California Median
$60,250
per year
Hourly Rate
$28.97
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
vs National
-3% vs US median
US median $61,990
State Rank
#19 of 45
5,300 employed here
How much does a Social Science Research Assistant make in California?
A Social Science Research Assistant working in California earns a median salary of $60,250 per year, or about $28.97 per hour. That is 3% below the national median of $61,990 for this occupation.
Within California, entry-level pay starts around $38,060 while the top 10% make $117,070 or more. The middle 50% of earners fall between $41,670 and $84,990 a year.
Social Science Research Assistant salary range in California
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,060 | $18.30 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $41,670 | $20.03 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $60,250 | $28.97 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $84,990 | $40.86 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $117,070 | $56.28 |
|
How California compares
California ranks 19th out of 45 states and territories for Social Science Research Assistant pay. The top 5 best-paying states:
Social Science Research Assistant salary in other states
Oklahoma $69,090Delaware $68,230Kansas $67,740Georgia $66,620Kentucky $66,390Missouri $65,940New Hampshire $65,690Maryland $65,550District of Columbia $65,330Illinois $64,890South Carolina $64,490North Carolina $63,710Massachusetts $63,480New Jersey $62,760Idaho $62,570Alaska $62,230Arizona $61,680New York $61,210Michigan $60,210Connecticut $60,110Texas $58,070Indiana $57,020Oregon $56,770Nebraska $56,190Pennsylvania $54,610Virginia $53,260Alabama $53,080Louisiana $52,600Rhode Island $51,420West Virginia $51,140Florida $50,700Maine $50,650New Mexico $50,640Colorado $50,430Washington $50,420Ohio $50,330Montana $49,860Wisconsin $48,090Vermont $47,510Tennessee $46,410Minnesota $44,920South Dakota $44,820Iowa $40,940Nevada $26,560
Working as a Social Science Research Assistant in California
Nationally, about 31,000 people work as Social Science Research Assistants in the United States. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
Considering a move? Compare California pay ($60,250) against the highest-paying state above, and weigh the difference against housing and everyday costs — a smaller paycheck in a cheaper state can stretch further.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Social Science Research Assistant make in California?
The median Social Science Research Assistant salary in California is $60,250 per year, or about $28.97 per hour, per official BLS state wage estimates. Salaries typically range from $38,060 at the entry level to $117,070 for the top 10% of earners.
How does California pay compare to the national average?
California pays Social Science Research Assistants about 3% less than the national median of $61,990. California ranks 19th out of 45 states and territories reporting this occupation.
Is California a good state for Social Science Research Assistants?
Pay runs below the national median here, at $60,250 a year. About 5,300 Social Science Research Assistants are employed in California. A lower cost of living can offset the smaller paycheck, so compare take-home value, not just salary.
What are the highest-paying jobs in California?
The highest-paying occupations in California include Ophthalmologist, Except Pediatric ($400,150), Neurologist ($357,080), Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers ($353,900), based on median annual pay in official BLS state estimates.
← See the national Social Science Research Assistant salary report
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). State figures are official BLS state-level wage estimates. Where BLS suppresses a state percentile, it is scaled from the official national distribution. Individual pay varies by employer, metro area, and experience.