Social Science Research Assistants: Career Profile
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.
Featured schools near , edit
The Daily Work of Social Science Research Assistants Do?
The core tasks performed by social science research assistants include:
- Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
- Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
- Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
- Perform descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses of data, using computer software.
- Verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any errors.
- Develop and implement research quality control procedures.
- Prepare, manipulate, and manage extensive databases.
- Perform data entry and other clerical work as required for project completion.
What Social Science Research Assistants Need to Know
Top social science research assistants combine a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Most Important Skills
The competencies most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Core Knowledge
Other Social Science Research Assistants Job Titles
Common job titles for this role include:
- Bilingual Research Interviewer
- Clinical Research Assistant
- Data Analyst
- Economic Research Assistant
- Economist Research Assistant
- Graduate Assistant
- Graduate Research Assistant
- Historian Research Assistant
Job Outlook
The U.S. employs around 146,655 social science research assistants working in the United States today. Demand is forecast to grow by +4.7% over the projection horizon.
Social Science Research Assistants Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $41,630 |
| Hourly median | $20.01 |
| 10th percentile | $29,248 |
| 25th percentile | $35,439 |
| 75th percentile | $47,821 |
| 90th percentile | $54,012 |
Wages vary widely based on experience, location, and industry.
Social Science Research Assistants Salary by State
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Ohio | $70,670 |
| South Carolina | $66,990 |
| Kansas | $64,080 |
| Georgia | $63,790 |
| District of Columbia | $63,630 |
| Kentucky | $62,800 |
| Maryland | $61,830 |
| New York | $60,110 |
| Massachusetts | $60,110 |
| Arizona | $59,130 |
| North Carolina | $58,410 |
| Oregon | $57,800 |
| Oklahoma | $56,790 |
| New Jersey | $56,350 |
| Florida | $55,980 |
| Texas | $55,430 |
| Pennsylvania | $54,940 |
| Illinois | $54,720 |
| Louisiana | $52,770 |
| New Hampshire | $52,650 |
| West Virginia | $52,630 |
| Nebraska | $51,860 |
| Michigan | $51,800 |
| Missouri | $51,520 |
| Idaho | $51,500 |
| Virginia | $50,160 |
| Indiana | $50,130 |
| Connecticut | $49,990 |
| Washington | $49,890 |
| Virgin Islands | $49,760 |
| California | $48,720 |
| Rhode Island | $48,710 |
| Colorado | $48,390 |
| Maine | $47,910 |
| Wisconsin | $47,380 |
| Montana | $46,810 |
| Minnesota | $46,630 |
| Vermont | $44,940 |
| New Mexico | $44,390 |
| Tennessee | $37,860 |
| Iowa | $31,150 |
Where Social Science Research Assistants Earn the Most
Pay for social science research assistants vary by region. These regions lead on median pay:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Atlantic | $60,049 | 23.5% | 3.78 |
| Southeast | $59,453 | 32.8% | 2.25 |
| Southwest | $56,042 | 7.8% | 0.62 |
| Great Lakes | $53,819 | 4.5% | 0.45 |
| Other U.S. Territories | $49,760 | 0.1% | 4.66 |
| Plains States | $49,728 | 2.1% | 0.73 |
| New England | $49,257 | 1.8% | 1.17 |
| Far Western US | $49,058 | 21.0% | 1.36 |
Where the Jobs Cluster
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | KY | $80,870 | 470 |
| Bowling Green, KY | KY | $80,340 | 100 |
| Columbia, SC | SC | $69,110 | 150 |
| Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC | SC | $65,700 | 210 |
| Tallahassee, FL | FL | $64,580 | 60 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | IL | $64,400 | 180 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | GA | $64,400 | 310 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | GA | $63,790 | 1,110 |
Which Industries Hire Social Science Research Assistants
The bulk of social science research assistants are found across these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Services | 15,460 | $52,630 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 12,950 | $62,330 |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,980 | $50,240 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 1,030 | $46,960 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 240 | $51,220 |
| Manufacturing | 190 | $84,480 |
| Management of Companies and Enterprises | 150 | $62,750 |
| Information | 60 | $59,600 |
Below are examples of industries where social science research assistants work:
Tools and Technology
- Graphics or photo imaging software: Adobe Illustrator (hot technology)
- Desktop publishing software: Adobe InDesign (hot technology)
- Object or component oriented development software: C++ (hot technology)
- Geographic information system: ESRI ArcGIS software (hot technology)
- Enterprise application integration software: Extensible markup language XML (hot technology)
- Analytical or scientific software: IBM SPSS Statistics (hot technology)
- Web platform development software: JavaScript (hot technology)
- Data base user interface and query software: Microsoft Access (hot technology)
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint (hot technology)
The Day-to-Day Environment
Daily working conditions for social science research assistants reflects the following characteristics:
- Spend Time Sitting
- Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
- Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
- Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How to Become Social Science Research Assistants
Most social science research assistants positions require a bachelor’s degree as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Considerable Preparation Needed (Job Zone 4), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Education Administrators, Postsecondary (Supplemental)
- Clinical Research Coordinators (Primary-Short)
- Management Analysts (Supplemental)
- Health Informatics Specialists (Primary-Long)
- Statisticians (Primary-Short)
- Biostatisticians (Primary-Long)
- Data Scientists (Primary-Short)
- Clinical Data Managers (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Future social science research assistants often complete programs in:
Social Sciences
10 programs across 4 majors
Public Administration and Social Service Professions
4 programs across 1 majors
Psychology
2 programs across 2 majors
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
2 programs across 2 majors
Natural Resources and Conservation
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 19-4061.00 (Social Science Research Assistants).
GradDegree.com provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© GradDegree.com – All Rights Reserved.