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

Best Social Scientist programs in New York, ranked by enrollment

All social scientists and related workers not listed.

74 schools in New York run programs that feed this job, graduating 3,703 people a year. The job pays a median of $104,770 in New York across about 3,410 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledPlannerProgram OfficerTransportation PlannerTransportation Data Programs ManagerLinguistDemographerEthnologistEtymologist
Graduates / yr
3,703
in New York
Median pay · New York
$104,770
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
3,410
people employed
Schools
74
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
63%
across those schools
Median net price
$25,213
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in New York that lead to this job

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

Social Sciences
CIP 45.01
Social Sciences
1,026graduates / yr
27 schools · 2 specializations · 27.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,590
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.27
Human Biology
872graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 23.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,690
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.33
Sustainability Studies
666graduates / yr
24 schools · 1 specialization · 18.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,223
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.17
Behavioral Sciences
431graduates / yr
7 schools · 1 specialization · 11.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $36,206
Social Sciences
CIP 45.99
Social Sciences
257graduates / yr
13 schools · 1 specialization · 6.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $36,279
Education
CIP 13.06
Educational Assessment
135graduates / yr
3 schools · 5 specializations · 3.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $33,086
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.26
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
106graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 2.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $21,458
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
CIP 44.05
Public Policy Analysis
51graduates / yr
3 schools · 2 specializations · 1.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $44,740
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.11
Gerontology
38graduates / yr
7 schools · 1 specialization · 1.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,623
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.05
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
34graduates / yr
6 schools · 1 specialization · 0.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $40,929
Health Professions And Related Programs
CIP 51.32
Health Professions Education
34graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 0.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $99,851
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.21
Holocaust and Related Studies
9graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Natural Resources And Conservation
CIP 03.02
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
8graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,946
Family And Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences
CIP 19.07
Human Development
8graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,642
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.44
Geography and Environmental Studies
7graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.51
Philosophy
6graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.23
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
5graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $25,750
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.10
Biopsychology
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $43,343
CIP 30.40
Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.46
History and Political Science
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Social Sciences
CIP 45.05
Demography
1graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings

27 programs in New York that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in New York (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 New York page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
1
CIP 30.2701In New York
872
23.5%
4$31,690$17,312
2
CIP 45.0101In New York
831
22.4%
27$35,590$24,095
3
CIP 30.3301In New York
666
18.0%
24$37,223$20,968
4
CIP 30.1701In New York
431
11.6%
7$36,206$29,240
5
CIP 45.9999In New York
257
6.9%
13$36,279$25,312
6
CIP 45.0102In New York
195
5.3%
5$35,590$24,095
7
CIP 30.2601In New York
106
2.9%
4$21,458$21,125
8
CIP 13.0603In New York
92
2.5%
2$33,086$26,000
9
CIP 30.1101In New York
38
1.0%
7$37,623$25,986
10
CIP 30.0501In New York
34
0.9%
6$40,929$25,000
11
CIP 51.3204In New York
34
0.9%
3$99,851$21,475
12
CIP 44.0502In New York
33
0.9%
2$44,740$22,000
13
CIP 13.0601In New York
21
0.6%
3$33,086$26,000
14
CIP 44.0503In New York
18
0.5%
3$44,740$22,000
15
CIP 13.0607In New York
14
0.4%
2$33,086$26,000
16
CIP 30.2101In New York
9
0.2%
1
17
CIP 03.0209In New York
8
0.2%
2$37,946$24,125
18
CIP 19.0702In New York
8
0.2%
1$31,642$23,092
19
CIP 30.4401In New York
7
0.2%
2
20
CIP 13.0699In New York
6
0.2%
1$33,086$26,000
21
CIP 30.5101In New York
6
0.2%
2
22
CIP 30.2301In New York
5
0.1%
2$25,750$18,622
23
CIP 30.1001In New York
3
0.1%
1$43,343$22,125
24
Economics and Foreign Language/Literature
CIP 30.4001
3
0.1%
1
25
CIP 30.4601In New York
3
0.1%
1
26
CIP 13.0604In New York
2
0.1%
1$33,086$26,000
27
CIP 45.0501In New York
1
0.0%
1

