Social Science Research Assistants pay range in Chicago
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,400 a year or less, while the top 10% make $116,530 or more. The middle half of social science research assistants in Chicago earn between $47,720 and $79,840.
- $37K10th
- $48K25th
- $65KMedian
- $80K75th
- $117K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $68,370 | $5,698 | $32.87 |
| Median | $64,890 | $5,408 | $31.20 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $47,720 | $3,977 | $22.94 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $79,840 | $6,653 | $38.38 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Social Science Research Assistants pay in Chicago vs. Illinois and the U.S.
Social science research assistants in Chicago earn about the same as the Illinois average ($69,900) and 3% more than the U.S. average ($66,140). At the median the gap is +5% against the U.S. median of $61,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | $68,370 | $64,890 | $37,400 | $116,530 | 170 |
| Illinois | $69,900 | $64,890 | $37,460 | $116,530 | 250 |
| United States | $66,140 | $61,990 | $38,090 | $102,070 | 30,640 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Social Science Research Assistants salary after taxes in Chicago
On the average salary of $68,370, a single filer in Chicago takes home about $53,685 a year, or $4,474 a month and $2,065 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN metro area crosses state lines, so take-home pay depends on the state where you work:
| State | Per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|
| Working in IN | $54,907 | $4,576 |
| Working in IL | $53,685 | $4,474 |
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
Is Chicago a good place for social science research assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Chicago area are 4% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.6), so the average $68,370 buys what about $65,997 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.2 times the median wage of all jobs in Chicago ($54,720). A typical home costs $353,998, or 5.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Social Science Research Assistants salary in nearby metro areas
- Madison, WI$56,970
- Indianapolis, IN$66,560
- Lansing, MI$60,820
- Ann Arbor, MI$51,060
- Detroit, MI$70,060
- Cincinnati, OH$66,580
Highest-paying cities for social science research assistants
Atlanta, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,820).
- Atlanta, GA$90,820
- Bowling Green, KY$88,200
- San Francisco, CA$86,880
- Oklahoma City, OK$80,710
- Flagstaff, AZ$80,680
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Social Science Research Assistants salary in Chicago: questions
How much do social science research assistants make an hour in Chicago?
$32.87 an hour on average, and $31.20 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level social science research assistants salary in Chicago?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,400 a year and the 25th percentile is $47,720, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the social science research assistants take-home pay in Chicago?
About $53,685 a year ($4,474 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $68,370.
Do social science research assistants earn more in Chicago than elsewhere?
The average here is 3% more than the U.S. average for this job ($66,140).
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; area Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN (16980). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 8.1%.
- 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.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules).
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.19, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.19).
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