Headline risk
2%
Very Low RiskSociologists
AI displacement pressure score for United States AI Work Index, combining global AI task overlap with local wages, employment trends, and demand signals.
Why This Score
Share of job tasks that overlap with current AI capabilities
Median annual wage
Projected employment change over 10 years
Typical preparation needed for this occupation
Occupation profile
Study human society and social behavior by examining the groups and social institutions that people form, as well as various social, religious, political, and business organizations. May study the behavior and interaction of groups, trace their origin and growth, and analyze the influence of group activities on individual members.
Task evidence
88% weighted task match · 26% effective coverage
Scores combine AI task overlap, human advantages, and local demand. How it works
United States Now
Median Wage
USD 101,690
Employment 2024
3.4K
Projected Change (2024–34)
3.6%
Openings (2024–34)
0.3K
Wage distribution
Demand outlook
Employment of sociologists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Role Profile
Tasks
- 1. Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior. AI use: 91%
- 2. Prepare publications and reports containing research findings. AI use: 82%
- 3. Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews. AI use: 0%
- 4. Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging. AI use: 0%
- 5. Teach sociology. AI use: 0%
- 6. Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents. AI use: 100%
Technologies
Requirements
Work context
Related
Source coverage
10/11 source families · O*NET 30.2 / OEWS 2024 / ORS 2025 / OOH 2025-08-28 / Projections 2024-34 / CPS 2025 / Anthropic task penetration
Data quality
Employment data available
Narrative & sources
Sociologists study society and social behavior by examining the groups, cultures, social institutions, and processes that develop when people interact and work together.
Sociologists usually work in an office setting, although they may work elsewhere when conducting research or presenting results. Most sociologists work full time.
Sociologists typically need at least a master’s degree to enter the occupation.
The median annual wage for sociologists was $101,690 in May 2024.
Employment of sociologists is projected to grow 4 percent from 2024 to 2034, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
Important context
This score measures structural AI displacement pressure, not actual job losses. Local wages and demand data are specific to United States AI Work Index; the underlying AI task overlap analysis is consistent across all countries.