Social Science Research Assistants pay range in Houston
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,200 a year or less, while the top 10% make $101,270 or more. The middle half of social science research assistants in Houston earn between $42,230 and $65,000.
- $41K10th
- $42K25th
- $49KMedian
- $65K75th
- $101K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $59,940 | $4,995 | $28.82 |
| Median | $49,000 | $4,083 | $23.56 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $42,230 | $3,519 | $20.30 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $65,000 | $5,417 | $31.25 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Social Science Research Assistants pay in Houston vs. Texas and the U.S.
Social science research assistants in Houston earn 9% less than the Texas average ($65,950) and 9% less than the U.S. average ($66,140). At the median the gap is -21% against the U.S. median of $61,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | $59,940 | $49,000 | $41,200 | $101,270 | 180 |
| Texas | $65,950 | $58,070 | $38,120 | $108,730 | 1,180 |
| 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 Houston
On the average salary of $59,940, a single filer in Houston takes home about $50,342 a year, or $4,195 a month and $1,936 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Houston a good place for social science research assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Houston area are in line with the U.S. average (BEA price parity 98.6), so the average $59,940 buys what about $60,773 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Houston ($49,410). A typical home costs $308,306, or 5.1 years of this average salary before tax.
Social Science Research Assistants salary in other Texas cities
Houston ranks 4th of 4 Texas metro areas for this job; Dallas pays the most ($79,650).
- Dallas$79,650
- San Antonio$75,280
- Austin$64,130
- Houston$59,940
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 Houston: questions
How much do social science research assistants make an hour in Houston?
$28.82 an hour on average, and $23.56 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level social science research assistants salary in Houston?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $41,200 a year and the 25th percentile is $42,230, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the social science research assistants take-home pay in Houston?
About $50,342 a year ($4,195 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $59,940. Texas has no state income tax.
Do social science research assistants earn more in Houston than elsewhere?
The average here is 9% less 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 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX (26420). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 7.8%.
- 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 no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.28, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.28).
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