Social Science Research Assistants Salary
The median pay for a social science research assistants in Reno, NV is $27,270/year ($13.11/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $27K at the entry level to $48K for experienced workers.
So what does $27K get you in Reno?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Reno’s Regional Price Parity (101). 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 Reno
Pay for social science research assistants in Reno runs about 56% below the U.S. median of $62K. The catch: housing math doesn't keep up. A 2-bedroom at the HUD median rents for $1,870/month, which is 93.7% of the median worker's take-home, past the 30% guideline most planners use. Cost of living (RPP 101) 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.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social science research assistants in metros near Reno, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Boise City | $64K | , |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $59K | , |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $82K | , |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $67K | , |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Reno, NV
Entry-level social science research assistants (10th percentile) start around $27K. Mid-career wages sit at $27K. Top earners bring in $48K or more, a $21K 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
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 Reno numbers change.
Related careers in Science
Frequently asked questions
Can a social science research assistant afford a 2BR apartment alone in Reno?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $27K, rent takes 93.7% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,870/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $600/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 Reno?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social science research assistants typically earn — is $27K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $1,622/month. At HUD’s $1,870/month FMR, rent would take 115% 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 Reno?
Local pay runs 56% below the national median — $27K here vs. $62K nationally.
How does Reno compare to the national average for social science research assistants?
Reno pays $27K median vs. the U.S. average of $62K — that’s -56%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 101), the purchasing-power equivalent is $27K — below the national median.
How much do social science research assistants make in Reno, NV?
The median is $27,270 a year, that works out to about $13 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $27,030, and experienced social science research assistants can clear $47,830. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $27K enough to live in Reno?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $1,996/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,870/month, which eats 93.7% 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 Reno?
Reno has a Regional Price Parity of 100 (100 is the national average). That's right at the national average. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median social science research assistants salary is worth about $27,000 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.