Social Science Research Assistants
SOC 19-4061 • View wages by state
The median annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants is $56,400, based on BLS OEWS 2023 data. The mean annual wage is $62,370, and an estimated 30,890 workers are employed in this occupation nationally. Between 2020 and 2023, pay rose +14.6% while consumer prices rose 17.7% — a real change of -2.7% (pay did not keep up with inflation). BLS projects employment will grow 4.4% between 2024 and 2034.
Wage Trend & Inflation Adjustment
How the national median wage for Social Science Research Assistants has moved across BLS OEWS release years, and what each year's wage is worth in 2023 dollars after adjusting for CPI inflation. "Real" change strips out inflation — the truest measure of whether pay is actually rising.
| Year | Median (nominal) | In 2023 $ (real) | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $56,400 | $56,400 | 30,890 |
| 2022 | $50,470 | $52,548 | 28,720 |
| 2021 | $49,720 | $55,909 | 28,690 |
| 2020 | $49,210 | $57,936 | 35,330 |
Nominal change
+14.6%
Inflation (CPI)
+17.7%
Real change
-2.7%
Job Outlook (2024–2034 BLS projection)
The BLS Employment Projections program estimates how each occupation's employment will change over the coming decade, and how many job openings to expect each year (from both growth and the need to replace workers who leave).
Projected Growth
+4.4%
Faster than average
Employment 2024
40,600
Projected 2034
42,300
Annual Openings
5,200
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Highest-Paying Areas (2023)
Where Social Science Research Assistants earn the most, and how each area's median compares to the national median of $56,400. A positive premium means the area pays above the national rate.
| Area | Median Annual | vs National | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | $68,910 | +22.2% | 330 |
| District of Columbia | $65,460 | +16.1% | 2,390 |
| California | $64,220 | +13.9% | 3,440 |
| Kansas | $64,030 | +13.5% | 170 |
| Georgia | $63,740 | +13% | 2,100 |
| Delaware | $63,720 | +13% | 80 |
| Kentucky | $62,750 | +11.3% | 990 |
| Maryland | $61,950 | +9.8% | 720 |
| Connecticut | $61,610 | +9.2% | 100 |
| South Carolina | $61,010 | +8.2% | 320 |
Wage Distribution (National, 2023)
10th, 25th, 50th (median), 75th, and 90th percentile annual wages from BLS OEWS — the full spread, not just an average.
10th Pct
$37,080
25th Pct
$46,140
Median
$56,400
75th Pct
$69,720
90th Pct
$96,720
H-1B Employer Filings
Employer-certified wages from DOL H-1B LCA filings — competitive market benchmark, not approved visas.
| Employer | State | Filings | Median Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas at Austin | TX | 5 | $60,000 |
| The Sphere Institute | CA | 5 | $102,500 |
| The Trustees of Princeton University | NJ | 4 | $43,971 |
| Johns Hopkins University | MD | 3 | $60,000 |
| The Atlantic Council | DC | 3 | $79,407 |
| University of Michigan | MI | 3 | $56,000 |
| Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | NY | 2 | $47,861 |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | IA | 2 | $42,809 |
| The Difference Principle Inc. | MN | 2 | $41,600 |
| The University of Chicago | IL | 2 | $52,192 |
| Integrity Risk International, LLC | VA | 2 | $95,000 |
| The World Justice Project | DC | 2 | $71,000 |
| The Sphere Institute | MD | 2 | $118,500 |
| Chapin Hall Center for Children | MA | 2 | $55,000 |
| RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF CUNY | NY | 2 | $72,000 |
| Kelly Services, Inc. | MD | 2 | $78,125 |
| Observer Research Foundation America | DC | 2 | $51,500 |
| Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi | TX | 2 | $62,800 |
| Texas A&M University | TX | 2 | $52,000 |
| NORTHWELL HEALTH | NY | 1 | $60,000 |
Source: DOL Office of Foreign Labor Certification, H-1B LCA data.
Related Occupations in Life, Physical & Social Science
Other occupations in the same SOC major group, ranked by national median wage.
All Life, Physical & Social Science occupations →