The median annual wage for Political Scientists in California is $130,630 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $132,240.
Pay spans roughly $75,180 at the 10th percentile to $191,880 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $62.80 per hour. An estimated 50 people work as political scientists in California.
| Median (annual) | $130,630 |
| Mean (annual) | $132,240 |
| Median (hourly) | $62.80 |
| 10th percentile | $75,180 |
| 90th percentile | $191,880 |
| Employment | 50 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.