Social Science Research Assistant Career Guide

What does a social science research assistant do?

Social science research assistants assist social scientists in laboratory, survey and other social science research. The median pay is $61,990 per year (BLS, May 2025), most people train for about Entry-level with a degree, and employment is projected to grow +5.0% from 2025–35.

Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026

Median pay
$61,990
$29.81/hour · May 2025
Job growth
+5.0%
2025–35, faster than average
Openings per year
4,900
Average, 2025–35
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
BLS classification
Time to train
Entry-level with a degree
Typical program length
U.S. jobs
38,400
Employment, 2025

What social science research assistants do

Social science research assistants keep studies running. They recruit participants, run surveys and interviews, enter and clean data, run basic analyses, review literature and help write reports for universities, think tanks and government.

A bachelor’s degree is typical. BLS projects about average growth, and it is a common step before graduate school.

Typical duties

Recruit participants
Collect data
Enter and clean data
Run basic analyses
Review literature
Help write reports
Manage study logistics

Work environment and schedule

Research assistants work in universities, research firms and government offices.

Schedule: Full-time business hours.

A day in the life

9:00 AMSchedule participants.
10:00 AMRun a lab session.
11:30 AMEnter survey data.
1:00 PMClean the dataset.

See a full day in the life of a social science research assistant →

Social Science Research Assistant salary

Half of social science research assistants earned more than $61,990 and half earned less in May 2025. Pay ranged from about $38,090 for the lowest 10% to $102,070 for the top 10%.

$38,09010th$61,990Median$102,07090th

Full social science research assistant pay scale and hourly rates →

How to become a social science research assistant

Earn a social science bachelor’s
Work in a lab as a student
Complete CITI training
Get hired
Advance

A bachelor’s degree in a social science is typical.

Step-by-step guide to becoming a social science research assistant →

Skills and tools

Technical skills

Data collection
Data cleaning
Statistics basics
Literature review
Survey software

People skills

Organization
Reliability
Communication
Attention to detail

All social science research assistant skills and tools →

Pros and cons

Pros

Path to grad school
Research experience
Interesting topics
Mentorship

Cons

Modest pay
Temporary grant positions
Repetitive data tasks
Deadline pressure

Certifications and licenses

CITI human subjects training: Required.
Statistics course: Helpful.
R or SPSS certificate: Helpful.
Clinical research certification: For health studies.

Career path

Research Assistant: Entry.
Research Coordinator: Manage studies.
Research Associate: Analyze.
Graduate Student or Researcher: Advance.

Learn the job before day one

Our Social Science Research Assistant training (10 hours, $89.99) covers the role, 15+ key terms, step-by-step procedures such as clean a survey dataset and run a research session with participants, safety and how to land your first job.

View Social Science Research Assistant training Is this career right for me?

Sociologist

Study how groups, institutions and societies shape people’s lives.

$106,030
2–6 years after a bachelor’s

Survey Researcher

Design surveys and analyze what people think and do.

$69,460
2 years after a bachelor’s

Statistical Assistant

Compile and check data for statisticians and researchers.

$50,330
Entry-level with a degree

Graduate Teaching Assistant

Teach college sections and labs while earning a graduate degree.

$42,910
Start during graduate school

Compare: Social Science Research Assistant vs. Sociologist · Social Science Research Assistant vs. Survey Researcher · Social Science Research Assistant vs. Statistical Assistant · Social Science Research Assistant vs. Graduate Teaching Assistant

Social Science Research Assistant FAQ

Is this a good step before grad school?

Yes, very common.

Do I need a degree?

Usually a bachelor’s.

Are positions temporary?

Many are tied to grants.

How much does a social science research assistant make?

The median annual wage for social science research assistants was $61,990 ($29.81 per hour) in May 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The lowest 10% earned less than $38,090 and the highest 10% earned more than $102,070.

How long does it take to become a social science research assistant?

Most people need about Entry-level with a degree of training. A bachelor’s degree in a social science is typical.

Do you need a degree to be a social science research assistant?

Usually, yes. BLS lists a bachelor's degree as the typical entry-level education, although skills, certifications and experience can sometimes substitute.

More social science research assistant questions →

Sources

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025, SOC 19-4061 (Social science research assistants).
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 (2025–35).
O*NET OnLine summary for Social science research assistants (U.S. Department of Labor).
BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Reviewed by the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team. Pay figures are national estimates; local pay varies. See our editorial policy.

Social Science Research Assistant