Research Assistant (Social Science) salary in Los Angeles, CA
Based on 14 certified H-1B filings in the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Glendale, Monterey Park, Tustin, La Palma, Huntington Beach.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $50,161 |
| 25th | $58,370 |
| 50th (median) | $70,402 |
| 75th | $84,342 |
| 90th | $85,313 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | – | – | – | 2 |
| FY2021 | $60,000 | $49,230 | $65,000 | 10 |
| FY2022 | $63,852 | $60,000 | $75,282 | 12 |
| FY2023 | $70,000 | $68,625 | $80,000 | 20 |
| FY2024 | $75,000 | $65,000 | $85,000 | 21 |
| FY2025 | – | – | – | 7 |
| FY2026 | – | – | – | 7 |
Cost of living
Los Angeles's median Research Assistant (Social Science) salary of $70,402 is worth about $62,000 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Los Angeles = 113.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Social Science Research Assistants in the Los Angeles, CA area earned a median of $59,240 in May 2025 (2,290 employed). The H-1B median here is $70,402, 19% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The Sphere Institute | too few | 4 |
| IBDream | too few | 2 |
| Institute for Education, Research, and Scholarships | too few | 2 |
| Winston Lab of Social Science and Innovation | 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 | – | 0 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 2 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 2 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.