Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA is $59,240/year ($28.48/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $38K at the entry level to $98K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 113.57), so that salary is closer to $52,162 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,601/month, about 67.2% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $59K get you in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim’s Regional Price Parity (113.57). 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
Social science research assistants pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim tracks closely to the national median, $59K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 4% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $2,601/month, which is 65.3% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost-of-living overall is 14% above the national average (BEA RPP 113.57), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social science research assistants in metros near Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $82K | $71K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $67K | $59K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $75K | $68K |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom | $54K | $51K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $38K. Mid-career wages sit at $59K. Top earners bring in $98K or more, a $60K 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $59K, rent takes 65.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,601/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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $38K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,284/month. At HUD’s $2,601/month FMR, rent would take 114% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $59K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 4% difference.
How does Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim pays $59K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -4%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 113.57), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA?
The median is $59,240 a year, that works out to about $28 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $38,060, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $97,730. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $59K enough to live in Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,983/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,601/month, which eats 65.3% 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 Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim?
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim has a Regional Price Parity of 113.57 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median social science research assistants salary is worth about $52,162 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.