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Top 15 cities for social science research assistants by average salary
| Atlanta, GA | $90,820 |
|---|---|
| Bowling Green, KY | $88,200 |
| San Francisco, CA | $86,880 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $80,710 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $80,680 |
| San Jose, CA | $80,080 |
| Dallas, TX | $79,650 |
| Louisville, KY | $79,230 |
| San Antonio, TX | $75,280 |
| Washington, DC | $73,440 |
| Columbia, SC | $72,860 |
| San Diego, CA | $72,190 |
| Greenville, SC | $71,930 |
| New York, NY | $71,420 |
| Charleston, SC | $70,930 |
Map: Social Science Research Assistants salary by metro area
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Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Social Science Research Assistants salary by state
Georgia pays social science research assistants the most statewide, $78,740 a year on average. Statewide columns cover every employer in the state; city columns cover the metro areas we publish.
| State | Statewide average | Statewide median | Jobs | Metros | Highest city average | Lowest city average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $78,740 | $66,620 | 1,840 | 3 | $90,820 | $58,140 |
| Oklahoma | $75,960 | $69,090 | 100 | 1 | $80,710 | $80,710 |
| South Carolina | $73,790 | $64,490 | 500 | 3 | $72,860 | $70,930 |
| Maryland | $73,310 | $65,550 | 700 | 1 | $69,840 | $69,840 |
| Washington, D.C. | $72,920 | $65,330 | 1,560 | 1 | $73,440 | $73,440 |
| Kentucky | $70,300 | $66,390 | 1,190 | 3 | $88,200 | $56,210 |
| California | $70,260 | $60,250 | 5,300 | 7 | $86,880 | $41,790 |
| Illinois | $69,900 | $64,890 | 250 | 1 | $68,370 | $68,370 |
| New Jersey | $69,260 | $62,760 | 370 | 1 | $65,440 | $65,440 |
| Delaware | $67,240 | $68,230 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Alaska | $66,830 | $62,230 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| New York | $66,500 | $61,210 | 3,040 | 2 | $71,420 | $49,940 |
| New Mexico | $66,400 | $50,640 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Texas | $65,950 | $58,070 | 1,180 | 4 | $79,650 | $59,940 |
| North Carolina | $65,260 | $63,710 | 2,930 | 5 | $67,850 | $51,330 |
| New Hampshire | $64,660 | $65,690 | 70 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Rhode Island | $64,380 | $51,420 | 220 | 1 | $64,750 | $64,750 |
| Massachusetts | $63,310 | $63,480 | n/a | 2 | $63,620 | $58,770 |
| West Virginia | $63,270 | $51,140 | 550 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Idaho | $63,150 | $62,570 | n/a | 1 | $65,170 | $65,170 |
| Indiana | $62,450 | $57,020 | 210 | 1 | $66,560 | $66,560 |
| Connecticut | $62,260 | $60,110 | 50 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Arizona | $61,990 | $61,680 | 1,020 | 3 | $80,680 | $59,410 |
| Missouri | $61,550 | $65,940 | 750 | 2 | $69,420 | $59,650 |
| Oregon | $61,180 | $56,770 | 220 | 2 | $65,370 | $56,050 |
| Kansas | $60,630 | $67,740 | 170 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Michigan | $60,480 | $60,210 | 750 | 3 | $70,060 | $51,060 |
| Pennsylvania | $60,080 | $54,610 | 860 | 3 | $63,190 | $56,390 |
| Virginia | $59,810 | $53,260 | 700 | 3 | $58,660 | $56,620 |
| Washington | $56,120 | $50,420 | 450 | 1 | $57,730 | $57,730 |
| Louisiana | $55,140 | $52,600 | 340 | 3 | $59,970 | $55,570 |
| Ohio | $54,650 | $50,330 | 240 | 2 | $66,580 | $45,690 |
| Maine | $54,530 | $50,650 | 120 | 1 | $54,190 | $54,190 |
| Florida | $54,530 | $50,700 | 1,130 | 4 | $59,330 | $42,870 |
| Nebraska | $54,460 | $56,190 | 230 | 2 | $61,350 | $51,990 |
| Vermont | $54,280 | $47,510 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Wisconsin | $52,660 | $48,090 | 110 | 1 | $56,970 | $56,970 |
| Alabama | $52,590 | $53,080 | n/a | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Colorado | $52,370 | $50,430 | 100 | 1 | $51,770 | $51,770 |
| Montana | $48,920 | $49,860 | 30 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Minnesota | $48,410 | $44,920 | 300 | 1 | $47,870 | $47,870 |
| Tennessee | $47,860 | $46,410 | 140 | 1 | $48,660 | $48,660 |
| South Dakota | $41,910 | $44,820 | 40 | 0 | n/a | n/a |
| Iowa | $40,040 | $40,940 | 140 | 1 | $38,590 | $38,590 |
| Nevada | $32,700 | $26,560 | n/a | 1 | $33,930 | $33,930 |
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Social Science Research Assistants salary in every city we cover
Sort by any column. Each city links to its pay range, take-home pay and cost of living.
