Median Salary
$61,990
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$29.80
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$102,070
entry level starts ~$38,090
Pay Grade
B
solid pay · 31,000 employed
How much does a Social Science Research Assistant make?
A Social Science Research Assistant earns a median annual salary of $61,990 in the United States, which works out to roughly $29.80 per hour for full-time work. Most Social Science Research Assistants earn between $38,090 at the entry level and $102,070 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $48,620 and $77,760 a year.
That is $600 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).
Social Science Research Assistant salary range by percentile
Half of all Social Science Research Assistants earn between $48,620 and $77,760 a year.
| Pay level | Annual salary | Hourly rate | |
|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,090 | $18.31 |
|
| 25th percentile (early career) | $48,620 | $23.38 |
|
| 50th percentile (median) | $61,990 | $29.80 |
|
| 75th percentile (experienced) | $77,760 | $37.38 |
|
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,070 | $49.07 |
|
Highest-paying states for Social Science Research Assistant
Where you work matters more than almost anything else. Oklahoma leads the country for Social Science Research Assistant pay at $69,090 a year, followed by Delaware ($68,230) and Kansas ($67,740). At the other end, Nevada posts the lowest median at $26,560 — a gap of $42,530 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.
Social Science Research Assistant salary in every state
Official BLS state-level figures across 45 states and territories. Click a state for the full local breakdown.
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 $61,210California $60,250Michigan $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
Workforce and education
About 31,000 people work as Social Science Research Assistants in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $66,140 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement, per O*NET occupation data.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Social Science Research Assistant make in the United States?
The median Social Science Research Assistant salary in the United States is $61,990 per year, or about $29.80 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $38,090, while the top 10% of earners make $102,070 or more.
How does Social Science Research Assistant pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of B (solid pay), the Social Science Research Assistant median of $61,990 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Social Science Research Assistants the most?
Oklahoma is the highest-paying state for Social Science Research Assistants, with a median salary of $69,090 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Social Science Research Assistant?
Becoming a Social Science Research Assistant typically requires about 4 years of college. A bachelor's degree (about 4 years of college) is the standard entry requirement.
How many Social Science Research Assistants work in the United States?
About 31,000 people were employed as Social Science Research Assistants in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.
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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). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.