Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other Salary
The median pay for a social scientists and related workers, all other in Lansing-East Lansing, MI is $61,210/year ($29.43/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $58K at the entry level to $88K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.99), which stretches that salary to about $64,438 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,268/month, about 31.5% of take-home, which is tight.
Where the paycheck goes
What $61K actually covers in Lansing-East Lansing, month by month
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Lansing-East Lansing’s Regional Price Parity (94.99). 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 scientists and related workers, all others
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What this looks like in Lansing-East Lansing
Pay for social scientists and related workers, all other in Lansing-East Lansing runs about 39% below the U.S. median of $101K. Rent runs $1,268/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 31.3% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.99 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.
Compared to nearby metros
Median pay for social scientists and related workers, all others in metros near Lansing-East Lansing, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Ann Arbor | $85K | $85K |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn | $104K | $104K |
| Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood | $92K | $96K |
| Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek | $120K | $130K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Lansing-East Lansing, MI
Entry-level social scientists and related workers, all others (10th percentile) start around $58K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $88K or more, a $30K spread from bottom to top.
Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other pay across states
Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure
View Social Scientists and Related Workers, All Other salary in all states
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $141K | +39% | 3,380 |
| Maryland | $132K | +30% | 2,600 |
| District of Columbia | $128K | +27% | 2,480 |
| Massachusetts | $106K | +4% | 820 |
| Colorado | $105K | +4% | 790 |
| New York | $105K | +4% | 3,410 |
| Nebraska | $104K | +3% | 120 |
| Minnesota | $103K | +2% | 1,000 |
| Washington | $103K | +2% | 1,160 |
| Texas | $102K | +1% | 2,260 |
| New Jersey | $101K | +0% | 350 |
| Arizona | $99K | -2% | 600 |
| Illinois | $99K | -2% | 730 |
| Ohio | $99K | -2% | 1,520 |
| California | $98K | -3% | 2,970 |
| Pennsylvania | $98K | -3% | 620 |
| Oregon | $96K | -5% | 350 |
| Nevada | $96K | -5% | 180 |
| Alabama | $95K | -6% | 320 |
| West Virginia | $95K | -7% | 190 |
| Hawaii | $93K | -8% | 430 |
| Delaware | $92K | -9% | 100 |
| Iowa | $92K | -9% | 150 |
| Utah | $92K | -9% | 180 |
| Georgia | $91K | -10% | 1,510 |
| New Mexico | $91K | -10% | 170 |
| Louisiana | $91K | -10% | 560 |
| Rhode Island | $90K | -11% | 110 |
| Indiana | $89K | -12% | N/A |
| Wisconsin | $89K | -12% | 260 |
| Wyoming | $89K | -12% | 40 |
| Idaho | $89K | -12% | 70 |
| Oklahoma | $89K | -12% | 220 |
| New Hampshire | $87K | -14% | 130 |
| South Dakota | $86K | -15% | 70 |
| Mississippi | $86K | -15% | 170 |
| Kansas | $85K | -16% | 310 |
| Michigan | $84K | -17% | 660 |
| South Carolina | $84K | -17% | 300 |
| Florida | $83K | -17% | 1,740 |
| Montana | $82K | -19% | 170 |
| North Carolina | $81K | -19% | 1,770 |
| Tennessee | $81K | -20% | 320 |
| Missouri | $81K | -20% | 330 |
| Vermont | $79K | -21% | 110 |
| Kentucky | $79K | -22% | 350 |
| North Dakota | $76K | -24% | 120 |
| Arkansas | $76K | -24% | 250 |
| Maine | $74K | -27% | 40 |
Showing 1–10 of 49 states with published data
BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small
Track social scientists and related workers, all other salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Lansing-East Lansing numbers change.
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Quick answers
The stuff people actually ask about this job
Can a social scientists and related workers, all other afford a 2BR apartment alone in Lansing-East Lansing?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 31.3% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,268/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for social scientists and related workers, all others in Lansing-East Lansing?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new social scientists and related workers, all others typically earn — is $58K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $3,851/month. At HUD’s $1,268/month FMR, rent would take 33% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is social scientists and related workers, all other a high-paying job in Lansing-East Lansing?
Local pay runs 39% below the national median — $61K here vs. $101K nationally. Cost of living is 5% below the national average, which narrows that gap in real purchasing power.
How does Lansing-East Lansing compare to the national average for social scientists and related workers, all others?
Lansing-East Lansing pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $101K — that’s -39%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.99), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — below the national median.
How much do social scientists and related workers, all others make in Lansing-East Lansing, MI?
The median is $61,210 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $58,050, and experienced social scientists and related workers, all others can clear $87,610. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Lansing-East Lansing?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,052/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,268/month, which eats 31.3% 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 scientists and related workers, all other salary go in Lansing-East Lansing?
Lansing-East Lansing has a Regional Price Parity of 94.99 (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 scientists and related workers, all other salary is worth about $64,438 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do social scientists and related workers, all others 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.