Degree to Occupation Map
Occupations related to a social science degree
NCES and BLS publish a crosswalk relating instructional programs to occupations. This page lists every occupation that crosswalk relates to social science, with the BLS typical entry education, 2025 median wage and projected growth for each, and links to the RoleSprint page covering the role where one exists.
What occupations does the official crosswalk relate to a social science degree?
The CIP 2020-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk published by NCES and BLS relates 40 CIP 2020 programs in social science to 30 occupations. That maps a field of study to lines of work; it is not a statement that a social science degree qualifies someone for any of them, and the crosswalk carries no figure for how many graduates enter each. Across the 29 with a published 2025 BLS wage the median is $89,320, ranging from $54,240 for Surveying and Mapping Technicians to $142,080 for Political Scientists. BLS typical entry-level education splits 1 at high school diploma or equivalent, 1 at associate's degree, 11 at bachelor's degree, 8 at master's degree, 8 at doctoral or professional degree: 13 at or below a bachelor's degree and 16 above it. Business Intelligence Analysts is projected to grow fastest at +34.6% over 2025-35. The highest-paid are Political Scientists ($142,080), Regulatory Affairs Managers ($141,900) and Economists ($124,720).
- Related occupations
- 30, from 40 CIP 2020 programs in social science (a further 1 related occupation has no BLS or O*NET row on this site and are not listed)
- What the mapping means
- NCES states only that it "crosswalks 2020 CIP Codes to 2018 SOC Codes". It relates a program to an occupation. It does not establish qualification, hiring, or how many graduates take that path.
- BLS typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent: 1; Associate's degree: 1; Bachelor's degree: 11; Master's degree: 8; Doctoral or professional degree: 8
- Median wage across these occupations
- $89,320 (2025); 29 of 30 have a published BLS wage
- Next step
- 10 of the 30 occupations have a dedicated RoleSprint page covering what the role requires and how the work is performed.
Source and method
2020 CIP / 2018 SOC Crosswalk, National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics, and BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2. Verified 2026-09-06. Program-to-occupation relationships are reproduced from the NCES/BLS crosswalk exactly as published; RoleSprint groups CIP programs into the field of study a person would search for and lists the union of their related occupations, showing every member CIP code. Wage, typical entry education and outlook are reproduced from BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 for the matching SOC code. Working-condition figures are O*NET 30.3 means. No relationship strength, employment share or qualification judgement is published, because no source supplies one.
What this list is, and what it is not
The crosswalk's own description of itself is one sentence: “This file crosswalks 2020 CIP Codes to 2018 SOC Codes in ascending order by CIP Code.” It relates a field of study to lines of work.
It does not say a social science degree qualifies anyone for these occupations, that graduates usually enter them, or what share do: the crosswalk publishes no such figure. The wage and education columns come from a separate source, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2, and describe the occupation rather than the degree. Typical entry education is what BLS observes most often among people already doing the work; it is not a rule about who may be hired.
The 30 related occupations
Ordered by BLS median wage, highest first. 29 of 30 have a published wage.
