Research Assistant (Social Science) salary
From 616 certified H-1B filings (FY2025–FY2026). Base salary only.
- Occupation code 19-4061: Social Science Research Assistants
At a glance
- Mostly Level II (mid-level). 31% of Research Assistant (Social Science) filings are Level II, compared with 42% across all H-1B filings.
- Top filer: The Sphere Institute. 68 filings (11% of the total), median $85,000.
- Median up 19% since FY2020. From $56,028 in FY2020 to $66,624 in FY2026 (Q1–Q3). Nominal, not adjusted for inflation.
Research Assistant (Social Science) H-1B salary overview
Employers filed 616 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications for Research Assistant (Social Science) jobs in FY2025–FY2026 (occupation code 19-4061, Social Science Research Assistants). The median base salary is $65,530, 47% below the median for all H-1B filings ($122,699), and half of the filings fall between $56,795 and $78,000. The most common wage level is Level II (mid-level), at 31% of filings. Washington, DC has the most filings (122), and The Sphere Institute is the employer that files the most (68).
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Percentiles from certified H-1B filings, base salary only. Metro areas with at least 10 filings.
Top employers for Research Assistant (Social Science)
New York University20 filings · 3%$70,000
The Trustees Of Princeton University13 filings · 2%$65,000
Johns Hopkins University12 filings · 2%$72,771
Texas A&M University12 filings · 2%$56,925
The University of Texas at Austin11 filings · 2%$69,992
Employers with the most Research Assistant (Social Science) filings. Bar: share of all Research Assistant (Social Science) filings. Figure: median base salary.
Pay by level
Entry-level · 28% of filings
Mid-level · 31% of filings
Senior · 23% of filings
Expert · 17% of filings
Show the table
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Level I · Entry | $56,056 | 169 |
| Level II · Qualified | $63,773 | 187 |
| Level III · Experienced | $70,000 | 137 |
| Level IV · Fully competent | $93,598 | 101 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Research Assistant (Social Science) pay by city
Median base salary in each metro area. Rent: HUD Fair Market Rent, FY2027.
Show all 12 metro areas
| Metro area | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | $70,925 | 122 |
| New York, NY | $68,037 | 92 |
| San Francisco, CA | $85,000 | 45 |
| Chicago, IL | $61,000 | 25 |
| Boston, MA | $67,000 | 21 |
| Trenton, NJ | $66,625 | 21 |
| Baltimore, MD | $70,917 | 16 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $60,319 | 15 |
| Austin, TX | $64,843 | 14 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $70,402 | 14 |
| College Station, TX | $56,484 | 11 |
| Dallas, TX | $54,504 | 10 |
Metro areas with at least 10 filings for this occupation.
What a Research Assistant (Social Science) does
Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.
Typical tasks
- Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
- Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
- Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
- Perform descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses of data, using computer software.
- Verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any errors.
- Develop and implement research quality control procedures.
Preparation
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed. Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
O*NET occupation: Social Science Research Assistants (19-4061.00). This section includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
H-1B pay vs. all U.S. workers
Across all U.S. workers in this occupation (Social Science Research Assistants), the median annual wage was $61,990 in May 2025, with 30,640 people employed. The median H-1B base salary in FY2025–FY2026 is $65,530, 6% higher.
| H-1B filings | All U.S. workers (BLS, May 2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $49,889 | $38,090 |
| 25th percentile | $56,795 | $48,620 |
| Median | $65,530 | $61,990 |
| 75th percentile | $78,000 | $77,760 |
| 90th percentile | $95,000 | $102,070 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS). BLS wages cover all wage and salary workers and include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are the base salary offered on certified LCAs. The two sources cover different periods. BLS reports wages of $239,200 or more as a single top value.
Salary details
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $49,889 |
| 25th | $56,795 |
| 50th (median) | $65,530 |
| 75th | $78,000 |
| 90th | $95,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $56,028 | $48,960 | $70,000 | 304 |
| FY2021 | $56,996 | $49,503 | $66,085 | 276 |
| FY2022 | $60,000 | $52,000 | $71,357 | 379 |
| FY2023 | $60,000 | $52,048 | $73,382 | 334 |
| FY2024 | $63,045 | $55,349 | $75,000 | 379 |
| FY2025 | $65,000 | $56,056 | $77,000 | 357 |
| FY2026 | $66,624 | $58,536 | $81,262 | 259 |
Questions
How much does an H-1B Research Assistant (Social Science) make?
The median base salary in certified H-1B filings for Research Assistant (Social Science) jobs is $65,530 (616 filings, FY2025–FY2026). Half of the filings are between $56,795 and $78,000.
What does an entry-level Research Assistant (Social Science) earn on an H-1B?
Level I (entry-level) filings have a median of $56,056. Level I accounts for 28% of Research Assistant (Social Science) filings.
Which employers file the most H-1B applications for Research Assistant (Social Science)s?
The Sphere Institute (68), New York University (20) and The Trustees Of Princeton University (13) filed the most Research Assistant (Social Science) LCAs in FY2025–FY2026.
Do H-1B Research Assistant (Social Science)s earn more than other U.S. workers in the same job?
The H-1B median base salary ($65,530) is 6% higher than the median wage of all U.S. workers in this occupation ($61,990, BLS May 2025). The sources measure pay differently, so treat this as a rough comparison.