Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Maine is $50,650/year ($24.35/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $42K at the entry level to $67K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 97.7), that's roughly $51,842 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,281/month, about 38.7% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Maine. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $51K get you in Maine?
About social science research assistants
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What this looks like in Maine
Pay for social science research assistants in Maine runs about 18% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,281/month, which is 37.9% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 97.7) 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.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Maine
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $42K. Mid-career wages sit at $51K. Top earners bring in $67K or more, a $25K spread from bottom to top.
Social Science Research Assistants salary by metro in Maine
1 metro area with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portland-South Portland | $51K | +0% | 40 |
Compare to other states
Track social science research assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Maine numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Maine?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $51K, rent takes 37.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,281/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 Maine?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $42K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,512/month. At HUD’s $1,281/month FMR, rent would take 51% 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 Maine?
Local pay runs 18% below the national median — $51K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Maine compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Maine pays $51K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -18%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 97.7), the purchasing-power equivalent is $52K — below the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Maine?
The median is $50,650 a year, that works out to about $24 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $41,870, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $66,990. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $51K enough to live in Maine?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,378/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,281/month, which eats 37.9% 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 Maine?
Maine has a Regional Price Parity of 97.7 (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 $51,842 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.