Political Scientists Salary
The median pay for a political scientists in Arizona is $108,770/year ($52.29/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $72K at the entry level to $163K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 96.41), that's roughly $112,820 in purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,437/month, or 20.5% of estimated take-home pay.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Arizona. Jump to a metro for precise data:
Where the paycheck goes
What $109K actually covers in Arizona, month by month
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What this looks like in Arizona
Pay for political scientists in Arizona runs about 23% below the U.S. median of $142K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,437/month, 21% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost of living (RPP 96.41) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Lower pay, lower costs, Arizona can be a reasonable trade-off for political scientists who value affordability over top-dollar markets.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Arizona
Entry-level political scientists (10th percentile) start around $72K. Mid-career wages sit at $109K. Top earners bring in $163K or more, a $92K spread from bottom to top.
Political Scientists salary by metro in Arizona
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler | $114K | +5% | 30 |
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BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Arizona numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a political scientist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Arizona?
Yes — at the median salary of $109K, rent takes 21% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,437/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for political scientists in Arizona?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new political scientists typically earn — is $72K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,759/month. At HUD’s $1,437/month FMR, rent would take 30% of that take-home — manageable on an entry-level income.
Is political scientist a high-paying job in Arizona?
Local pay runs 23% below the national median — $109K here vs. $142K nationally.
How does Arizona compare to the national average for political scientists?
Arizona pays $109K median vs. the U.S. average of $142K — that’s -23%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 96.41), the purchasing-power equivalent is $113K — below the national median.
How much do political scientists make in Arizona?
The median is $108,770 a year, that works out to about $52 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $71,800, and experienced political scientists can clear $163,430. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $109K enough to live in Arizona?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $6,849/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,437/month, which eats 21% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a political scientists salary go in Arizona?
Arizona has a Regional Price Parity of 96.41 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median political scientists salary is worth about $112,820 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do political scientists get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.