SOC 19-4061 · May 2025 · United States
Social Science Research Assistants
National figures, with pay broken out by state and metro area
The median wage for Social Science Research Assistants across the United States is $61,990 per year, measured over 30,640 jobs. The highest state median is in Oklahoma, at $69,090.
National wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
The next ten years
Projected to grow about as fast as average
- Change in jobs, 2024 to 2034
- +4.4%
- Openings per year
- 5,200
- Typical entry-level education
- Bachelor's degree
Includes jobs opened by workers leaving the occupation, not only new positions.
Projections are based on 2024 employment and run to 2034. The wages above are from the May 2025 survey, a separate BLS programme on a different release cycle, so the two are not two views of one dataset.
Where the pay is highest for Social Science Research Assistants
Pay for this occupation varies by 160.1% between the highest and lowest paying states with published data. Oklahoma pays $69,090 and Nevada pays $26,560.
| # | State | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oklahoma | $69,090 | 100 | |
| 2 | Delaware | $68,230 | 40 | |
| 3 | Kansas | $67,740 | 170 | |
| 4 | Georgia | $66,620 | 1,840 | |
| 5 | Kentucky | $66,390 | 1,190 | |
| 6 | Missouri | $65,940 | 750 | |
| 7 | New Hampshire | $65,690 | 70 | |
| 8 | Maryland | $65,550 | 700 | |
| 9 | District of Columbia | $65,330 | 1,560 | |
| 10 | Illinois | $64,890 | 250 |
States with the most Social Science Research Assistants jobs
| # | State | Jobs | Median | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 5,300 | $60,250 | |
| 2 | New York | 3,040 | $61,210 | |
| 3 | North Carolina | 2,930 | $63,710 | |
| 4 | Georgia | 1,840 | $66,620 | |
| 5 | District of Columbia | 1,560 | $65,330 | |
| 6 | Kentucky | 1,190 | $66,390 | |
| 7 | Texas | 1,180 | $58,070 | |
| 8 | Florida | 1,130 | $50,700 | |
| 9 | Arizona | 1,020 | $61,680 | |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 860 | $54,610 |
Top-paying metro areas
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flagstaff | $86,020 | 40 |
| 2 | Bowling Green | $84,680 | 100 |
| 3 | Louisville/Jefferson County | $82,500 | 570 |
| 4 | San Francisco | $82,020 | 710 |
| 5 | San Jose | $75,010 | 330 |
| 6 | Greenville | $74,060 | 190 |
| 7 | Oklahoma City | $72,710 | 70 |
| 8 | San Antonio | $67,780 | 90 |
| 9 | Atlanta | $67,440 | 990 |
| 10 | San Diego | $66,520 | 670 |
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Salary Explorer is an independent project. It is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics or any government agency. Full methodology.