Entry-level Research Assistant (Social Science) salary in New York, NY

Based on 25 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Brooklyn, Bronx, New York City, Flushing, Iselin.

Median salary$58,656
Middle 50%$50.9k–$67k
vs. all levels here−14%comparison median $68,037
Filings25FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $40,440 and $92,280.
PercentileSalary
10th$41,642
25th$50,880
50th (median)$58,656
75th$67,000
90th$82,234

Cost of living

New York's median entry-level Research Assistant (Social Science) salary of $58,656 is worth about $52,100 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; New York = 112.6).

Compared with all workers here

All Social Science Research Assistants in the New York, NY area earned a median of $65,330 in May 2025 (2,610 employed). The H-1B median here is $58,656, 10% lower.

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.

Employers filing at this level

EmployerMedianFilings
Albert Einstein College of Medicinetoo few2
Good Energy Collectivetoo few2
Haver Analyticstoo few2
New York Universitytoo few2
Purpose Campaignstoo few2
Research Foundation for Mental Hygienetoo few2

Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.

By experience level

Wage levelMedianFilings
Entry-level · Level I $58,656 25
Mid-level · Level II $62,858 29
Senior · Level III $70,000 23
Expert · Level IV $93,113 14

Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.

Minimum H-1B salary by level

Wage levelPrevailing wage (most common)Median offered salaryFilings
Entry-level · Level I$41,642$58,65625
Mid-level · Level II$53,893$62,85829
Senior · Level III$62,629$70,00023
Expert · Level IV$79,290$93,11314

The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.