| Metro area | Average | Median | Hourly | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | $90,820 | $67,440 | $43.66 | 990 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $88,200 | $84,680 | $42.41 | 100 |
| San Francisco, CA | $86,880 | $82,020 | $41.77 | 710 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $80,710 | $72,710 | $38.80 | 70 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | $80,680 | $86,020 | $38.79 | 40 |
| San Jose, CA | $80,080 | $75,010 | $38.50 | 330 |
| Dallas, TX | $79,650 | $66,200 | $38.29 | 250 |
| Louisville, KY | $79,230 | $82,500 | $38.09 | 570 |
| San Antonio, TX | $75,280 | $67,780 | $36.19 | 90 |
| Washington, DC | $73,440 | $65,330 | $35.31 | 2,170 |
| Columbia, SC | $72,860 | $62,090 | $35.03 | 110 |
| San Diego, CA | $72,190 | $66,520 | $34.71 | 670 |
| Greenville, SC | $71,930 | $74,060 | $34.58 | 190 |
| New York, NY | $71,420 | $65,330 | $34.34 | 2,610 |
| Charleston, SC | $70,930 | $63,440 | $34.10 | 100 |
| Detroit, MI | $70,060 | $62,670 | $33.69 | 100 |
| Baltimore, MD | $69,840 | $65,550 | $33.58 | 230 |
| Columbia, MO | $69,420 | $65,050 | $33.37 | 160 |
| Chicago, IL | $68,370 | $64,890 | $32.87 | 170 |
| Charlotte, NC | $67,850 | $65,740 | $32.62 | 100 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $66,580 | $57,370 | $32.01 | 110 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $66,560 | $57,020 | $32.00 | 60 |
| Augusta, GA | $65,710 | $51,140 | $31.59 | 300 |
| Trenton, NJ | $65,440 | $60,980 | $31.46 | 30 |
| Portland, OR | $65,370 | $59,850 | $31.43 | 100 |
| Boise, ID | $65,170 | $63,860 | $31.33 | n/a |
| Providence, RI | $64,750 | $52,470 | $31.13 | 220 |
| Austin, TX | $64,130 | $64,900 | $30.83 | 450 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $63,990 | $59,240 | $30.77 | 2,290 |
| Boston, MA | $63,620 | $63,480 | $30.59 | n/a |
| Raleigh, NC | $63,380 | $65,330 | $30.47 | 540 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $63,190 | $61,760 | $30.38 | 560 |
| Sacramento, CA | $63,150 | $54,310 | $30.36 | 180 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $62,720 | $64,290 | $30.15 | 570 |
| Greensboro, NC | $62,310 | $64,490 | $29.96 | 180 |
| Lincoln, NE | $61,350 | $59,780 | $29.49 | 40 |
| Lansing, MI | $60,820 | $64,220 | $29.24 | 370 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $59,970 | $60,710 | $28.83 | 150 |
| Houston, TX | $59,940 | $49,000 | $28.82 | 180 |
| Kansas City, MO | $59,650 | $64,650 | $28.68 | 90 |
| Tucson, AZ | $59,410 | $61,680 | $28.56 | 390 |
| Miami, FL | $59,330 | $50,800 | $28.52 | 370 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $58,920 | $50,450 | $28.33 | 40 |
| Worcester, MA | $58,770 | $58,110 | $28.25 | 30 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $58,660 | $53,260 | $28.20 | 110 |
| Richmond, VA | $58,490 | $49,060 | $28.12 | 120 |
| Lafayette, LA | $58,310 | $52,070 | $28.04 | 30 |
| Athens, GA | $58,140 | $52,890 | $27.95 | 310 |
| Greenville, NC | $57,890 | $53,140 | $27.83 | 150 |
| Seattle, WA | $57,730 | $50,310 | $27.75 | 280 |
