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

Best Social Scientist programs in Texas, ranked by enrollment

All social scientists and related workers not listed.

39 schools in Texas run programs that feed this job, graduating 1,341 people a year. The job pays a median of $101,800 in Texas across about 2,260 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledPlannerProgram OfficerTransportation PlannerTransportation Data Programs ManagerLinguistDemographerEthnologistEtymologist
Graduates / yr
1,341
in Texas
Median pay · Texas
$101,800
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
2,260
people employed
Schools
39
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
49%
across those schools
Median net price
$25,162
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Texas 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
660graduates / yr
13 schools · 1 specialization · 49.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $36,206
Social Sciences
CIP 45.01
Social Sciences
212graduates / yr
12 schools · 2 specializations · 15.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,590
Health Professions And Related Programs
CIP 51.32
Health Professions Education
183graduates / yr
5 schools · 1 specialization · 13.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $99,851
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.33
Sustainability Studies
137graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 10.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,223
Education
CIP 13.06
Educational Assessment
34graduates / yr
2 schools · 3 specializations · 2.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $33,086
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.05
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
32graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 2.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $40,929
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.44
Geography and Environmental Studies
25graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 1.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.23
Intercultural/Multicultural and Diversity Studies
16graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 1.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $25,750
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.11
Gerontology
10graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 0.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,623
Social Sciences
CIP 45.05
Demography
10graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.46
History and Political Science
9graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.51
Philosophy
5graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.26
Cultural Studies/Critical Theory and Analysis
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $21,458
Social Sciences
CIP 45.99
Social Sciences
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $36,279
Natural Resources And Conservation
CIP 03.02
Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
1graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $37,946
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
CIP 44.05
Public Policy Analysis
1graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $44,740

19 programs in Texas that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Texas (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 Texas 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 Texas
660
49.2%
13$36,206$29,240
2
CIP 45.0101In Texas
191
14.2%
12$35,590$24,095
3
CIP 51.3204In Texas
183
13.6%
5$99,851$21,475
4
CIP 30.3301In Texas
137
10.2%
4$37,223$20,968
5
CIP 30.0501In Texas
32
2.4%
3$40,929$25,000
6
CIP 13.0603In Texas
26
1.9%
2$33,086$26,000
7
CIP 30.4401In Texas
25
1.9%
2
8
CIP 45.0102In Texas
21
1.6%
1$35,590$24,095
9
CIP 30.2301In Texas
16
1.2%
2$25,750$18,622
10
CIP 30.1101In Texas
10
0.7%
3$37,623$25,986
11
CIP 45.0501In Texas
10
0.7%
1
12
CIP 30.4601In Texas
9
0.7%
2
13
CIP 13.0601In Texas
6
0.4%
1$33,086$26,000
14
CIP 30.5101In Texas
5
0.4%
1
15
CIP 45.9999In Texas
3
0.2%
1$36,279$25,312
16
CIP 30.2601In Texas
3
0.2%
1$21,458$21,125
17
CIP 13.0604In Texas
2
0.1%
1$33,086$26,000
18
CIP 03.0209In Texas
1
0.1%
1$37,946$24,125
19
CIP 44.0502In Texas
1
0.1%
1$44,740$22,000

Top 25 schools in Texas

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 5 of the 39 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1San Jacinto Community College
Pasadena, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
368Behavioral Sciences$33,49430%
2The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX Public · 5 feeder programs
295Behavioral Sciences89%27%
3Baylor University
Waco, TX Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
117Medical/Health Humanities80%$35,68251%
4The University of Texas at San Antonio
San Antonio, TX Public · 2 feeder programs
100Medical/Health Humanities53%87%
5West Texas A & M University
Canyon, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
60Social Sciences, General55%99%
6University of Houston - Clear Lake
Houston, TX Public · 2 feeder programs
49Behavioral Sciences$32,98652%91%
7Texas Tech University
Lubbock, TX Public · 7 feeder programs
38Geography and Environmental Studies69%73%
8University of North Texas
Denton, TX Public · 2 feeder programs
38Social Sciences, General$34,67961%72%
9Central Texas College
Killeen, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
24Social Sciences, General11%
10Hill College
Hillsboro, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
24Behavioral Sciences32%
11Abilene Christian University
Abilene, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
21Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution59%$26,34266%
12The University of Texas at Dallas
Richardson, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
21Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods76%65%
13Texas A&M University - College Station
College Station, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
18Educational Statistics and Research Methods84%57%
14Texas State University
San Marcos, TX Public · 2 feeder programs
18Sustainability Studies55%89%
15University of Houston - Downtown
Houston, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
16Social Sciences, General$45,68733%90%
16South Texas College
McAllen, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
14Social Sciences, General27%
17Southern Methodist University
Dallas, TX Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
12Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution84%$33,24663%
18Temple College
Temple, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
10Behavioral Sciences32%
19The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Edinburg, TX Public · 2 feeder programs
10Social Sciences, General$47,24851%94%
20Amarillo College
Amarillo, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
9Social Sciences, General32%
21The University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
9Social Sciences, General54%94%
22The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Houston, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
9Behavioral Sciences
23Blinn College District
Brenham, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
8Social Sciences, General11%
24Texas A & M International University
Laredo, TX Public · 1 feeder programs
8History and Political Science46%44%
25East Texas Baptist University
Marshall, TX Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
6Behavioral Sciences47%$23,35958%

All 39 schools in Texas

Every school in Texas 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 Texas that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
San Jacinto Community CollegePasadenaPublic3681
The University of Texas at AustinAustinPublic2955
Baylor UniversityWacoPrivate not-for-profit1172
The University of Texas at San AntonioSan AntonioPublic1002
West Texas A & M UniversityCanyonPublic601
University of Houston - Clear LakeHoustonPublic492
Texas Tech UniversityLubbockPublic387
University of North TexasDentonPublic382
Central Texas CollegeKilleenPublic241
Hill CollegeHillsboroPublic241
Abilene Christian UniversityAbilenePrivate not-for-profit211
The University of Texas at DallasRichardsonPublic211
Texas A&M University - College StationCollege StationPublic181
Texas State UniversitySan MarcosPublic182
University of Houston - DowntownHoustonPublic161

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

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

Median annual in Texas
$101,800
Mean annual
$107,920
Jobs in state
2,260
What the range looks like
10th pct$74,820Median$101,80090th pct$156,560
Versus the national median
+0.7%

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

Job concentration
0.67×

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

Metro areas in Texas

College Station-Bryan, TX
$105,270median
90 jobs
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX
$108,350median
290 jobs
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX
$102,540median
200 jobs
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX
$104,420median
430 jobs
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX
$110,490median
560 jobs
El Paso, TX
$96,100median
160 jobs
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
$97,470median
50 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 Texas

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 Texas.

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 660 degrees in Texas in 2024-25, 49.2% 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 19 programs to this occupation. The largest are Behavioral Sciences, Social Sciences, Health Professions Education, Sustainability Studies, plus 12 more. Together they graduate about 1,341 people a year in Texas.

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

The median is $101,800 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 0.7% 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 Texas?+

39 institutions in Texas reported graduates from at least one of the 19 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 YorkMassachusettsIndianaIllinoisVirginiaPennsylvania

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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