SOC 19-4061 · Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations

Social Science Research Assistants

Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025United States, all industries

U.S. median annual wage$61,990

U.S. median hourly wage$29.81

U.S. employment30,640

Nationally, social science research assistants earned a median of $61,990 per year as of the May 2025 OEWS estimates, across 30,640 jobs. Pay varies substantially by area — look up a specific state or metro below.

National pay distribution

Pay by state

Every state and territory with a published May 2025 estimate. “Not published” means BLS suppressed the value — it never means zero. Higher medians often track higher living costs; this is not a ranking of where the job is “best”.

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Social Science Research Assistants: pay and employment by state
State
Oklahoma	$69,090	$33.22	100	0.1
Delaware	$68,230	$32.80	40	0.1
Kansas	$67,740	$32.57	170	0.1
Georgia	$66,620	$32.03	1,840	0.4
Kentucky	$66,390	$31.92	1,190	0.6
Missouri	$65,940	$31.70	750	0.3
New Hampshire	$65,690	$31.58	70	0.1
Maryland	$65,550	$31.52	700	0.3
District of Columbia	$65,330	$31.41	1,560	2.2
Illinois	$64,890	$31.20	250	0.0
South Carolina	$64,490	$31.00	500	0.2
North Carolina	$63,710	$30.63	2,930	0.6
Massachusetts	$63,480	$30.52	Not published	Not published
New Jersey	$62,760	$30.18	370	0.1
Idaho	$62,570	$30.08	Not published	Not published
Alaska	$62,230	$29.92	40	0.1
Arizona	$61,680	$29.65	1,020	0.3
New York	$61,210	$29.43	3,040	0.3
California	$60,250	$28.97	5,300	0.3
Michigan	$60,210	$28.95	750	0.2
Connecticut	$60,110	$28.90	50	0.0
Texas	$58,070	$27.92	1,180	0.1
Indiana	$57,020	$27.41	210	0.1
Oregon	$56,770	$27.29	220	0.1
Nebraska	$56,190	$27.01	230	0.2
Pennsylvania	$54,610	$26.26	860	0.1
Virginia	$53,260	$25.61	700	0.2
Alabama	$53,080	$25.52	Not published	Not published
Louisiana	$52,600	$25.29	340	0.2
Rhode Island	$51,420	$24.72	220	0.4
West Virginia	$51,140	$24.59	550	0.8
Florida	$50,700	$24.38	1,130	0.1
Maine	$50,650	$24.35	120	0.2
New Mexico	$50,640	$24.34	50	0.1
Colorado	$50,430	$24.24	100	0.0
Washington	$50,420	$24.24	450	0.1
Ohio	$50,330	$24.20	240	0.0
Montana	$49,860	$23.97	30	0.1
Wisconsin	$48,090	$23.12	110	0.0
Vermont	$47,510	$22.84	40	0.1
Tennessee	$46,410	$22.31	140	0.0
Minnesota	$44,920	$21.60	300	0.1
South Dakota	$44,820	$21.55	40	0.1
Iowa	$40,940	$19.68	140	0.1
Nevada	$26,560	$12.77	Not published	Not published
Utah	Not published	Not published	500	0.3

Pay by metro area

All 75 metro areas where BLS publishes this occupation. Sort by median wage, employment, or local concentration — or see the highest-paying metros ranked.

Each dot is one metro area with a published median — hover any dot for the name and figure. Metros without published estimates are not drawn.

