Arizona·Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations·SOC 19-3099

Best Social Scientist programs in Arizona, ranked by enrollment

All social scientists and related workers not listed.

21 schools in Arizona run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,113 people a year. The job pays a median of $99,320 in Arizona across about 600 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledPlannerProgram OfficerTransportation PlannerTransportation Data Programs ManagerLinguistDemographerEthnologistEtymologist
Graduates / yr
1,113
in Arizona
Median pay · Arizona
$99,320
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
600
people employed
Schools
21
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
28%
across those schools
Median net price
$23,166
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Arizona that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.17
Behavioral Sciences
498graduates / yr
7 schools · 1 specialization · 44.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $36,206
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.33
Sustainability Studies
163graduates / yr
14 schools · 1 specialization · 14.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,223
Social Sciences
CIP 45.01
Social Sciences
157graduates / yr
6 schools · 2 specializations · 14.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,590
Education
CIP 13.06
Educational Assessment
88graduates / yr
2 schools · 3 specializations · 7.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $33,086
Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
CIP 19.07
Human Development
44graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 4.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,642
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.51
Philosophy
40graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 3.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.46
History and Political Science
36graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 3.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.44
Geography and Environmental Studies
31graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 2.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
CIP 16.01
Linguistic
22graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 2.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $27,449
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.26
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
19graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 1.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $21,458
Social Sciences
CIP 45.99
Social Sciences
9graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $36,279
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.23
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $25,750
Health Professions And Related Programs
CIP 51.32
Health Professions Education
2graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $99,851
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.11
Gerontology
1graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,623

17 programs in Arizona that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Arizona (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Arizona page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 30.1701In Arizona
498
44.7%
7$36,206$29,240
2
CIP 30.3301In Arizona
163
14.6%
14$37,223$20,968
3
CIP 45.0101In Arizona
145
13.0%
6$35,590$24,095
4
CIP 13.0607In Arizona
77
6.9%
2$33,086$26,000
5
CIP 19.0702In Arizona
44
4.0%
3$31,642$23,092
6
CIP 30.5101In Arizona
40
3.6%
3
7
CIP 30.4601In Arizona
36
3.2%
2
8
CIP 30.4401In Arizona
31
2.8%
1
9
CIP 16.0199In Arizona
22
2.0%
3$27,449$20,824
10
CIP 30.2601In Arizona
19
1.7%
3$21,458$21,125
11
CIP 45.0102In Arizona
12
1.1%
2$35,590$24,095
12
CIP 45.9999In Arizona
9
0.8%
2$36,279$25,312
13
CIP 13.0601In Arizona
6
0.5%
1$33,086$26,000
14
CIP 13.0603In Arizona
5
0.4%
2$33,086$26,000
15
CIP 30.2301In Arizona
3
0.3%
1$25,750$18,622
16
CIP 51.3204In Arizona
2
0.2%
1$99,851$21,475
17
CIP 30.1101In Arizona
1
0.1%
1$37,623$25,986

Top 21 schools in Arizona

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 3 of the 21 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1The University of Arizona Global Campus
Chandler, AZ Public · 3 feeder programs
178Behavioral Sciences$37,66111%$26,445
2South Mountain Community College
Phoenix, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs
176Behavioral Sciences16%
3University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ Public · 7 feeder programs
169Learning Sciences$26,45768%86%
4Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, AZ Public · 5 feeder programs
101Behavioral Sciences61%90%
5Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ Public · 12 feeder programs
91Sustainability Studies68%90%
6Glendale Community College
Glendale, AZ Public · 3 feeder programs
88Behavioral Sciences16%
7Arizona Western College
Yuma, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
81Social Sciences, General20%
8Arizona State University Digital Immersion
Scottsdale, AZ Public · 5 feeder programs
77Sustainability Studies0%67%
9Mesa Community College
Mesa, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs
33Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other16%
10Dine College
Tsaile, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
29Social Sciences, General13%
11Mohave Community College
Kingman, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
18Behavioral Sciences38%
12Cochise County Community College District
Sierra Vista, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
14Social Sciences, General30%
13University of Phoenix - Arizona
Phoenix, AZ Private for-profit · 1 feeder programs
12Behavioral Sciences$38,08721%$15,478
14Estrella Mountain Community College
Avondale, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
9Sustainability Studies32%
15Phoenix College
Phoenix, AZ Public · 2 feeder programs
9Sustainability Studies14%
16Chandler - Gilbert Community College
Chandler, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
8Sustainability Studies30%
17Prescott College
Prescott, AZ Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
8Social Sciences, Other56%$23,16695%
18Paradise Valley Community College
Phoenix, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
5Sustainability Studies19%
19Rio Salado College
Tempe, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
3Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other9%
20Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
3Sustainability Studies17%
21GateWay Community College
Phoenix, AZ Public · 1 feeder programs
1Sustainability Studies29%

