Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN is $82,500/year ($39.66/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $49K at the entry level to $136K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 93.07), which stretches that salary to about $88,643 in buying power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $1,272/month, or 24.4% of estimated take-home pay.
So what does $83K get you in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Louisville/Jefferson County’s Regional Price Parity (93.07). 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 Louisville/Jefferson County
Louisville/Jefferson County sits well above the national pay line for social science research assistants, local pay runs about 33% higher than the U.S. median of $62K. Housing is manageable: a 2-bedroom at the HUD median costs $1,272/month, 24.2% of take-home, well inside the 30% guideline. Regional Price Parity sits at 93.07 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 7% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Combined with manageable housing costs, Louisville/Jefferson County offers a genuinely strong financial position for social science research assistantss at the median.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social science research assistants in metros near Louisville/Jefferson County, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Lexington-Fayette | $52K | $56K |
| Bowling Green | $85K | $94K |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin | $65K | $63K |
| Columbia | $65K | $73K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $49K. Mid-career wages sit at $83K. Top earners bring in $136K or more, a $87K 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 Louisville/Jefferson County numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Louisville/Jefferson County?
Yes — at the median salary of $83K, rent takes 24.2% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,272/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.
What’s the entry-level salary for social science research assistants in Louisville/Jefferson County?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $49K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,937/month. At HUD’s $1,272/month FMR, rent would take 43% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County?
Local pay is 33% above the national median — $83K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Louisville/Jefferson County compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Louisville/Jefferson County pays $83K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +33%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 93.07), the purchasing-power equivalent is $89K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN?
The median is $82,500 a year, that works out to about $40 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $48,950, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $136,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $83K enough to live in Louisville/Jefferson County?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $5,260/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,272/month, which eats 24.2% 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 Louisville/Jefferson County?
Louisville/Jefferson County has a Regional Price Parity of 93.07 (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 $88,643 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.