Research Assistant (Social Science) salary in Philadelphia, PA
Based on 15 certified H-1B filings in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Newark, Swarthmore, West Conshohocken, Malvern.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $49,400 |
| 25th | $51,250 |
| 50th (median) | $60,319 |
| 75th | $69,220 |
| 90th | $85,646 |
Cost of living
Philadelphia's median Research Assistant (Social Science) salary of $60,319 is worth about $58,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Philadelphia = 102.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Social Science Research Assistants in the Philadelphia, PA area earned a median of $61,760 in May 2025 (560 employed). The H-1B median here is $60,319, 2% lower.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Temple University--A Commonwealth University | too few | 5 |
| Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania | too few | 3 |
| Susquehanna International Group | 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 | 4 |
| Mid-level · Level II | – | 0 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.