Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median social science research assistants salary in the United States is $61,990 per year ($29.81/hour). Salaries range from $38,090 at the entry level to $102,070+ for the top 10% of earners. There are 30,640 social science research assistants jobs nationwide. Employment is projected to grow 4.4% through 2034.
Last updated: June 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Median Salary
$61,990
per year
Hourly Rate
$29.81
per hour
Employment
30,640
jobs in the U.S.
Salary Distribution
10th percentile
$38,090
25th percentile
$48,620
Median
$61,990
75th percentile
$77,760
90th percentile
$102,070
Job Growth (2024-2034)
+4.4%
As fast as average
Annual Openings
5,200
jobs/year (growth + replacements)
Education Required
Bachelor's degree
Social Science Research Assistants Salary by State
Best Cities (cost-adjusted) →Salary Map — Click a state for details
$27K$69K■ No data
Top Paying States
Oklahoma
$69K
+11%
Delaware
$68K
+10%
Kansas
$68K
+9%
Georgia
$67K
+7%
Kentucky
$66K
+7%
Missouri
$66K
+6%
New Hampshire
$66K
+6%
Maryland
$66K
+6%
District of Columbia
$65K
+5%
Illinois
$65K
+5%
Vertical line = national median. Click a state for full details.
| State | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $69,090 | +11.5% |
| Delaware | $68,230 | +10.1% |
| Kansas | $67,740 | +9.3% |
| Georgia | $66,620 | +7.5% |
| Kentucky | $66,390 | +7.1% |
| Missouri | $65,940 | +6.4% |
| New Hampshire | $65,690 | +6.0% |
| Maryland | $65,550 | +5.7% |
| District of Columbia | $65,330 | +5.4% |
| Illinois | $64,890 | +4.7% |
Showing 1–10 of 45
Social Science Research Assistants Salary by Metro Area
| Metro Area | Median | vs. National |
|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | $86,020 | +38.8% |
| Bowling Green, KY | $84,680 | +36.6% |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $82,500 | +33.1% |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $82,020 | +32.3% |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $75,010 | +21.0% |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $74,060 | +19.5% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $72,710 | +17.3% |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $67,780 | +9.3% |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $67,440 | +8.8% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $66,520 | +7.3% |
Showing 1–10 of 72
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). Data reflects the most recent annual survey.
How does this compare to pro athletes?
A social science research assistants earning $61,990/year would need 962 years to match Stephen Curry's NBA salary, or 1032 yearsto match Patrick Mahomes' NFL contract.
See all sports & celebrity salaries →📈 See how social science research assistants salaries have changed over the past decade.
View Social Science Research Assistants salary trend (2011–2024) →