Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Raleigh-Cary, NC is $65,330/year ($31.41/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $51K at the entry level to $86K for experienced workers. Adjusted for local prices (RPP 98.16), that's roughly $66,555 in purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,750/month, about 40% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $65K get you in Raleigh-Cary?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Raleigh-Cary’s Regional Price Parity (98.16). 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 Raleigh-Cary
Social science research assistants pay in Raleigh-Cary tracks closely to the national median, $65K locally vs. $62K nationwide, a 5% difference. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,750/month, which is 40.8% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 98.16) is near the national average, so spending patterns here track the typical American budget fairly closely. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social science research assistants in metros near Raleigh-Cary, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Greensboro-High Point | $64K | $69K |
| Greenville | $53K | $60K |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia | $66K | $68K |
| Wilmington | $46K | $48K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Raleigh-Cary, NC
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $51K. Mid-career wages sit at $65K. Top earners bring in $86K or more, a $36K 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 Raleigh-Cary numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Raleigh-Cary?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $65K, rent takes 40.8% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,750/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,300/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 Raleigh-Cary?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $51K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,033/month. At HUD’s $1,750/month FMR, rent would take 58% 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 Raleigh-Cary?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $65K locally vs. $62K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Raleigh-Cary compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Raleigh-Cary pays $65K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s +5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 98.16), the purchasing-power equivalent is $67K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Raleigh-Cary, NC?
The median is $65,330 a year, that works out to about $31 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $50,550, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $86,150. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $65K enough to live in Raleigh-Cary?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,284/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,750/month, which eats 40.8% 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 Raleigh-Cary?
Raleigh-Cary has a Regional Price Parity of 98.16 (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 $66,555 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.