Social Science Research Assistants

More data on this career

Where the jobs are, and what they pay by industry. Nationwide, the industries that employ the most social science research assistants are Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (47% of the jobs counted, median pay $63,260), Scientific Research and Development Services (31% of the jobs counted, median pay $62,870), General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (6% of the jobs counted, median pay $59,240), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (3% of the jobs counted, median pay $74,600) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025). Among large industries, the highest median pay is in Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services ($86,600), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services ($74,600), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools ($63,260). Pay differs by industry for many reasons, including the mix of jobs and where employers are located.

Injury and illness rates. For the broader group "Life, physical, and social science technicians", which includes this career (BLS did not publish enough cases for this exact occupation), employers reported 44.5 nonfatal injury and illness cases with days away from work per 10,000 full-time workers, compared with 94.6 for all U.S. workers; the median case kept the worker away 5 days (all workers: 8) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023-2024). Rates reflect the work setting as well as the occupation.

Union membership. In the broad group "Life, physical, and social science", which includes this career, 10.7% of wage and salary workers belong to a union (all U.S. workers: 10.0%); median weekly pay is $1,736 for union members and $1,533 for workers not in a union (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Current Population Survey, 2025). This is a group figure, not specific to social science research assistants.

Wages employers offered H-1B workers. For social science research assistants, employers filed 398 certified Labor Condition Applications for H-1B workers covering 475 worker positions in FY2025, with a median lower-bound wage offered of $65,000 (the middle half ran from $56,500 to $75,400) (U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification). These are wages named in employers' applications to hire temporary foreign workers, usually in jobs that need at least a bachelor's degree. They are not what every worker in the occupation earns. The Department of Labor has not endorsed this presentation.

Employer benefits. In the broad group "Professional and related", which includes this career, 86% of civilian workers had access to an employer retirement plan, 85% had access to employer medical care benefits, and 92% had paid sick leave, 73% paid vacation and 78% paid holidays (all civilian workers: 75%, 74%, 83%, 77% and 79%) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Compensation Survey, March 2026). This is a group figure, not specific to social science research assistants, and having access to a benefit does not mean every worker uses it. The Bureau of Labor Statistics has not endorsed this presentation. Employers spent about $74.42 per hour worked on total compensation for the occupational group "Professional and related" in June 2026 ($50.37 in wages and salaries and $24.06 in benefits, 32.3% of the total; all civilian workers: $49.46, with 31.6% in benefits) (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employer Costs for Employee Compensation).

Work environment. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, the conditions most often placed at the two highest levels for social science research assistants are: spend time sitting (93%), face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams (91%), e-mail (89%), indoors, environmentally controlled (79%), work with or contribute to a work group or team (77%), freedom to make decisions (71%). Each percentage is the share of respondents choosing the top two levels for that condition (for example 'most of the time' or 'continually'), so it describes how common the condition is in the job, not how a particular workplace is (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).

Typical preparation. In O*NET's survey of workers in this occupation, for on-site or in-plant training, the most common answer (40% of 23 respondents) was "up to and including 1 month"; for on-the-job training, the most common answer (40% of 23 respondents) was "anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month". These are what workers report is needed to do the job; employers' requirements and individual paths vary (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).

Related careers. O*NET lists these occupations as similar to social science research assistants in the work done and the skills used: Data Scientists, Clinical Data Managers, Survey Researchers, Clinical Research Coordinators, Statisticians, Statistical Assistants, Biostatisticians, Teaching Assistants, Postsecondary (O*NET 31.0 Database, U.S. Dept. of Labor, ETA, CC BY 4.0).

Compare social science research assistants with other careers (pay, growth, openings and education side by side).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2024 PUMS (MajorPays' own estimates from the survey; Census is credited as the source of the original data and has not endorsed them); BLS Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses; BLS Current Population Survey; BLS National Compensation Survey (employee benefits); HRSA National Center for Health Workforce Analysis; U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification (LCA disclosure data, FY2025). MajorPays has selected and reorganized these figures; these agencies have not approved or endorsed them. See it interactively →