Entry-level Research Assistant (Social Science) salary in Trenton, NJ
Based on 11 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Trenton-Princeton, NJ metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Princeton.
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $58,000 |
| 25th | $61,500 |
| 50th (median) | $64,500 |
| 75th | $65,812 |
| 90th | $66,625 |
Cost of living
Trenton's median entry-level Research Assistant (Social Science) salary of $64,500 is worth about $62,500 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Trenton = 103.2).
Compared with all workers here
All Social Science Research Assistants in the Trenton, NJ area earned a median of $60,980 in May 2025 (30 employed). The H-1B median here is $64,500, 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.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| The Trustees Of Princeton University | too few | 9 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $64,500 | 11 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 3 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | too few | 4 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $46,925 | $64,500 | 11 |
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.