Career Options
Careers for Political Science Majors
- Paralegal
- Lawyer
- Politician
- Judge
- Campaign Manager
- Political Analyst
- Lobbyist
- Journalist
- Political Researcher
- Political Pundit
- Pollster
- Political Strategist
- Intelligence Analyst
- Community Organizer
- Writer/Editor
- Teacher/Professor
Starting Salary*
A political science major’s typical starting salary is $36,512. The typical salary after 10-19 years is $75,003.
*Note: Salary information is provided for general reference only. APU does not guarantee the accuracy of the figures listed, and cannot predict or promise a specific salary for any graduate. For the most current salary estimates, please visit www.payscale.com.
Job Titles Held by Former Political Science Majors
- Special Agent, Tennessee Bomb and Arson Section
- Attorney, Venable, LLP
- Vice President, Emergency Committee for American Trade (ECAT)
- Senior Counsel for Corporate Affairs, Recording Industry Association of America Inc.
- Editor, Congress Reconsidered
- Congressional Fellow, American Political Science Association
- Project Assistant, Richardson, Patrick, Westbrook, and Brickman, LLC.
- Special Agent, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
- Associate Project Director, Lunz, Maslansky Strategic Research
- Government and Business Affairs Liaison, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger
- Judicial Law Clerk, Bankruptcy Appellate Panel for the Sixth Circuit
- Field Organizer, Barack Obama's presidential campaign
- Analyst, Florida Department of Education
- Regional Reporter, Washington Bureau of The Associated Press
- Lobbyist, Association for Public Television Stations
- Chief of Staff, Representative Jerry McNerny (D-CA,11)
Famous People with Political Science Degrees
- Barack Obama (44th President of the United States)
- Condoleezza Rice (U.S. Secretary of State)
- Madeline Albright (former U.S. Secretary of State)
- Dick Cheney (former Vice President of the United States)
- Jane Pauley (television journalist)
- Steve Case (founder of AOL)
- Jerry Springer (television host)
- Ronald Moore (creator and executive producer, Battlestar Galactica)
Note: This information is current for the 2009-10 academic year; however, all stated academic information is subject to change. Please refer to the current Academic Catalog for the most current and controlling information. For additional information, please contact the appropriate office.
