Social Science Research Assistants Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for social science research assistants in the U.S. is $61,990 ($29.81 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $61,990
- Mean annual wage
- $66,140
- Median hourly wage
- $29.81
- Employment
- 30,640
30,640 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,090 | $18.31 |
| 25th percentile | $48,620 | $23.38 |
| Median (50th) | $61,990 | $29.81 |
| 75th percentile | $77,760 | $37.38 |
| 90th percentile | $102,070 | $49.07 |
Highest-paying states for social science research assistants
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $69,090 | 100 |
| Delaware | $68,230 | 40 |
| Kansas | $67,740 | 170 |
| Georgia | $66,620 | 1,840 |
| Kentucky | $66,390 | 1,190 |
| Missouri | $65,940 | 750 |
| New Hampshire | $65,690 | 70 |
| Maryland | $65,550 | 700 |
| District of Columbia | $65,330 | 1,560 |
| Illinois | $64,890 | 250 |
Lowest-paying states
- Nevada: $26,560 median annual wage
- Iowa: $40,940 median annual wage
- South Dakota: $44,820 median annual wage
- Minnesota: $44,920 median annual wage
- Tennessee: $46,410 median annual wage
About this occupation
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.
Typical tasks
- Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
- 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.
- Present research findings to groups of people.
- Recruit and schedule research participants.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Bachelor's degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 3.4% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 15.3% |
| Some college, no degree | 19.9% |
| Associate's degree | 13.5% |
| Bachelor's degree | 32.1% |
| Master's degree | 11.5% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 4.4% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
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About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.