Social Science Research Assistants pay in California
$70,260avg. a year
$33.78 an hour · 5,300 employed
Social Science Research Assistants in California earn an average of $70,260 a year. That is $4,120 (6%) more than the U.S. average of $66,140. The best-paying metro area is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $86,880.
$60,250Median pay
$33.78Average hourly
+25%Avg. pay since 2020
#7Of 44 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for social science research assistants by metro area. Swipe to see all 7.
1710 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$86,880
$41.77 an hour
2330 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$80,080
$38.50 an hour
3670 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$72,190
$34.71 an hour
42,290 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$63,990
$30.77 an hour
5180 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$63,150
$30.36 an hour
6100 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$53,230
$25.59 an hour
750 jobs
Chico, CA
$41,790
$20.09 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Social Science Research Assistants pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California social science research assistants work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $55k$55k–$62k$62k–$66k$66k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $66,140 | $31.80 |
| California | $70,260 | $33.78 |
| Arizona | $61,990 | $29.81 |
| Oregon | $61,180 | $29.42 |
| Nevada | $32,700 | $15.72 |
Related jobs in California
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do social science research assistants make in California?
The average is $70,260 a year, and the median is $60,250. That is $4,120 (6%) more than the U.S. average of $66,140.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$33.78 an hour on average; the median is $28.97.
Where in California do they earn the most?
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($86,880), followed by San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA ($80,080). The lowest average among 7 metro areas with data is Chico, CA ($41,790).
How does California rank?
California ranks #7 of 45 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 19-4061. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national social science research assistants page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.