Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Bowling Green, KY is $84,680/year ($40.71/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $54K at the entry level to $137K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 90.18), which stretches that salary to about $93,901 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,153/month, or 21.5% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $85K get you in Bowling Green?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Bowling Green’s Regional Price Parity (90.18). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.
About social science research assistants
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What this looks like in Bowling Green
Bowling Green sits well above the national pay line for social science research assistants, local pay runs about 37% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,153/month, 21.4% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 90.18 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 10% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Bowling Green offers a genuinely strong financial position for social science research assistantss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social science research assistants in metros near Bowling Green, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $83K | $89K |
| Lexington-Fayette | $52K | $56K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $65K | $63K |
| Columbia | $65K | $73K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Bowling Green, KY
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $54K. Mid-career wages sit at $85K. Top earners bring in $137K or more, a $83K spread from bottom to top.
Social Science Research Assistants pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Social Science Research Assistants salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | $69K | +11% | 100 |
| Delaware | $68K | +10% | 40 |
| Kansas | $68K | +9% | 170 |
| Georgia | $67K | +7% | 1,840 |
| Kentucky | $66K | +7% | 1,190 |
| Missouri | $66K | +6% | 750 |
| New Hampshire | $66K | +6% | 70 |
| Maryland | $66K | +6% | 700 |
| District of Columbia | $65K | +5% | 1,560 |
| Illinois | $65K | +5% | 250 |
| South Carolina | $64K | +4% | 500 |
| North Carolina | $64K | +3% | 2,930 |
| Massachusetts | $63K | +2% | N/A |
| New Jersey | $63K | +1% | 370 |
| Idaho | $63K | +1% | N/A |
| Alaska | $62K | +0% | 40 |
| Arizona | $62K | -1% | 1,020 |
| New York | $61K | -1% | 3,040 |
| California | $60K | -3% | 5,300 |
| Michigan | $60K | -3% | 750 |
| Connecticut | $60K | -3% | 50 |
| Texas | $58K | -6% | 1,180 |
| Indiana | $57K | -8% | 210 |
| Oregon | $57K | -8% | 220 |
| Nebraska | $56K | -9% | 230 |
| Pennsylvania | $55K | -12% | 860 |
| Virginia | $53K | -14% | 700 |
| Alabama | $53K | -14% | N/A |
| Louisiana | $53K | -15% | 340 |
| Rhode Island | $51K | -17% | 220 |
| West Virginia | $51K | -18% | 550 |
| Florida | $51K | -18% | 1,130 |
| Maine | $51K | -18% | 120 |
| New Mexico | $51K | -18% | 50 |
| Colorado | $50K | -19% | 100 |
| Washington | $50K | -19% | 450 |
| Ohio | $50K | -19% | 240 |
| Montana | $50K | -20% | 30 |
| Wisconsin | $48K | -22% | 110 |
| Vermont | $48K | -23% | 40 |
| Tennessee | $46K | -25% | 140 |
| Minnesota | $45K | -28% | 300 |
| South Dakota | $45K | -28% | 40 |
| Iowa | $41K | -34% | 140 |
| Nevada | $27K | -57% | N/A |
Showing 1–10 of 45 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track social science research assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Bowling Green numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Bowling Green?
Yes — at the median salary of $85K, rent takes 21.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,153/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for social science research assistants in Bowling Green?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $54K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,228/month. At HUD’s $1,153/month FMR, rent would take 36% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social science research assistant a high-paying job in Bowling Green?
Local pay is 37% above the national median — $85K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Bowling Green compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Bowling Green pays $85K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +37%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 90.18), the purchasing-power equivalent is $94K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Bowling Green, KY?
The median is $84,680 a year, that works out to about $41 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $53,800, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $136,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $85K enough to live in Bowling Green?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,381/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,153/month, which eats 21.4% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.
How far does a social science research assistants salary go in Bowling Green?
Bowling Green has a Regional Price Parity of 90.18 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median social science research assistants salary is worth about $93,901 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social science research assistants get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.