Sociologists Salary
The median pay for a sociologists in Stockton-Lodi, CA is $131,170/year ($63.06/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $71K at the entry level to $156K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.09), so that salary is closer to $124,817 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,742/month, or 22.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $131K get you in Stockton-Lodi?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Stockton-Lodi’s Regional Price Parity (105.09). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About sociologists
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What this looks like in Stockton-Lodi
Stockton-Lodi sits well above the national pay line for sociologists, local pay runs about 24% higher than the U.S. median of $106K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,742/month, 22.7% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.09), so groceries and services cost more too. Combined with manageable housing costs, Stockton-Lodi offers a genuinely strong financial position for sociologistss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for sociologists in metros near Stockton-Lodi, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $135K | $117K |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $125K | $110K |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario | $131K | $123K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Stockton-Lodi, CA
Entry-level sociologists (10th percentile) start around $71K. Mid-career wages sit at $131K. Top earners bring in $156K or more, a $85K spread from bottom to top.
Sociologists pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Sociologists salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $141K | +33% | N/A |
| Kentucky | $137K | +29% | 30 |
| North Carolina | $127K | +20% | 170 |
| California | $126K | +19% | 590 |
| Alaska | $108K | +2% | 40 |
| Massachusetts | $107K | +0% | 250 |
| Maryland | $101K | -5% | 50 |
| Washington | $97K | -8% | 130 |
| Michigan | $88K | -17% | 90 |
| Ohio | $79K | -26% | 130 |
| Florida | $47K | -56% | 160 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track sociologists salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Stockton-Lodi numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a sociologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Stockton-Lodi?
Yes — at the median salary of $131K, rent takes 22.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,742/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for sociologists in Stockton-Lodi?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new sociologists typically earn — is $71K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $4,235/month. At HUD’s $1,742/month FMR, rent would take 41% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is sociologist a high-paying job in Stockton-Lodi?
Local pay is 24% above the national median — $131K here vs. $106K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does Stockton-Lodi compare to the national average for sociologists?
Stockton-Lodi pays $131K median vs. the U.S. average of $106K — that’s +24%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.09), the purchasing-power equivalent is $125K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do sociologists make in Stockton-Lodi, CA?
The median is $131,170 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $70,580, and experienced sociologists can clear $155,800. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $131K enough to live in Stockton-Lodi?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,673/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,742/month, which eats 22.7% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a sociologists salary go in Stockton-Lodi?
Stockton-Lodi has a Regional Price Parity of 105.09 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median sociologists salary is worth about $124,817 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do sociologists 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.