Sociologists
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.
2,260 people do this job in the US. $106,030 a year.
of the working time. Estimate.
- 65%
- 12%
- 22%
Measured, from Anthropic's usage data (2025). Counts help on part of a task.
On the chosen pace and reliability. Estimate.
Share of the working time within reach, now to 2030
What each choice means: , , , , . Every pace starts from .
At this date and pace, models finish tasks up to 4.4 h long four times in five.
How far this has come
With GPT-4, measured in March 2023, 0% of this job's working time was within reach at . With Claude 3.7 Sonnet, measured in February 2025, 0%. With Claude Mythos Preview (early), measured in April 2026, 0%. Today's estimate: 1%.
A backcast: today's task data with the best model METR had measured by each date. It shows how fast the models have moved, not what anyone forecast at the time.
The tasks
Sorted by . 15 tasks from .
| Task | Kind | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Analyze and interpret data to increase the understanding of human social behavior.Done daily by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 12% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 2%Half by Feb 2028 | |
| Develop problem intervention procedures, using techniques such as interviews, consultations, role playing, and participant observation of group interactions.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 12% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Prepare publications and reports containing research findings.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 12% | 2.5 work days6.7 h to 1.7 work weeks | 0%Half by Jun 2028 | |
| Plan and conduct research to develop and test theories about societal issues such as crime, group relations, poverty, and aging.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 12% | 1.7 work weeks2.1 work days to 1.2 work months | 0%Half by Jun 2029 | |
| Develop approaches to the solution of groups' problems, based on research findings in sociology and related disciplines.Done more than yearly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 11% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 1.3 work weeks | 2%Half by May 2028 | |
| Develop, implement, and evaluate methods of data collection, such as questionnaires or interviews.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 11% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | 2%Half by Feb 2028 | |
| Teach sociology.Done daily by most who do it. | 8% | 3.3 h1.3 h to 6.7 h | Stays with people | |
| Collect data about the attitudes, values, and behaviors of people in groups, using observation, interviews, and review of documents.Done more than monthly by most who do it. AI observed on this task. | 8% | 1.7 work days3.3 h to 4.2 work days | Stays with people | |
| Write grants to obtain funding for research projects.Done yearly or less by most who do it. | 7% | 1.3 work weeks1.7 work days to 3.3 work weeks | 0%Half by Feb 2029 | |
| Direct work of statistical clerks, statisticians, and others who compile and evaluate research data.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 2% | 1.7 h50 min to 3.3 h | Stays with people | |
| Observe group interactions and role affiliations to collect data, identify problems, evaluate progress, and determine the need for additional change.Done more than yearly by most who do it. | 2% | 5 h1.7 h to 2.1 work days | Stays with people | |
| Collaborate with research workers in other disciplines.Done more than monthly by most who do it. | 1% | 2.5 h50 min to 6.7 h | Stays with people |
Within reach, per task: the share of the task's time whose instances are short enough for a model to finish at the chosen date, pace and reliability. Half by: the date half of that time comes within reach.
Jobs that share skills with this one
From O*NET's related occupations. Within reach now and by the end of 2028, long-run pace, four in five.
Where this job works
The industry groups that employ the most of it (BLS, May 2025).
Where the most of these jobs are
The metro areas with the most people in it (BLS, May 2025).