SOC 194061

Social Science Research Assistants

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management. Excludes "Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary" (25-9044).

National Median

$58,040

per year

National Salary Overview

Median Annual

$58,040

Entry Level (10th pct)

$36,410

Experienced (90th pct)

$100,620

Total Employed

32,940

Salary Distribution

Salary percentiles show the range from entry-level (10th) to top earners (90th)

Salary by Experience Level

Experience Level	Estimated Salary Range
Entry Level0-2 years experience	$36,410 - $46,190
Mid Career2-8 years experience	$46,190 - $73,060
Senior / Expert8+ years experience	$73,060 - $100,620

Highest Paying Locations for Social Science Research Assistants

Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

$80,870

+39.3% vs national

Bowling Green, KY

$80,340

+38.4% vs national

Ohio

$70,670

+21.8% vs national

Columbia, SC

$69,110

+19.1% vs national

South Carolina

$66,990

+15.4% vs national

Social Science Research Assistants Salary by Location

Compare salaries across 50 metropolitan areas

Metropolitan Area	Median Salary	Employed
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$80,870	470
Bowling Green, KY	$80,340	100
Ohio	$70,670	150
Columbia, SC	$69,110	150
South Carolina	$66,990	840
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$65,700	210
Tallahassee, FL	$64,580	60
Athens-Clarke County, GA	$64,400	310
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$64,400	180
Kansas	$64,080	170
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$63,790	1,110
Georgia	$63,790	2,040
District of Columbia	$63,630	1,740
Oklahoma City, OK	$63,360	60
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$63,160	530
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$63,120	80
Kansas City, MO-KS	$63,110	80
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	$62,870	40
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$62,800	2,300
Kentucky	$62,800	1,100
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$62,670	90
Worcester, MA	$62,650	40
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$62,330	2,470
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$62,010	240
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$61,950	390
Maryland	$61,830	710
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$60,740	360
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$60,110	N/A
New York	$60,110	2,990
Massachusetts	$60,110	N/A
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$59,520	460
Arizona	$59,130	670
Tucson, AZ	$59,130	430
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$59,120	70
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$58,920	890
North Carolina	$58,410	3,470
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$58,200	120
Oregon	$57,800	170
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$56,870	70
Oklahoma	$56,790	120
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$56,740	810
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$56,540	90
New Jersey	$56,350	320
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$56,350	50
Florida	$55,980	1,090
Texas	$55,430	1,430
Pennsylvania	$54,940	1,270
Illinois	$54,720	230
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$53,350	40
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$53,260	190

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average salary for a Social Science Research Assistants?

The national median annual salary for Social Science Research Assistants is $58,040, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. This means half of workers in this occupation earn more, and half earn less.

Where do Social Science Research Assistantss earn the most?

The highest-paying metro area for Social Science Research Assistantss is Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN, with a median salary of $80,870.

How much can an experienced Social Science Research Assistants make?

Top-earning Social Science Research Assistantss (90th percentile) make $100,620 or more annually. This typically reflects workers with significant experience, specialized skills, or positions in high-paying regions.