Top 25 schools in New York

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 13 of the 74 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 8 feeder programs
702Sustainability Studies$53,95796%$15,3154%
2CUNY Hunter College
New York, NY Public · 1 feeder programs
506Human Biology$31,89157%54%
3Teachers College at Columbia University
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
477Behavioral Sciences
4University at Albany
Albany, NY Public · 2 feeder programs
252Human Biology61%69%
5University at Buffalo
Buffalo, NY Public · 7 feeder programs
232Social Sciences, General$28,84475%74%
6Cornell University
Ithaca, NY Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs
200Human Biology95%$17,6139%
7Bard College
Annandale-On-Hudson, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
175Social Sciences, General$23,30268%$24,27852%
8New York University
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
153Social Sciences, Other$35,77288%$29,0239%
9Empire State University
Saratoga Springs, NY Public · 3 feeder programs
128Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis41%
10CUNY Graduate School and University Center
New York, NY Public · 4 feeder programs
73Social Sciences, General68%
11Erie Community College
Buffalo, NY Public · 1 feeder programs
67Social Sciences, General28%
12University of Rochester
Rochester, NY Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs
60Social Sciences, Other$37,49185%$25,87440%
13Hofstra University
Hempstead, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
59Behavioral Sciences69%$34,53968%
14Mercy University
Dobbs Ferry, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
53Social Sciences, General$36,72646%$17,60486%
15Rockland Community College
Suffern, NY Public · 1 feeder programs
51Social Sciences, General29%
16CUNY City College
New York, NY Public · 1 feeder programs
37Sustainability Studies57%60%
17Daemen University
Amherst, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
32Behavioral Sciences59%$16,82668%
18Touro University
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
30Social Sciences, General$40,11172%$27,11061%
19Dominican University New York
Orangeburg, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
27Social Sciences, General$28,35153%$25,77563%
20Yeshiva University
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
26Gerontology83%$39,69656%
21Russell Sage College
Troy, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
20Social Sciences, Other$27,43656%$22,45153%
22Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
19Social Sciences, General84%$28,85146%
23The New School
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
18Sustainability Studies69%$54,18563%
24Pace University
New York, NY Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
17Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution60%$29,99476%
25Stony Brook University
Stony Brook, NY Public · 1 feeder programs
17Sustainability Studies76%49%

All 74 schools in New York

Every school in New York 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 New York that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Columbia University in the City of New YorkNew YorkPrivate not-for-profit7028
CUNY Hunter CollegeNew YorkPublic5061
Teachers College at Columbia UniversityNew YorkPrivate not-for-profit4774
University at AlbanyAlbanyPublic2522
University at BuffaloBuffaloPublic2327
Cornell UniversityIthacaPrivate not-for-profit2005
Bard CollegeAnnandale-On-HudsonPrivate not-for-profit1752
New York UniversityNew YorkPrivate not-for-profit1534
Empire State UniversitySaratoga SpringsPublic1283
CUNY Graduate School and University CenterNew YorkPublic734
Erie Community CollegeBuffaloPublic671
University of RochesterRochesterPrivate not-for-profit605
Hofstra UniversityHempsteadPrivate not-for-profit593
Mercy UniversityDobbs FerryPrivate not-for-profit531
Rockland Community CollegeSuffernPublic511

What social scientists and related workers, all other earn in New York

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

Median annual in New York
$104,770
Mean annual
$105,210
Jobs in state
3,410
What the range looks like
10th pct$67,210Median$104,77090th pct$138,590
Versus the national median
+3.6%

U.S. median $101,110. New York pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
1.47×

Concentrated here: New York employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.

Metro areas in New York

Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY
$100,210median
80 jobs
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
$107,170median
2,700 jobs
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY
$87,040median
240 jobs
Syracuse, NY
$85,600median
40 jobs
Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY
$84,010median
50 jobs
Rochester, NY
$89,230median
190 jobs
Ithaca, NY
$69,660median
40 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 New York

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 New York.

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 Human Biology, which awarded 872 degrees in New York in 2024-25, 23.5% 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 27 programs to this occupation. The largest are Social Sciences, Human Biology, Sustainability Studies, Behavioral Sciences, plus 17 more. Together they graduate about 3,703 people a year in New York.

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

The median is $104,770 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 3.6% above 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 New York?+

74 institutions in New York reported graduates from at least one of the 27 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 statesCaliforniaUtahMassachusettsIndianaIllinoisVirginiaTexasPennsylvania

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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