Social Science Research Assistant Salary
Social Science Research Assistants earn a median $61,990 a year nationally. Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations
U.S. median
$61,990
$29.80 per hour
Range
$38,090 – $102,070
10th to 90th percentile
Employed
30,640
across the U.S.
Social Science Research Assistant take-home pay calculator
Starts at the national median. Pick your state to see your real paycheck.
Your take-home pay
$51,989
per year · effective tax rate 16.1%
$4,332Monthly
$2,166Twice a month
$2,000Every 2 weeks
$24.99Hourly
- Federal income tax$5,259
- Social Security (6.2%)$3,843
- Medicare (1.45%)$899
- Texas income tax$0
- Take-home pay$51,989
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 0.00% state
Pay by experience
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home (no state tax) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $38,090 | $18.31 | $32,785 |
| 25th percentile | $48,620 | $23.38 | $41,246 |
| Median (50th) | $61,990 | $29.80 | $51,989 |
| 75th percentile | $77,760 | $37.38 | $63,534 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $102,070 | $49.07 | $80,636 |
Best cities for social science research assistants (after tax & cost of living)
| # | Metro area | Median | Take-home | Real value* | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Louisville, KY | $82,500 | $64,099 | $68,869 | 570 |
| 2 | Austin, TX | $64,900 | $54,327 | $55,399 | 450 |
| 3 | San Francisco, CA | $82,020 | $62,067 | $53,685 | 710 |
| 4 | Raleigh, NC | $65,330 | $52,575 | $53,562 | 540 |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | $67,440 | $53,397 | $53,366 | 990 |
| 6 | Phoenix, AZ | $64,290 | $52,439 | $50,755 | 570 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $61,760 | $49,908 | $48,665 | 560 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $65,330 | $51,873 | $47,640 | 2,170 |
| 9 | San Diego, CA | $66,520 | $52,653 | $47,059 | 670 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $65,330 | $51,742 | $45,967 | 2,610 |
| 11 | Los Angeles, CA | $59,240 | $47,405 | $41,743 | 2,290 |
*Take-home pay in U.S.-average dollars (BEA Regional Price Parities).
Highest-paying cities
- Louisville, KY — $82,500
- San Francisco, CA — $82,020
- Atlanta, GA — $67,440
- San Diego, CA — $66,520
- Raleigh, NC — $65,330
- Washington, DC — $65,330
- New York, NY — $65,330
- Austin, TX — $64,900
- Phoenix, AZ — $64,290
- Philadelphia, PA — $61,760
- Los Angeles, CA — $59,240
Social Science Research Assistant salary by state
| State | Median | Take-home | Range | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $69,090 | $54,871 | $40,140 – $115,660 | 100 |
| Delaware | $68,230 | $53,668 | $40,400 – $96,770 | 40 |
| Kansas | $67,740 | $53,505 | $43,140 – $67,740 | 170 |
| Georgia | $66,620 | $52,862 | $40,650 – $136,810 | 1,840 |
| Kentucky | $66,390 | $53,318 | $45,050 – $106,590 | 1,190 |
| Missouri | $65,940 | $53,001 | $39,250 – $79,860 | 750 |
| New Hampshire | $65,690 | $54,962 | $37,350 – $93,030 | 70 |
| Maryland | $65,550 | $52,099 | $47,260 – $113,020 | 700 |
| District of Columbia | $65,330 | $51,873 | $50,810 – $112,030 | 1,560 |
| Illinois | $64,890 | $51,252 | $37,460 – $116,530 | 250 |
| South Carolina | $64,490 | $51,285 | $48,200 – $130,300 | 500 |
| North Carolina | $63,710 | $51,338 | $49,980 – $81,650 | 2,930 |
| Massachusetts | $63,480 | $50,232 | $49,500 – $82,130 | — |
| New Jersey | $62,760 | $50,688 | $37,960 – $105,390 | 370 |
| Idaho | $62,570 | $50,247 | $48,770 – $80,800 | — |
| Alaska | $62,230 | $52,182 | $37,450 – $115,440 | 40 |
| Arizona | $61,680 | $50,407 | $47,130 – $82,470 | 1,020 |
| New York | $61,210 | $48,654 | $35,520 – $103,080 | 3,040 |
| California | $60,250 | $48,143 | $38,060 – $117,070 | 5,300 |
| Michigan | $60,210 | $48,251 | $41,970 – $82,870 | 750 |
| Connecticut | $60,110 | $48,698 | $35,860 – $88,270 | 50 |
| Texas | $58,070 | $48,839 | $38,120 – $108,730 | 1,180 |
| Indiana | $57,020 | $46,343 | $30,580 – $105,750 | 210 |
| Oregon | $56,770 | $43,657 | $48,150 – $85,110 | 220 |
| Nebraska | $56,190 | $45,652 | $37,830 – $78,880 | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,610 | $44,383 | $44,710 – $81,640 | 860 |
| Virginia | $53,260 | $42,726 | $42,550 – $83,760 | 700 |
| Alabama | $53,080 | $42,441 | $52,430 – $57,160 | — |
| Louisiana | $52,600 | $43,252 | $43,890 – $64,290 | 340 |
| Rhode Island | $51,420 | $42,185 | $41,990 – $99,720 | 220 |
| West Virginia | $51,140 | $41,700 | $30,330 – $145,770 | 550 |
| Florida | $50,700 | $42,917 | $33,190 – $81,520 | 1,130 |
| Maine | $50,650 | $40,640 | $41,870 – $66,990 | 120 |
| New Mexico | $50,640 | $41,655 | $40,250 – $102,950 | 50 |
| Colorado | $50,430 | $41,190 | $42,590 – $63,610 | 100 |
| Washington | $50,420 | $42,692 | $45,530 – $75,720 | 450 |
| Ohio | $50,330 | $42,018 | $23,770 – $104,420 | 240 |
| Montana | $49,860 | $40,656 | $29,680 – $69,570 | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $48,090 | $39,485 | $34,710 – $71,050 | 110 |
| Vermont | $47,510 | $39,197 | $47,510 – $76,650 | 40 |
| Tennessee | $46,410 | $39,470 | $33,120 – $58,500 | 140 |
| Minnesota | $44,920 | $36,689 | $38,080 – $68,070 | 300 |
| South Dakota | $44,820 | $38,193 | $28,260 – $50,670 | 40 |
| Iowa | $40,940 | $34,171 | $22,260 – $58,470 | 140 |
| Nevada | $26,560 | $23,482 | $24,960 – $47,830 | — |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a social science research assistant make?
The national median salary for social science research assistants is $61,990 a year ($29.80 an hour). The lowest-paid 10% earn under $38,090 and the top 10% earn over $102,070. Source: BLS, May 2025.
Which state pays social science research assistants the most?
Oklahoma has the highest median pay at $69,090. After taxes and local prices, Louisville, KY offers the best real take-home pay of any metro area.
How many social science research assistants are there in the U.S.?
About 30,640 people work as social science research assistants nationwide.