Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Greenville, NC is $53,140/year ($25.55/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $83K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 88.4), which stretches that salary to about $60,113 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,095/month, about 30.8% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $53K actually covers in Greenville, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Greenville’s Regional Price Parity (88.4). 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
Sponsored links, AffordMap may earn a commission at no cost to you. Learn more
What this looks like in Greenville
Pay for social science research assistants in Greenville runs about 14% below the U.S. median of $62K. Rent runs $1,095/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 88.4 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 12% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social science research assistants in metros near Greenville, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh-Cary | $65K | $67K |
| Greensboro-High Point | $64K | $69K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $66K | $68K |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell | $67K | $67K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Greenville, NC
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $53K. Top earners bring in $83K or more, a $41K 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 annually. We'll email you when Greenville numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Greenville?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $53K, rent takes 31% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,095/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Greenville?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,806/month. At HUD’s $1,095/month FMR, rent would take 39% 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 Greenville?
Local pay runs 14% below the national median — $53K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 12% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Greenville compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Greenville pays $53K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -14%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 88.4), the purchasing-power equivalent is $60K — below the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Greenville, NC?
The median is $53,140 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,700, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $83,000. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $53K enough to live in Greenville?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,529/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,095/month, which eats 31% 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 Greenville?
Greenville has a Regional Price Parity of 88.4 (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 $60,113 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.