Social Science Research Assistants pay range in Columbia
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,390 a year or less, while the top 10% make $80,850 or more. The middle half of social science research assistants in Columbia earn between $65,050 and $80,850.
- $50K10th
- $65K25th
- $65KMedian
- $81K75th
- $81K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $69,420 | $5,785 | $33.38 |
| Median | $65,050 | $5,421 | $31.27 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $65,050 | $5,421 | $31.27 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $80,850 | $6,738 | $38.87 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Social Science Research Assistants pay in Columbia vs. Missouri and the U.S.
Social science research assistants in Columbia earn 13% more than the Missouri average ($61,550) and 5% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia | $69,420 | $65,050 | $50,390 | $80,850 | 160 |
| Missouri | $61,550 | $65,940 | $39,250 | $79,860 | 750 |
| 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 Columbia
On the average salary of $69,420, a single filer in Columbia takes home about $55,342 a year, or $4,612 a month and $2,129 every two weeks. Taxes take 20% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Is Columbia a good place for social science research assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Columbia area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.4), so the average $69,420 buys what about $77,618 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.4 times the median wage of all jobs in Columbia ($47,260). A typical home costs $323,951, or 4.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Social Science Research Assistants salary in other Missouri cities
Columbia ranks 1st of 2 Missouri metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Columbia$69,420
- Kansas City$59,650
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 Columbia: questions
How much do social science research assistants make an hour in Columbia?
$33.37 an hour on average, and $31.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level social science research assistants salary in Columbia?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $50,390 a year and the 25th percentile is $65,050, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the social science research assistants take-home pay in Columbia?
About $55,342 a year ($4,612 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $69,420. The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
Do social science research assistants earn more in Columbia than elsewhere?
The average here is 5% 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 Columbia, MO (17860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 0.7%.
- 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 (2026 rules). The 1% earnings tax applies to people who live or work in Kansas City or St. Louis itself, not in the suburbs.
- Job concentration: location quotient 7.76, this job is 7.8 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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