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Social Science Research Assistants: pay and employment by metro area
Metro area
Flagstaff, AZ	$86,020	$41.36	40	0.6
Bowling Green, KY	$84,680	$40.71	100	1.2
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	$82,500	$39.66	570	0.8
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	$82,020	$39.43	710	0.3
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	$75,010	$36.06	330	0.3
Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	$74,060	$35.61	190	0.4
Oklahoma City, OK	$72,710	$34.96	70	0.1
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	$67,780	$32.59	90	0.1
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	$67,440	$32.42	990	0.3
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	$66,520	$31.98	670	0.4
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	$66,200	$31.83	250	0.1
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	$65,740	$31.61	100	0.1
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	$65,550	$31.52	230	0.2
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	$65,330	$31.41	2,610	0.3
Raleigh-Cary, NC	$65,330	$31.41	540	0.7
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	$65,330	$31.41	2,170	0.7
Columbia, MO	$65,050	$31.28	160	1.5
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	$64,900	$31.20	450	0.3
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	$64,890	$31.20	170	0.0
Kansas City, MO-KS	$64,650	$31.08	90	0.1
Greensboro-High Point, NC	$64,490	$31.00	180	0.5
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	$64,290	$30.91	570	0.2
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	$64,220	$30.87	370	1.7
Boise City, ID	$63,860	$30.70	Not published	Not published
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	$63,480	$30.52	Not published	Not published
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	$63,440	$30.50	100	0.2
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	$62,670	$30.13	100	0.1
Columbia, SC	$62,090	$29.85	110	0.3
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	$61,760	$29.69	560	0.2
Tucson, AZ	$61,680	$29.65	390	1.0
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	$60,980	$29.32	30	0.1
Baton Rouge, LA	$60,710	$29.19	150	0.4
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	$59,850	$28.78	100	0.1
Lincoln, NE	$59,780	$28.74	40	0.2
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	$59,240	$28.48	2,290	0.4
Worcester, MA	$58,110	$27.94	30	0.1
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	$57,370	$27.58	110	0.1
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	$57,020	$27.41	60	0.1
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	$54,310	$26.11	180	0.2
Charlottesville, VA	$53,260	$25.61	110	1.0
Greenville, NC	$53,140	$25.55	150	1.8
Athens-Clarke County, GA	$52,890	$25.43	310	3.2
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	$52,470	$25.23	220	0.3
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	$52,070	$25.03	240	0.5
Lafayette, LA	$52,070	$25.04	30	0.2
Lexington-Fayette, KY	$51,780	$24.89	370	1.3
Eugene-Springfield, OR	$51,530	$24.78	70	0.5
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	$51,140	$24.59	300	1.3
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	$50,800	$24.42	370	0.1
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	$50,700	$24.38	220	0.2
Portland-South Portland, ME	$50,650	$24.35	40	0.1
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	$50,450	$24.25	40	0.1
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	$50,430	$24.24	80	0.0
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	$50,310	$24.19	280	0.1
Madison, WI	$50,090	$24.08	40	0.1
Pittsburgh, PA	$50,070	$24.07	170	0.2
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	$49,480	$23.79	60	0.1
Richmond, VA	$49,060	$23.59	120	0.2
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	$49,000	$23.56	180	0.1
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	$48,550	$23.34	30	0.1
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	$47,980	$23.07	60	0.1
Omaha, NE-IA	$46,730	$22.47	150	0.3
Wilmington, NC	$46,480	$22.35	30	0.2
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	$46,410	$22.31	90	0.1
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	$45,760	$22.00	260	0.1
Ann Arbor, MI	$43,060	$20.70	190	0.8
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	$36,710	$17.65	100	0.1
Chico, CA	$36,080	$17.35	50	0.6
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	$33,840	$16.27	40	0.1
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	$33,190	$15.96	150	0.1
Reno, NV	$27,270	$13.11	30	0.1
Cleveland, OH	$24,810	$11.93	40	0.0
Charleston, WV	Not published	Not published	80	0.8
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	Not published	Not published	50	0.3
Tallahassee, FL	Not published	Not published	50	0.3

About this data. Estimates are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 release, retrieved from bls.gov/oes/tables.htm on July 24, 2026. OEWS estimates describe metropolitan/nonmetropolitan areas and states — not city limits — and are not designed for year-over-year comparisons. See BLS methodology, our plain-English methodology, and sources. CitySalaryData is independent and not affiliated with BLS.