| Occupation | BLS typical entry-level education | Median wage | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
Political Scientists SOC 19-3094 Contact with others 3.9 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 4.0 · Outdoors, all weather 1.2 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $142,080 2025 median | -2% 2025-35 · 0.4 openings/yr |
Regulatory Affairs Managers SOC 11-9199 Contact with others 4.2 · Time pressure 3.6 · Sitting 4.6 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $141,900 2025 median | +4.9% 2025-35 · 100.9 openings/yr |
Economists SOC 19-3011 Contact with others 3.5 · Time pressure 3.6 · Sitting 4.7 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $124,720 2025 median | +4.7% 2025-35 · 1.1 openings/yr |
Economics Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1063 Contact with others 4.2 · Time pressure 3.4 · Sitting 4.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $123,920 2025 median | +2.4% 2025-35 · 1 openings/yr |
Business Intelligence Analysts SOC 15-2051 Contact with others 3.3 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 4.8 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $120,230 2025 median | +34.6% 2025-35 · 24.8 openings/yr |
Neuropsychologists SOC 19-3039 Contact with others 3.9 · Time pressure 3.9 · Sitting 4.5 · Outdoors, all weather 1.0 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $110,840 2025 median | +2.3% 2025-35 · 3.5 openings/yr |
Sociologists SOC 19-3041 Contact with others 3.6 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 4.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.2 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $106,030 2025 median | +3.8% 2025-35 · 0.2 openings/yr |
Statisticians SOC 15-2041 Contact with others 3.4 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 4.7 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $105,650 2025 median | +11% 2025-35 · 1.9 openings/yr |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists SOC 19-1042 Contact with others 4.7 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 3.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $103,410 2025 median | +12.6% 2025-35 · 10.5 openings/yr |
Geographers SOC 19-3092 Contact with others 3.4 · Time pressure 3.5 · Sitting 3.9 · Outdoors, all weather 2.2 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $102,040 2025 median | -2.1% 2025-35 · 0.1 openings/yr |
Transportation Planners SOC 19-3099 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.1 · Sitting 4.5 · Outdoors, all weather 1.9 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $101,110 2025 median | -0.2% 2025-35 · 2.7 openings/yr |
Anthropology and Archeology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1061 Contact with others 4.1 · Time pressure 3.4 · Sitting 3.8 · Outdoors, all weather 2.4 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $99,650 2025 median | +2.6% 2025-35 · 0.4 openings/yr |
Political Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1065 Contact with others 4.1 · Time pressure 3.6 · Sitting 4.0 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $98,070 2025 median | +2.5% 2025-35 · 1.5 openings/yr |
Geography Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1064 Contact with others 4.3 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 3.9 · Outdoors, all weather 1.9 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $97,590 2025 median | +2.7% 2025-35 · 0.3 openings/yr |
Urban and Regional Planners SOC 19-3051 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.5 · Sitting 4.1 · Outdoors, all weather 2.2 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $89,320 2025 median | +3.9% 2025-35 · 3.2 openings/yr |
Area, Ethnic, and Cultural Studies Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1062 Contact with others 4.5 · Time pressure 4.0 · Sitting 3.9 · Outdoors, all weather 1.3 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $85,020 2025 median | +2.7% 2025-35 · 1 openings/yr |
Sociology Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1067 Contact with others 4.2 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 4.0 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $84,290 2025 median | +2.2% 2025-35 · 1 openings/yr |
Cartographers and Photogrammetrists SOC 17-1021 Contact with others 4.2 · Time pressure 4.0 · Sitting 4.8 · Outdoors, all weather 2.0 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $81,390 2025 median | +7.4% 2025-35 · 0.9 openings/yr |
Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists SOC 13-1161 Contact with others 4.2 · Time pressure 4.0 · Sitting 4.7 · Outdoors, all weather 1.4 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $78,760 2025 median | +7% 2025-35 · 82 openings/yr |
Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1111 Contact with others 4.5 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 3.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.5 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $76,590 2025 median | +1.5% 2025-35 · 1.1 openings/yr |
Forensic Science Technicians SOC 19-4092 Contact with others 4.2 · Time pressure 3.9 · Sitting 3.1 · Outdoors, all weather 3.9 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $72,060 2025 median | +13.3% 2025-35 · 2.8 openings/yr |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 Contact with others 4.8 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 3.0 · Outdoors, all weather 2.1 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $72,040 2025 median | -0.2% 2025-35 · 63.5 openings/yr |
Anthropologists and Archeologists SOC 19-3091 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 3.8 · Outdoors, all weather 2.4 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $70,770 2025 median | +6% 2025-35 · 0.8 openings/yr |
Survey Researchers SOC 19-3022 Contact with others 3.9 · Time pressure 4.0 · Sitting 4.5 · Outdoors, all weather 1.5 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $69,460 2025 median | -4.8% 2025-35 · 0.6 openings/yr |
Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2022 Contact with others 4.8 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 2.5 · Outdoors, all weather 2.5 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $64,370 2025 median | -0.4% 2025-35 · 38.8 openings/yr |
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education SOC 25-2021 Contact with others 4.9 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 2.3 · Outdoors, all weather 2.5 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $63,970 2025 median | -0.4% 2025-35 · 87.5 openings/yr |
Quality Control Analysts SOC 19-4099 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 2.4 · Outdoors, all weather 2.1 of 5 | Associate's degree At or below bachelor's | $62,280 2025 median | +4.4% 2025-35 · 11.2 openings/yr |
Social Science Research Assistants SOC 19-4061 Contact with others 3.7 · Time pressure 2.9 · Sitting 4.7 · Outdoors, all weather 1.2 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $61,990 2025 median | +5% 2025-35 · 4.9 openings/yr |
Surveying and Mapping Technicians SOC 17-3031 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 3.3 · Outdoors, all weather 3.3 of 5 | High school diploma or equivalent At or below bachelor's | $54,240 2025 median | +5.8% 2025-35 · 6.9 openings/yr |
Tour Guides and Escorts SOC 39-7011 Contact with others 4.5 · Time pressure 3.4 · Sitting 2.0 · Outdoors, all weather 2.8 of 5 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
The crosswalk relates 1 further occupation to this field (25-1069) for which BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 publishes no line item on this site. They are counted here rather than listed, because there would be nothing to show beside the name.
