SOC 19-4061 · May 2025 · BLS OEWS
Social Science Research Assistants — Sacramento
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA · 6 metro areas compared
Median pay for this occupation in Sacramento, CA is $54,310 a year, trailing the national median of $61,990 by 12.4%.
Wage distribution · annual
Shaded band holds the middle 50% of earners
Salary overview
Median pay for this occupation in Sacramento, CA is $54,310 a year, trailing the national median of $61,990 by 12.4%. The middle half of workers in this occupation earn between $38,090 and $69,000. The lowest tenth earn under $38,080, while the highest tenth earn more than $107,030.
The area has 180 jobs in this occupation, giving a location quotient of 0.85 — a measure of how concentrated the occupation is here relative to the country as a whole. Within the state, San Francisco records the highest median at $82,020. Of the 648 occupations with published wages in this area, it sits 451st.
Percentile breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | vs US median |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $38,080 | −38.6% |
| 25th | $38,090 | −38.6% |
| Median (50th) | $54,310 | −12.4% |
| 75th | $69,000 | +11.3% |
| 90th | $107,030 | +72.7% |
| Mean | $63,150 | +1.9% |
Other metro areas in California
| # | Metro area | Median | Jobs | Relative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | $82,020 | 710 | |
| 2 | San Jose | $75,010 | 330 | |
| 3 | San Diego | $66,520 | 670 | |
| 4 | Los Angeles | $59,240 | 2,290 | |
| 5 | Riverside | $36,710 | 100 | |
| 6 | Chico | $36,080 | 50 |
What the pay is worth locally
Prices in Sacramento run 10.7% above the national average, so the median of $54,310 buys what $49,061 would elsewhere in the country. Measured that way the gap against the national median narrows to 20.9% below the national median in real terms.
Published median
$54,310as reported by BLSLocal price level
110.7US average = 100 · BEA 2024Adjusted for local prices
$49,061US average = 100 · BEA 2024Key takeaways
- Median pay is $54,310 a year, 12.4% below the national median.
- Published pay spans $38,080 to $107,030 between the tenth and ninetieth percentiles.
- The area has 180 jobs in this occupation.
- The highest-paying metro area covered is San Francisco, at $82,020.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median wage for Social Science Research Assistants in Sacramento, CA?
The median annual wage is $54,310, or $26.11 per hour, as of May 2025. Half of the workers in this occupation earn more than that and half earn less.
Is that higher than the national average?
The national median for this occupation is $61,990, so pay in Sacramento, CA is 12.4% lower. These figures are medians, not averages: half of workers fall on each side.
What do the top earners make?
The top tenth of this occupation in Sacramento, CA earns more than $107,030 per year. The ninetieth percentile is the highest figure the survey publishes.
What is the starting range?
The tenth percentile wage is $38,080 per year. The survey measures wages actually paid rather than experience level, so this reflects the lowest-paid tenth rather than entry-level pay specifically.
Which area nearby pays the most?
The highest median for this occupation among the metro areas covered is in San Francisco, at $82,020 per year.
How many jobs are there in this occupation here?
The survey estimates 180 jobs in this occupation in Sacramento, CA. Self-employed workers are not included.
Source and methodology
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 Wages are for wage-and-salary workers; self-employed workers are not included. 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.
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