Social science research assistants salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,090 | $18.31 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $61,990 | $29.81 |
| Mean (average) | $66,140 | $31.80 |
| 90th percentile | $102,070 | $49.07 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Social science research assistants pay by state and metro area
Table: median wage and employment for all 46 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $53,080 | $52,430 | $57,160 | ||
| Alaska | $62,230 | $37,450 | $115,440 | 40 | 0.61 |
| Arizona | $61,680 | $47,130 | $82,470 | 1,020 | 1.59 |
| California | $60,250 | $38,060 | $117,070 | 5,300 | 1.48 |
| Colorado | $50,430 | $42,590 | $63,610 | 100 | 0.17 |
| Connecticut | $60,110 | $35,860 | $88,270 | 50 | 0.15 |
| Delaware | $68,230 | $40,400 | $96,770 | 40 | 0.47 |
| District of Columbia | $65,330 | $50,810 | $112,030 | 1,560 | 11.25 |
| Florida | $50,700 | $33,190 | $81,520 | 1,130 | 0.58 |
| Georgia | $66,620 | $40,650 | $136,810 | 1,840 | 1.91 |
| Idaho | $62,570 | $48,770 | $80,800 | ||
| Illinois | $64,890 | $37,460 | $116,530 | 250 | 0.21 |
| Indiana | $57,020 | $30,580 | $105,750 | 210 | 0.34 |
| Iowa | $40,940 | $22,260 | $58,470 | 140 | 0.45 |
| Kansas | $67,740 | $43,140 | $67,740 | 170 | 0.6 |
| Kentucky | $66,390 | $45,050 | $106,590 | 1,190 | 3.02 |
| Louisiana | $52,600 | $43,890 | $64,290 | 340 | 0.9 |
| Maine | $50,650 | $41,870 | $66,990 | 120 | 0.95 |
| Maryland | $65,550 | $47,260 | $113,020 | 700 | 1.29 |
| Massachusetts | $63,480 | $49,500 | $82,130 | ||
| Michigan | $60,210 | $41,970 | $82,870 | 750 | 0.87 |
| Minnesota | $44,920 | $38,080 | $68,070 | 300 | 0.52 |
| Missouri | $65,940 | $39,250 | $79,860 | 750 | 1.29 |
| Montana | $49,860 | $29,680 | $69,570 | 30 | 0.31 |
| Nebraska | $56,190 | $37,830 | $78,880 | 230 | 1.13 |
| Nevada | $26,560 | $24,960 | $47,830 | ||
| New Hampshire | $65,690 | $37,350 | $93,030 | 70 | 0.54 |
| New Jersey | $62,760 | $37,960 | $105,390 | 370 | 0.44 |
| New Mexico | $50,640 | $40,250 | $102,950 | 50 | 0.3 |
| New York | $61,210 | $35,520 | $103,080 | 3,040 | 1.59 |
| North Carolina | $63,710 | $49,980 | $81,650 | 2,930 | 3.01 |
| Ohio | $50,330 | $23,770 | $104,420 | 240 | 0.22 |
| Oklahoma | $69,090 | $40,140 | $115,660 | 100 | 0.29 |
| Oregon | $56,770 | $48,150 | $85,110 | 220 | 0.57 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,610 | $44,710 | $81,640 | 860 | 0.72 |
| Rhode Island | $51,420 | $41,990 | $99,720 | 220 | 2.23 |
| South Carolina | $64,490 | $48,200 | $130,300 | 500 | 1.11 |
| South Dakota | $44,820 | $28,260 | $50,670 | 40 | 0.47 |
| Tennessee | $46,410 | $33,120 | $58,500 | 140 | 0.21 |
| Texas | $58,070 | $38,120 | $108,730 | 1,180 | 0.42 |
| Utah | Data unavailable | 500 | 1.45 | ||
| Vermont | $47,510 | $47,510 | $76,650 | 40 | 0.75 |
| Virginia | $53,260 | $42,550 | $83,760 | 700 | 0.86 |
| Washington | $50,420 | $45,530 | $75,720 | 450 | 0.64 |
| West Virginia | $51,140 | $30,330 | $145,770 | 550 | 3.99 |
| Wisconsin | $48,090 | $34,710 | $71,050 | 110 | 0.18 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Job outlook for social science research assistants
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,900. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 7.7%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Education and training for social science research assistants
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
- O*NET Job Zone
- Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Highest education of people working in this occupation
O*NET describes this preparation level as: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Environmental/Natural Resource Economics CIP 03.0204
- Behavioral Sciences CIP 30.1701
- History and Political Science CIP 30.4601
- Psychology, General CIP 42.0101
- Psychometrics and Quantitative Psychology CIP 42.2708
- Public Policy Analysis, General CIP 44.0501
- Education Policy Analysis CIP 44.0502
- Health Policy Analysis CIP 44.0503
- International Policy Analysis CIP 44.0504
- Social Sciences, General CIP 45.0101
- Survey Research/Methodology CIP 45.0103
- Economics, General CIP 45.0601
- Applied Economics CIP 45.0602
- Econometrics and Quantitative Economics CIP 45.0603
- Development Economics and International Development CIP 45.0604
- Political Science and Government, General CIP 45.1001
- Political Economy CIP 45.1004
- Sociology, General CIP 45.1101
- Applied/Public Sociology CIP 45.1102
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
Typical tasks
- Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
- Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
- Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
- Perform descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses of data, using computer software.
- Verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any errors.
- Develop and implement research quality control procedures.
- Prepare, manipulate, and manage extensive databases.
- Perform data entry and other clerical work as required for project completion.
Technology skills
- Microsoft Excel (in demand)
- Microsoft Office software (in demand)
- Microsoft PowerPoint (in demand)
- Python (in demand)
- R (in demand)
- Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- C++ (hot technology)
- ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- JavaScript (hot technology)
- Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Microsoft SQL Server (hot technology)
- Microsoft Visual Basic (hot technology)
Transferable skills for career changers: Complex Problem Solving, Judgment and Decision Making, Systems Analysis, Social Perceptiveness, Coordination, Systems Evaluation.
Common job titles: Clinical Research Assistant, Graduate Assistant, Graduate Research Assistant, Research Aide, Research Assistant, Research Associate, Research Technician, Social Research Assistant.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do social science research assistants make?
The national median annual wage for social science research assistants was $61,990 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $38,090 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $102,070. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do social science research assistants need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is social science research assistants a growing career?
BLS projects employment of social science research assistants to change +5.0% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,900 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay social science research assistants the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Oklahoma ($69,090), Delaware ($68,230), Kansas ($67,740). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.