Research Assistant (Social Science) salary in Boston, MA
Based on 21 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Waltham, Medford, Cambridge, Malden, Somerville.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $55,751 |
| 25th | $60,528 |
| 50th (median) | $67,000 |
| 75th | $94,000 |
| 90th | $105,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $49,606 | $46,525 | $61,500 | 20 |
| FY2021 | $56,000 | $47,413 | $61,250 | 24 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2023 | $61,000 | $55,000 | $69,000 | 13 |
| FY2024 | $66,553 | $55,563 | $75,000 | 20 |
| FY2025 | $62,764 | $55,902 | $67,049 | 12 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 9 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Research Assistant (Social Science) salary of $67,000 is worth about $61,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Social Science Research Assistants in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $63,480 in May 2025. The H-1B median here is $67,000, 6% higher.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Education Development Center | too few | 3 |
| The Sphere Institute | too few | 3 |
| Affordable Housing Institute | too few | 2 |
| Brandeis University | too few | 2 |
| Cadmus Holding Company | too few | 2 |
| Fourth Floor Productions | too few | 2 |
| Tufts University | too few | 2 |
| Vayu Global Health Foundation | too few | 2 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | too few | 6 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 5 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.