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

Best Social Scientist programs in Missouri, ranked by enrollment

All social scientists and related workers not listed.

21 schools in Missouri run programs that feed this job, graduating 432 people a year. The job pays a median of $80,850 in Missouri across about 330 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledPlannerProgram OfficerTransportation PlannerTransportation Data Programs ManagerLinguistDemographerEthnologistEtymologist
Graduates / yr
432
in Missouri
Median pay · Missouri
$80,850
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
330
people employed
Schools
21
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
58%
across those schools
Median net price
$21,890
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Missouri that lead to this job

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

Education
CIP 13.06
Educational Assessment
136graduates / yr
3 schools · 3 specializations · 31.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $33,086
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.17
Behavioral Sciences
117graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 27.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $36,206
Social Sciences
CIP 45.01
Social Sciences
64graduates / yr
5 schools · 3 specializations · 14.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,590
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.33
Sustainability Studies
28graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 6.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,223
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.23
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
21graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 4.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $25,750
Health Professions And Related Programs
CIP 51.32
Health Professions Education
17graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 3.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $99,851
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.44
Geography and Environmental Studies
13graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 3.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Social Sciences
CIP 45.99
Social Sciences
12graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 2.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $36,279
Foreign Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
CIP 16.01
Linguistic
8graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 1.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $27,449
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.05
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
8graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 1.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $40,929
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.26
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
4graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $21,458
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.11
Gerontology
3graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,623
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
CIP 44.05
Public Policy Analysis
1graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $44,740

17 programs in Missouri that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Missouri (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 Missouri 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 Missouri
117
27.1%
4$36,206$29,240
2
CIP 13.0604In Missouri
77
17.8%
2$33,086$26,000
3
CIP 45.0101In Missouri
48
11.1%
5$35,590$24,095
4
CIP 13.0699In Missouri
38
8.8%
1$33,086$26,000
5
CIP 30.3301In Missouri
28
6.5%
3$37,223$20,968
6
CIP 30.2301In Missouri
21
4.9%
4$25,750$18,622
7
CIP 13.0601In Missouri
21
4.9%
3$33,086$26,000
8
CIP 51.3204In Missouri
17
3.9%
1$99,851$21,475
9
CIP 30.4401In Missouri
13
3.0%
1
10
CIP 45.9999In Missouri
12
2.8%
2$36,279$25,312
11
CIP 45.0102In Missouri
12
2.8%
3$35,590$24,095
12
CIP 16.0199In Missouri
8
1.9%
1$27,449$20,824
13
CIP 30.0501In Missouri
8
1.9%
2$40,929$25,000
14
CIP 30.2601In Missouri
4
0.9%
2$21,458$21,125
15
CIP 45.0103In Missouri
4
0.9%
1$35,590$24,095
16
CIP 30.1101In Missouri
3
0.7%
2$37,623$25,986
17
CIP 44.0502In Missouri
1
0.2%
1$44,740$22,000

Top 21 schools in Missouri

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 2 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
1Washington University in St Louis
St. Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
118Behavioral Sciences94%$14,12612%
2Northwest Missouri State University
Maryville, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
72Educational Assessment, Testing, and Measurement54%86%
3Missouri State University - Springfield
Springfield, MO Public · 8 feeder programs
51Medical/Health Humanities58%91%
4A T Still University of Health Sciences
Kirksville, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
38Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research, Other
5University of Missouri - St Louis
Saint Louis, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
18Social Sciences, General57%63%
6University of Missouri - Columbia
Columbia, MO Public · 3 feeder programs
17Educational Evaluation and Research75%78%
7Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
15Sustainability Studies66%$24,92195%
8University of Missouri - Kansas City
Kansas City, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
13Geography and Environmental Studies55%72%
9Missouri Western State University
Saint Joseph, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
12Educational Evaluation and Research39%
10Missouri Baptist University
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
11Behavioral Sciences$30,14748%$25,40769%
11Southeast Missouri State University
Cape Girardeau, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
11Social Sciences, General$37,19358%74%
12Rockhurst University
Kansas City, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
10Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies75%$21,89070%
13Drury University - College of Continuing Professional Studies
Springfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
9Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution43%$14,825
14Missouri Southern State University
Joplin, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
8Social Sciences, General42%97%
15Lincoln University
Jefferson City, MO Public · 1 feeder programs
7Social Sciences, Other21%
16Evangel University
Springfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
6Social Sciences, General65%$17,88172%
17Drury University
Springfield, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
4Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies62%$20,48258%
18Park University
Parkville, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
4Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies38%$16,013
19Saint Louis University
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
3Education Policy Analysis80%$24,88675%
20University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
3Behavioral Sciences62%$31,80490%
21Webster University
Saint Louis, MO Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
2Educational Evaluation and Research64%$25,09086%

All 21 schools in Missouri

Every school in Missouri 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 Missouri that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Washington University in St LouisSt. LouisPrivate not-for-profit1183
Northwest Missouri State UniversityMaryvillePublic721
Missouri State University - SpringfieldSpringfieldPublic518
A T Still University of Health SciencesKirksvillePrivate not-for-profit381
University of Missouri - St LouisSaint LouisPublic181
University of Missouri - ColumbiaColumbiaPublic173
Maryville University of Saint LouisSaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit152
University of Missouri - Kansas CityKansas CityPublic131
Missouri Western State UniversitySaint JosephPublic121
Missouri Baptist UniversitySaint LouisPrivate not-for-profit112
Southeast Missouri State UniversityCape GirardeauPublic111
Rockhurst UniversityKansas CityPrivate not-for-profit102
Drury University - College of Continuing Professional StudiesSpringfieldPrivate not-for-profit92
Missouri Southern State UniversityJoplinPublic81
Lincoln UniversityJefferson CityPublic71

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

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

Median annual in Missouri
$80,850
Mean annual
$83,460
Jobs in state
330
What the range looks like
10th pct$53,850Median$80,85090th pct$112,070
Versus the national median
-20.0%

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

Job concentration
0.47×

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

Metro areas in Missouri

Kansas City, MO-KS
$90,060median
190 jobs
St. Louis, MO-IL
$88,440median
160 jobs
Springfield, MO
$78,850median
40 jobs
Jefferson City, MO
$57,350median
60 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 Missouri

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 Missouri.

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 117 degrees in Missouri in 2024-25, 27.1% 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 Educational Assessment, Behavioral Sciences, Social Sciences, Sustainability Studies, plus 9 more. Together they graduate about 432 people a year in Missouri.

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

The median is $80,850 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 20.0% 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 Missouri?+

21 institutions in Missouri 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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