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Sociology & Anthropology

Instructional content is defined in code 45.1301.

Types of Degrees Sociology & Anthropology Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Sociology & Anthropology may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	494
Master’s Degree	2

What Sociology & Anthropology Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Sociology & Anthropology emphasize a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Sociology & Anthropology graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Sociology & Anthropology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Law and Government — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Sociology and Anthropology — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Sociology & Anthropology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Sociology & Anthropology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Inductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Sociology & Anthropology graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.4 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.4 / 7
Processing Information	4.3 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.3 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.3 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Sociology & Anthropology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—
StataCorp Stata	Analytical or scientific software	—
IBM SPSS Statistics	Analytical or scientific software	—
SAP software	Enterprise resource planning ERP software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Sociology & Anthropology graduates include:

• Adjunct Instructor
• Lecturer
• Associate Professor
• Assistant Professor
• University Faculty Member
• Professor
• College Professor
• Instructor
• Social Organization Professor
• Sociology Adjunct Professor
• Comparative Sociology Professor
• Sociology Adjunct Instructor
• College Faculty Member
• Adjunct Sociology Professor
• Race Relations Professor

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Sociology & Anthropology graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	35.8%
Bachelor’s degree	32.0%
Master’s degree	15.5%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	5.0%
High school diploma or equivalent	3.7%
Postsecondary certificate	2.4%
Some college courses	1.9%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.5%
Post-master’s certificate	0.9%
Post-doctoral training	0.7%
First professional degree	0.6%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Sociology & Anthropology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 73.6% of Sociology & Anthropology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	365	73.6%
Men	131	26.4%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Sociology & Anthropology graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	262	52.8%
Asian	20	4.0%
Hispanic or Latino	69	13.9%
Black or African American	77	15.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native	3	0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	1	0.2%
Two or More Races	25	5.0%
Race Unknown	11	2.2%
International Students	28	5.6%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Sociology & Anthropology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Sociology & Anthropology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$29,482
4 years	$42,604
5 years	$47,479

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $47,479 — roughly 61% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Sociology & Anthropology Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Sociology & Anthropology graduates earn a median of $42,604 four years after completion — roughly 12% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Social Sciences	185,019
Economics	45,628
Political Science and Government	44,942
Sociology	31,380
Social Sciences, General	17,510
International Relations and National Security Studies	13,035
Anthropology	10,768
Criminology	10,365
Geography and Cartography	7,105
Social Sciences, Other	1,942
Urban Studies/Affairs	1,343
Archeology	393

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.