All 21 schools in Arizona

Every school in Arizona with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Arizona that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
The University of Arizona Global CampusChandlerPublic1783
South Mountain Community CollegePhoenixPublic1762
University of ArizonaTucsonPublic1697
Northern Arizona UniversityFlagstaffPublic1015
Arizona State University Campus ImmersionTempePublic9112
Glendale Community CollegeGlendalePublic883
Arizona Western CollegeYumaPublic811
Arizona State University Digital ImmersionScottsdalePublic775
Mesa Community CollegeMesaPublic332
Dine CollegeTsailePublic291
Mohave Community CollegeKingmanPublic181
Cochise County Community College DistrictSierra VistaPublic141
University of Phoenix - ArizonaPhoenixPrivate for-profit121
Estrella Mountain Community CollegeAvondalePublic91
Phoenix CollegePhoenixPublic92

What social scientists and related workers, all other earn in Arizona

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Arizona
$99,320
Mean annual
$100,980
Jobs in state
600
What the range looks like
10th pct$69,240Median$99,32090th pct$132,430
Versus the national median
-1.8%

U.S. median $101,110. Arizona pays below the national figure.

Job concentration
0.77×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in Arizona

Tucson, AZ
$99,320median
200 jobs
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ
$98,520median
200 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
-1.7%
Decline
Openings per year
3,200
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
-700
40,800 → 40,100
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other page.

How to become a Social Scientist

Job zone 4 of 5 · SVP 7.0 to < 8.0
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree

Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Top skills

Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingWritingSpeakingActive Learning

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Arizona

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other25 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 03.0209Energy and Environmental Policy
  • 13.0601Educational Evaluation and Research
  • 13.0603Educational Statistics and Research Methods
  • 13.0604Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement
  • 13.0607Learning Sciences
  • 13.0699Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other
  • 16.0199Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services, Other
  • 19.0702Adult Development and Aging
  • 30.0501Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
  • 30.1001Biopsychology
  • 30.1101Gerontology
  • 30.1701Behavioral Sciences
  • 30.2101Holocaust and Related Studies
  • 30.2301Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
  • 30.2601Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
  • 30.2701Human Biology
  • 30.3301Sustainability Studies
  • 30.3401Anthrozoology
  • 30.4001Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
  • 30.4201Geoarcheaology
  • 30.4401Geography and Environmental Studies
  • 30.4601History and Political Science
  • 30.4701Linguistics and Anthropology
  • 30.5101Philosophy, Politics, and Economics
  • 44.0502Education Policy Analysis

Common questions

Answers for people weighing social scientists and related workers, all other programs in Arizona.

What degree do you need to become a Social Scientist?+

Bachelor's degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Behavioral Sciences, which awarded 498 degrees in Arizona in 2024-25, 44.7% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Social Scientist?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 17 programs to this occupation. The largest are Behavioral Sciences, Sustainability Studies, Social Sciences, Educational Assessment, plus 10 more. Together they graduate about 1,113 people a year in Arizona.

How much do social scientists and related workers, all other earn in Arizona?+

The median is $99,320 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 1.8% below the U.S. median of $101,110. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for social scientists and related workers, all other growing?+

BLS projects a -1.7% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, decline, with roughly 3,200 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Arizona?+

21 institutions in Arizona reported graduates from at least one of the 17 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do social scientists and related workers, all other work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Planner, Program Officer, Transportation Planner, Transportation Data Programs Manager among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 19-3099.

Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other in other statesCaliforniaUtahNew YorkMassachusettsIndianaIllinoisVirginiaTexas

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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