Social Science Jobs - Are You Interested in Becoming a Social Scientist?

Social scientists are responsible for study relationships among groups of people, how they make decisions, and how they respond to change. By studying human society, a these professionals will suggest various solutions to government, business, and environmental problems. It is common for social scientists to work as analysts for governments and private corporations.

Science involves a great deal of research, which will often involve conducting interviews and gathering statistical and demographic information about a population that is being studied. Anthropologists are responsible for studying the social and cultural development of human behavior and technology, and these professionals will study the cultures and customs of groups that range from primitive to industrial.

Archaeologists have the responsibility of investigating old ruins, tools, and other artifacts of early civilizations, in order to learn how technological advances affected the cohesion and progress of ancient societies.

Political scientists are responsible for studying political systems and public policy, which can include investigating such topics as public opinion, political ideology, and public policy, and conducting various surveys to analyze election results and other matters of public and private interest.

Sociologists will study human behavior in religious, political, and business organizations in order to understand why crime and social movements occur. Geographers will analyze cultural phenomenon on a local, regional, and global level, studying the distribution of resources and the implications that various factors, such as climate and soil, have on human activity.

Historians will document and analyze the past, using official and private records, in addition to newspapers and other mediums to try to create a recollection of a historical period or event.

Social scientists will typically work 40 hours a week although they may have to travel to dig sites or to investigate particular cultures or languages. Their training will usually require at least a master's degree in order to gain positions in universities or government fields.

In 2006, these workers had about 18,000 jobs in America, with about 40% working for governments, and many of the rest working for universities and business firms. The job prospects over the next ten years for social scientists are fairly good, and employment growth will progress slightly faster than the rate of population growth.

In 2006, the Federal government paid social scientists entry level wages between $28,862 and $35,572, with those having a master's degree starting out of a much higher rate of pay at $42,731.