The median pay for Social Science Research Assistants is $61,990 a year ($29.81/hr), according to BLS OEWS, May 2025. Employment is projected to grow 5.0% through 2035, with about 4,900 openings a year (BLS EP, 2025–2035). Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
- SOC 19-4061
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Last updated October 9, 2026
At a glance
Social Science Research Assistant in four numbers
- Median pay
- $61,990a year, or $29.81/hrBLS OEWS, May 2025Lowest 10% $38KTop 10% $102K
US median, all jobs: $50,980
- Projected growth
- +5.0%Faster than averageBLS EP, 2025–2035This career+5%All jobs+3.5%
Projected employment change, 2025–2035 Item Value This career +5% All jobs +3.5% - Openings a year
- 4,90038,400 jobs todayBLS EP, 2025–2035
- Jobs in 202538.4K
- Projected 203540.4K
Employment, 2025–2035 Item Value Jobs in 2025 38.4K Projected 2035 40.4K - Typical education
- Bachelor'sneeded to enterBLS EP, 2025–2035; mix: O*NET
- Some college8.6%
- Bachelor's52.7%
- Post-bacc certificate1.6%
- Master's36.7%
- Doctorate0.4%
Highest education held by social science research assistants Segment Value Some college 8.6% Bachelor's 52.7% Post-bacc certificate 1.6% Master's 36.7% Doctorate 0.4%
Also advertised as: Clinical Research Assistant, Graduate Assistant, Graduate Research Assistant, Research Aide, Research Assistant, Research Associate.
Pay
How much do Social Science Research Assistants make?
Every social science research assistant in the US, by percentile of annual wage
Median
$61,990
Middle half earn $48,620 to $77,760
- 10th
- $38,090
- 25th
- $48,620
- 75th
- $77,760
- 90th
- $102,070
All US occupations: $50,980
| Percentile | Value |
|---|---|
| 10th | $38,090 |
| 25th | $48,620 |
| Median | $61,990 |
| 75th | $77,760 |
| 90th | $102,070 |
| All US occupations | $50,980 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
- Median annual wage
- $61,990
- Median hourly wage
- $29.81/hr
- Mean annual wage
- $66,140
- People employed
- 30,640
Versus all US occupations
At $61,990, Social Science Research Assistants earn 22% above the $50,980 median across all US occupations, a difference of $11,010 a year.
Versus life, physical, and social science occupations
Inside the Life, Physical, and Social Science group, where the middle occupation pays $82,220, this is 25% below the group median.
Pay range
The top 10% earn $102,070 or more while the bottom 10% earn $38,090, a gap of 2.7×. That is a typical spread for a US occupation.
Rank in the bank
This median pays more than 35% of the 1,741 occupations in the NueCareer career bank.
Highest-paying state
Oklahoma pays the most at $69,090, and still leads at $78,652 once local prices are taken into account.
Pay by state
Which states pay Social Science Research Assistants the most?
State medians come from the same OEWS release as the national figures. The cost-of-living column divides each state median by that state's BEA Regional Price Parity, restating pay in national-average dollars so a high-cost state and a low-cost one can be compared directly.
| State | Median | COL-adjusted | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Oklahoma | $69,090 | $78,652 | 100 |
| 2Delaware | $68,230 | $68,361 | 40 |
| 3Kansas | $67,740 | $75,210 | 170 |
| 4Georgia | $66,620 | $69,185 | 1,840 |
| 5Kentucky | $66,390 | $73,637 | 1,190 |
| 6Missouri | $65,940 | $72,608 | 750 |
| 7New Hampshire | $65,690 | $63,063 | 70 |
| 8Maryland | $65,550 | $62,453 | 700 |
| 9District of Columbia | $65,330 | $59,444 | 1,560 |
| 10Illinois | $64,890 | $64,917 | 250 |
Job outlook
Is Social Science Research Assistant a growing career?
Employment change over 2025–2035, against every US occupation
Faster than average. +5.0% projected growth vs 3.5% for all occupations.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Social Science Research Assistants | +5% |
| All US occupations | +3.5% |
Source: BLS EP, 2025–2035
Faster than average
BLS projects employment of Social Science Research Assistants to change 5.0% over 2025–2035, against 3.5% projected for all occupations. That is 1,900 more jobs.
Annual openings
About 4,900 openings are projected each year, 12.8% of the 38,400 jobs that existed in 2025. Most come from workers leaving the occupation, not from growth alone.
Getting in
How to become a Social Science Research Assistant
- 1
Typical entry-level education
Bachelor's degree
- 2
Work experience in a related occupation
None
- 3
Typical on-the-job training
None
- 4
Preparation needed (O*NET job zone)
Medium preparation
BLS Employment Projections, 2025–2035; job zone from O*NET 31.0 Database.
What education people in the job have
O*NET incumbent survey: the highest level of education reported by people already working as social science research assistants.
- Bachelor's Degree52.7%
- Master's Degree36.7%
- Some College Courses8.6%
- Post-Baccalaureate Certificate1.6%
- Doctoral Degree0.4%
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | 52.7% |
| Master's Degree | 36.7% |
| Some College Courses | 8.6% |
| Post-Baccalaureate Certificate | 1.6% |
| Doctoral Degree | 0.4% |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
The work
What does a Social Science Research Assistant do?
Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.
Day-to-day tasks
- Verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any errors.
- Perform data entry and other clerical work as required for project completion.
- Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
- Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
- Conduct internet-based and library research.
- Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
- Develop and implement research quality control procedures.
- Prepare, manipulate, and manage extensive databases.
O*NET core tasks, ordered by reported importance.
