Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Lansing-East Lansing, MI is $64,220/year ($30.87/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $55K at the entry level to $64K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.99), which stretches that salary to about $67,607 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,268/month, or 30% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $64K get you in Lansing-East Lansing?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lansing-East Lansing’s Regional Price Parity (94.99). 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 Lansing-East Lansing
Social science research assistants pay in Lansing-East Lansing tracks closely to the national median, $64K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 4% difference. Rent runs $1,268/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 29.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.99 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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 Lansing-East Lansing, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $43K | $43K |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $63K | $62K |
| Cincinnati | $57K | $60K |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood | $57K | $60K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $55K. Mid-career wages sit at $64K. Top earners bring in $64K or more, a $9K 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 Lansing-East Lansing numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lansing-East Lansing?
Yes — at the median salary of $64K, rent takes 29.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,268/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for social science research assistants in Lansing-East Lansing?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $55K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,286/month. At HUD’s $1,268/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 Lansing-East Lansing?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $64K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Lansing-East Lansing compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Lansing-East Lansing pays $64K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.99), the purchasing-power equivalent is $68K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
The median is $64,220 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $54,760, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $64,220. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $64K enough to live in Lansing-East Lansing?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,236/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,268/month, which eats 29.9% 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 Lansing-East Lansing?
Lansing-East Lansing has a Regional Price Parity of 94.99 (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 $67,607 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.