Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN is $57,370/year ($27.58/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $33K at the entry level to $106K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 95.37), that's roughly $60,155 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,353/month, about 35.9% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $57K get you in Cincinnati?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Cincinnati’s Regional Price Parity (95.37). 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 Cincinnati
Social science research assistants pay in Cincinnati tracks closely to the national median, $57K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 7% difference. Rent runs $1,353/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.4% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost of living (RPP 95.37) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social science research assistants in metros near Cincinnati, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | $25K | $26K |
| Louisville/Jefferson County | $83K | $89K |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $62K | $60K |
| Lansing-East Lansing | $64K | $68K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $33K. Mid-career wages sit at $57K. Top earners bring in $106K or more, a $73K 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 Cincinnati numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Cincinnati?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $57K, rent takes 34.4% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,353/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for social science research assistants in Cincinnati?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $33K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,001/month. At HUD’s $1,353/month FMR, rent would take 68% 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 Cincinnati?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $57K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 7% difference.
How does Cincinnati compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Cincinnati pays $57K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -7%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 95.37), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN?
The median is $57,370 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $33,350, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $105,940. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $57K enough to live in Cincinnati?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,938/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,353/month, which eats 34.4% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a social science research assistants salary go in Cincinnati?
Cincinnati has a Regional Price Parity of 95.37 (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 $60,155 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.