Working conditions and hours
Where the work happens
Indoors, climate-controlled
NeverEvery dayOutdoors in all weather
NeverEvery dayAlmost never works outdoors.
Physical demands
Sitting
NeverAlmost all the timeSeated for more than half the working day.
Standing
NeverAlmost all the timeBending or twisting
NeverAlmost all the time
Working with people
Contact with other people
NoneConstantFace-to-face discussions
NeverEvery dayDealing with the public
Not importantExtremely important
Pressure and stakes
Strict deadlines
NeverEvery dayConflict situations
NeverEvery dayConflict situations are rare.
Cost of a mistake
Not seriousExtremely seriousMistakes are not usually serious.
Autonomy
Freedom to decide
NoneA lot
Conditions: O*NET Work Context survey. Each item has its own scale, so each dot is read against the two answers that end its own line.
Core skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Reading Comprehension4.0
- Active Listening3.8
- Writing3.8
- Critical Thinking3.8
- Speaking3.4
- Science3.3
- Mathematics3.1
- Active Learning3.1
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | 4.0 |
| Active Listening | 3.8 |
| Writing | 3.8 |
| Critical Thinking | 3.8 |
| Speaking | 3.4 |
| Science | 3.3 |
| Mathematics | 3.1 |
| Active Learning | 3.1 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Transferable skills
O*NET importance, 1 to 5
- Complex Problem Solving3.4
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1
- Systems Analysis3.0
- Social Perceptiveness2.9
- Coordination2.9
- Systems Evaluation2.9
- Time Management2.9
- Instructing2.6
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Complex Problem Solving | 3.4 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | 3.1 |
| Systems Analysis | 3.0 |
| Social Perceptiveness | 2.9 |
| Coordination | 2.9 |
| Systems Evaluation | 2.9 |
| Time Management | 2.9 |
| Instructing | 2.6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
Tools and software
- Analytical or scientific software · in demand
- Business intelligence and data analysis software · in demand
- Data base user interface and query software · in demand
- Desktop publishing software · in demand
- Development environment software · in demand
- Electronic mail software · in demand
- Enterprise application integration software · in demand
- Geographic information system · in demand
- Graphics or photo imaging software · in demand
- Object or component oriented development software · in demand
- Office suite software · in demand
- Presentation software · in demand
“In demand” marks an O*NET Employer-Based Hot Technology, software named in real job postings for this occupation.
Personality fit
What personality type suits a Social Science Research Assistant?
O*NET Occupational Interests (RIASEC), scored 1 to 7
| Axis | Social Science Research Assistant |
|---|---|
| Realistic | 2 |
| Investigative | 6 |
| Artistic | 2 |
| Social | 3 |
| Enterprising | 2 |
| Conventional | 6 |
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database
What the work is built around
Day to day this is work built around investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data, combined with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data.
- Investigative6.1
- Conventional5.9
- Social2.7
- Realistic2.4
- Enterprising2.3
- Artistic1.9
Closest MBTI types
NueCareer fit scores: cosine similarity between each MBTI type's interest vector and this occupation's O*NET interest profile. Not a BLS or O*NET figure; the method is documented on our methodology page.
Explore further
Careers related to Social Science Research Assistant
O*NET related occupations
- Computer and Mathematical
- Computer and Mathematical
- Life, Physical, and Social Science
- Management
- Computer and Mathematical
- Office and Administrative Support
More life, physical, and social science careers
Median annual pay, with social science research assistants highlighted
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologist$193,950
- Physicist$172,250
- Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists$103,410
- Chemist$91,240
- Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health$82,220
- Conservation Scientist$73,010
- Social Science Research Assistant$61,990
- Chemical Technician$60,390
- Biological Technician$57,510
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologist | $193,950 |
| Physicist | $172,250 |
| Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 |
| Chemist | $91,240 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist, Including Health | $82,220 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 |
| Social Science Research Assistant | $61,990 |
| Chemical Technician | $60,390 |
| Biological Technician | $57,510 |
Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025
Specialty careers within social science research assistant
Distinct careers BLS counts inside this occupation, each with its own profile.
Lists Social Science Research Assistant appears on
Questions
Social Science Research Assistant: frequently asked questions
How much do Social Science Research Assistants make?
Social Science Research Assistants earn a median of $61,990 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025), 22% above the $50,980 US median across all occupations. That works out at $29.81/hr. The middle half earn between $48,620 and $77,760. The top 10% earn $102,070 or more.
Do you need a degree to become a Social Science Research Assistant?
Yes. BLS reports a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education for Social Science Research Assistants, and O*NET rates the preparation needed as medium preparation. In O*NET's survey of people already doing the job, 52.7% hold bachelor's degree.
Is Social Science Research Assistant a growing career?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5.0% over 2025–2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all occupations (BLS EP, 2025–2035). BLS still projects about 4,900 openings a year, mostly from workers retiring or moving to other work.
What does a Social Science Research Assistant do?
Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. A core O*NET task: verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any errors. Employers most often ask for Analytical or scientific software, Business intelligence and data analysis software, Data base user interface and query software.
Which states pay Social Science Research Assistants the most?
The highest state medians for Social Science Research Assistants are Oklahoma ($69,090), Delaware ($68,230), Kansas ($67,740) (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
What personality type suits a Social Science Research Assistant?
O*NET scores Social Science Research Assistants highest on the Investigative and Conventional interest areas, so the work mixes investigating, analysing and solving problems with ideas and data with organising, following procedures and working precisely with data. On NueCareer's MBTI-to-interest mapping the closest types are ISTJ, INTJ. Personality is a fit signal, not a gate. The free NueCareer quiz scores your own profile against all 1,731 careers in the bank.