Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA is $50,450/year ($24.25/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $48K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.65), that's roughly $51,140 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,493/month, about 44.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $50K get you in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Harrisburg-Carlisle’s Regional Price Parity (98.65). 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle
Pay for social science research assistants in Harrisburg-Carlisle runs about 19% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,493/month, which is 43.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.65) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. That combination, below-market pay with high housing costs, makes this a financially demanding market for social science research assistantss.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social science research assistants in metros near Harrisburg-Carlisle, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $62K | $60K |
| Pittsburgh | $50K | $53K |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City | $65K | $58K |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy | $52K | $52K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $48K. Mid-career wages sit at $50K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $30K 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $50K, rent takes 43.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,493/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,000/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 Harrisburg-Carlisle?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $48K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,864/month. At HUD’s $1,493/month FMR, rent would take 52% 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle?
Local pay runs 19% below the national median — $50K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Harrisburg-Carlisle compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Harrisburg-Carlisle pays $50K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -19%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.65), the purchasing-power equivalent is $51K — below the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?
The median is $50,450 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $47,730, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $78,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $50K enough to live in Harrisburg-Carlisle?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,419/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,493/month, which eats 43.7% 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 Harrisburg-Carlisle?
Harrisburg-Carlisle has a Regional Price Parity of 98.65 (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 $51,140 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.