Career comparison
Social Science Research Assistant vs. Statistical Assistant
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Social science research assistants earn more at the median ($61,990 vs. $50,330), while social science research assistants usually get to work faster (Entry-level with a degree of training). Social science research assistants help researchers collect and analyze data on people and society. Statistical assistants compile and check data for statisticians and researchers.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Social Science Research Assistant | Statistical Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $61,990 ($29.81/hr) | $50,330 ($24.20/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $38,090 – $102,070 | $35,990 – $81,990 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +5.0% (faster than average) | -1.8% (a projected decline) |
| Openings per year | 4,900 | 500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Bachelor's degree |
| Training time | Entry-level with a degree | Entry-level with a degree |
| Key credential | CITI human subjects training | Excel certification |
| Work setting | Research assistants work in universities, research firms and government offices.. | Statistical assistants work in offices, often for government and research groups.. |
What each job does
Social Science Research Assistant
- Recruit participants
- Collect data
- Enter and clean data
- Run basic analyses
- Review literature
Statistical Assistant
- Collect data
- Clean and code data
- Run basic statistics
- Build tables and charts
- Check data quality
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, desk work, and steady routines. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and business & office, but share transferable skills such as organization and accuracy.
Which should you choose?
Choose social science research assistant if…
- I like research
- I’m organized
- I like data
Choose statistical assistant if…
- I like data
- I’m accurate
- I like spreadsheets
Still torn? Take the Social Science Research Assistant fit quiz and the Statistical Assistant fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, social science research assistant or statistical assistant?
Social Science Research Assistants earn more at the median: $61,990 versus $50,330 for statistical assistants, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Social Science Research Assistants typically train faster (Entry-level with a degree) than statistical assistants (Entry-level with a degree).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects social science research assistants to grow +5.0% from 2025–35, compared with -1.8% for statistical assistants.