Average Salary for Social Science Research Assistants
SOC 19-4061 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations · 2024 data
The median annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants in the United States is $58,040 ($27.90/hr), based on 2024 BLS OEWS data. Wages range from $36,410 at the 10th percentile to $100,620 at the 90th percentile nationally. An estimated 32,940 people work in this occupation across the country. The national median wage has grown 47.1% since 2014.
Median Annual
$58,040
Mean Annual
$63,560
10th Pct
$36,410
75th Pct
$73,060
Employment
32,940
Salary Distribution
$36k
10th
$46k
25th
$58k
Median
$73k
75th
$101k
90th
Highest Paying Metro Areas
| Metro Area | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | $80,870 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $80,340 |
| Columbia, SC | $69,110 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | $65,700 |
| Tallahassee, FL | $64,580 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $64,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $64,400 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $63,790 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $63,360 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | $63,160 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | $63,120 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | $63,110 |
| Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA | $62,870 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $62,800 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | $62,670 |
Salary by State
| State | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $70,670 |
| South Carolina | $66,990 |
| Kansas | $64,080 |
| Georgia | $63,790 |
| District of Columbia | $63,630 |
| Kentucky | $62,800 |
| Maryland | $61,830 |
| Massachusetts | $60,110 |
| New York | $60,110 |
| Arizona | $59,130 |
| North Carolina | $58,410 |
| Oregon | $57,800 |
| Oklahoma | $56,790 |
| New Jersey | $56,350 |
| Florida | $55,980 |
| Texas | $55,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,940 |
| Illinois | $54,720 |
| Louisiana | $52,770 |
| New Hampshire | $52,650 |
| West Virginia | $52,630 |
| Nebraska | $51,860 |
| Michigan | $51,800 |
| Missouri | $51,520 |
| Idaho | $51,500 |
| Virginia | $50,160 |
| Indiana | $50,130 |
| Connecticut | $49,990 |
| Washington | $49,890 |
| Virgin Islands | $49,760 |
| California | $48,720 |
| Rhode Island | $48,710 |
| Colorado | $48,390 |
| Maine | $47,910 |
| Wisconsin | $47,380 |
| Montana | $46,810 |
| Minnesota | $46,630 |
| Vermont | $44,940 |
| New Mexico | $44,390 |
| Tennessee | $37,860 |
| Iowa | $31,150 |
Salary by Industry
National median wage for Social Science Research Assistants broken down by industry sector, 2024 data.
| Industry | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $85,860 |
| Manufacturing | $84,480 |
| Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing | $77,840 |
| Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing | $76,370 |
| Educational Support Services | $72,800 |
| Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services | $67,710 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $67,490 |
| Monetary Authorities-Central Bank | $67,490 |
| Finance and Insurance | $65,580 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $62,750 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $62,750 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | $62,750 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $62,330 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | $62,330 |
| Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities | $60,800 |
| Cross-industry, Private Ownership only | $60,670 |
| Scientific Research and Development Services | $60,470 |
| Educational Services | $60,190 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools | $60,190 |
| Information | $59,600 |
| Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers | $59,560 |
| Publishing Industries | $59,560 |
| Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences | $59,480 |
| Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations | $55,650 |
| Offices of Physicians | $54,860 |
| Local Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $54,800 |
| Local Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $54,210 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $54,100 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, excluding State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $54,100 |
| Junior Colleges | $53,780 |
| Ambulatory Health Care Services | $53,360 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | $52,960 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $52,900 |
| Hospitals | $52,750 |
| Educational Services | $52,630 |
| Federal, State, and Local Government, including State and Local Government Schools and Hospitals and the U.S. Postal Service (OEWS Designation) | $51,500 |
| Employment Services | $51,220 |
| Administrative and Support Services | $51,220 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | $51,220 |
| Temporary Help Services | $51,220 |
| State Government, including Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) | $51,140 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | $50,240 |
| Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services | $49,940 |
| Grantmaking and Giving Services | $47,820 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | $46,960 |
| Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations | $46,960 |
| Engineering Services | $45,050 |
| Social Advocacy Organizations | $43,680 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $40,510 |
| Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions | $40,510 |
| Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals | $38,550 |
| Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | $38,350 |
| Civic and Social Organizations | $33,280 |
National Wage Trend
View data table
| Year | Median Annual |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $58,040 |
| 2023 | $56,400 |
| 2022 | $50,470 |
| 2021 | $49,720 |
| 2020 | $49,210 |
| 2019 | $47,510 |
| 2018 | $46,640 |
| 2017 | $46,000 |
| 2016 | $43,190 |
| 2015 | $42,480 |
| 2014 | $39,460 |