BLS typical entry-level education for these occupations
13 of the 30 have a BLS typical entry-level education at or below a bachelor's degree; 16 are above it. "Typical" is BLS's word: it describes the workers already in the occupation.
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 1
- Associate's degree
- 1
- Bachelor's degree
- 11
- Master's degree
- 8
- Doctoral or professional degree
- 8
This is BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2's description of the education most workers in each occupation typically hold when they enter it. It is not a list of requirements, and it says nothing about licences, certifications or experience, which BLS records separately and this page does not show.
Which programs this covers
“Social science” groups 40 CIP 2020 instructional programs. The occupation list above is the union of everything the crosswalk relates to them.
- 45.0101 Social Sciences, General
- 45.0102 Research Methodology and Quantitative Methods
- 45.0103 Survey Research/Methodology
- 45.0199 Social Sciences, Other
- 45.0201 Anthropology, General
- 45.0202 Physical and Biological Anthropology
- 45.0203 Medical Anthropology
- 45.0204 Cultural Anthropology
- 45.0205 Forensic Anthropology
- 45.0299 Anthropology, Other
- 45.0301 Archeology
- 45.0401 Criminology
- 45.0501 Demography and Population Studies
- 45.0502 Applied Demography
- 45.0599 Demography, Other
- 45.0601 Economics, General
- 45.0602 Applied Economics
- 45.0603 Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
- 45.0604 Development Economics and International Development
- 45.0605 International Economics
- 45.0699 Economics, Other
- 45.0701 Geography
- 45.0702 Geographic Information Science and Cartography
- 45.0799 Geography, Other
- 45.0901 International Relations and Affairs
- 45.0902 National Security Policy Studies
- 45.0999 International Relations and National Security Studies, Other
- 45.1001 Political Science and Government, General
- 45.1002 American Government and Politics (United States)
- 45.1003 Canadian Government and Politics
- 45.1004 Political Economy
- 45.1099 Political Science and Government, Other
- 45.1101 Sociology, General
- 45.1102 Applied/Public Sociology
- 45.1103 Rural Sociology
- 45.1199 Sociology, Other
- 45.1201 Urban Studies/Affairs
- 45.1301 Sociology and Anthropology
- 45.1501 Geography and Anthropology
- 45.9999 Social Sciences, Other
Grouping is RoleSprint's, and it is printed here so it can be checked. CIP's own grain is finer than the phrase anyone searches; the alternative is one page per code, which would put near-identical lists in front of the same question. How this map is built.
Working out which of these is realistic
A related occupation is a starting point, not a verdict. Three different questions decide whether one is worth pursuing, and each has its own page.
Program-to-occupation relationships from the 2020 CIP / 2018 SOC Crosswalk, National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wage, typical entry education and outlook from BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2. Working-condition figures from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA and RoleSprint has modified some of this information.
What to do next
A crosswalk relates a field of study to lines of work. Whether one specific opening is worth your time depends on what you can actually show, which is a different question and the one RoleSprint answers.