| Madison, WI | $56,970 | $50,090 | $27.39 | 40 |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $56,620 | $49,480 | $27.22 | 60 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $56,390 | $50,070 | $27.11 | 170 |
| Lexington, KY | $56,210 | $51,780 | $27.03 | 370 |
| Eugene, OR | $56,050 | $51,530 | $26.95 | 70 |
| New Orleans, LA | $55,570 | $47,980 | $26.72 | 60 |
| Deltona, FL | $55,280 | $48,550 | $26.58 | 30 |
| Portland, ME | $54,190 | $50,650 | $26.06 | 40 |
| Riverside, CA | $53,230 | $36,710 | $25.59 | 100 |
| Tampa, FL | $51,990 | $50,700 | $25.00 | 220 |
| Omaha, NE | $51,990 | $46,730 | $24.99 | 150 |
| Denver, CO | $51,770 | $50,430 | $24.89 | 80 |
| Wilmington, NC | $51,330 | $46,480 | $24.68 | 30 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $51,060 | $43,060 | $24.55 | 190 |
| Albany, NY | $49,940 | $52,070 | $24.01 | 240 |
| Nashville, TN | $48,660 | $46,410 | $23.40 | 90 |
| Minneapolis, MN | $47,870 | $45,760 | $23.01 | 260 |
| Cleveland, OH | $45,690 | $24,810 | $21.97 | 40 |
| Orlando, FL | $42,870 | $33,190 | $20.61 | 150 |
| Chico, CA | $41,790 | $36,080 | $20.09 | 50 |
| Des Moines, IA | $38,590 | $33,840 | $18.55 | 40 |
| Reno, NV | $33,930 | $27,270 | $16.31 | 30 |
Related jobs
- Biological TechniciansU.S. average $61,380
- Chemical TechniciansU.S. average $63,900
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including HealthU.S. average $60,800
- Forensic Science TechniciansU.S. average $79,200
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All OtherU.S. average $66,280
- Food Science TechniciansU.S. average $56,660
- Geological Technicians, Except Hydrologic TechniciansU.S. average $61,870
- Forest and Conservation TechniciansU.S. average $59,060
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Social Science Research Assistants salary: questions
Where do social science research assistants make the most money?
In Atlanta, GA, with an average of $90,820 a year, among the 72 metro areas we cover.
What is the average social science research assistants salary in the U.S.?
$66,140 a year nationwide (BLS OEWS national estimates, May 2025); the median is $61,990, so half of social science research assistants earn more than that and half less.
What salary should social science research assistants ask for?
Start from the figures for your city: the middle half of social science research assistants nationwide earn between $48,620 (25th percentile) and $77,760 (75th percentile). Newer workers usually start near the 25th percentile and experienced ones can ask for the 75th; each city page shows the local range. See how to read salary percentiles.
Which state pays social science research assistants the most?
Georgia, with a statewide average of $78,740 a year (BLS state estimates, May 2025).
Where is social science research assistants pay the lowest?
Reno, NV, at $33,930 a year on average. Lower pay often comes with lower prices: check the cost of living on each city page.
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4061.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
Read the full methodology. Spotted an error? Tell us.