest-paying cities for political scientists
Washington, DC pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($156,310).
- Washington, DC$156,310
- Seattle, WA$146,970
- Boston, MA$135,740
- Phoenix, AZ$124,870
- Ann Arbor, MI$110,690
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Political Scientists salary in Phoenix: questions
How much do political scientists make an hour in Phoenix?
$60.03 an hour on average, and $54.96 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level political scientists salary in Phoenix?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $78,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $86,690, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the political scientists take-home pay in Phoenix?
About $93,887 a year ($7,824 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $124,870.
Do political scientists earn more in Phoenix than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($142,510).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-3094; area Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ (38060). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.1%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.36, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.36).
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