Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Pennsylvania is $54,610/year ($26.26/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $45K at the entry level to $82K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $57,502 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 36.9% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $55K get you in Pennsylvania?
About social science research assistants
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Pay for social science research assistants in Pennsylvania runs about 12% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,351/month, which is 36.6% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. 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, Pennsylvania
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $45K. Mid-career wages sit at $55K. Top earners bring in $82K or more, a $37K spread from bottom to top.
Social Science Research Assistants salary by metro in Pennsylvania
3 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $62K | +13% | 560 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $50K | -8% | 40 |
| Pittsburgh | $50K | -8% | 170 |
Compare to other states
Track social science research assistants salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $55K, rent takes 36.6% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,100/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 Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $45K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,683/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 50% 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 Pennsylvania?
Local pay runs 12% below the national median — $55K here vs. $62K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Pennsylvania pays $55K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -12%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $58K — below the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $54,610 a year, that works out to about $26 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $44,710, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $81,640. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $55K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $3,687/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 36.6% 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 Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (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 $57,502 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.