Social Science Research Assistants pay range in San Francisco
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,290 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,910 or more. The middle half of social science research assistants in San Francisco earn between $46,550 and $105,250.
- $43K10th
- $47K25th
- $82KMedian
- $105K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $86,880 | $7,240 | $41.77 |
| Median | $82,020 | $6,835 | $39.43 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $46,550 | $3,879 | $22.38 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $105,250 | $8,771 | $50.60 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Social Science Research Assistants pay in San Francisco vs. California and the U.S.
Social science research assistants in San Francisco earn 24% more than the California average ($70,260) and 31% more than the U.S. average ($66,140). At the median the gap is +32% against the U.S. median of $61,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $86,880 | $82,020 | $43,290 | $136,910 | 710 |
| California | $70,260 | $60,250 | $38,060 | $117,070 | 5,300 |
| United States | $66,140 | $61,990 | $38,090 | $102,070 | 30,640 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Social Science Research Assistants salary after taxes in San Francisco
On the average salary of $86,880, a single filer in San Francisco takes home about $65,962 a year, or $5,497 a month and $2,537 every two weeks. Taxes take 24% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Is San Francisco a good place for social science research assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the San Francisco area are 16% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 115.6), so the average $86,880 buys what about $75,147 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.1 times the median wage of all jobs in San Francisco ($74,260). A typical home costs $1,149,215, or 13.2 years of this average salary before tax.
Social Science Research Assistants salary in other California cities
San Francisco ranks 1st of 7 California metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- San Francisco$86,880
- San Jose$80,080
- San Diego$72,190
- Los Angeles$63,990
- Sacramento$63,150
- Riverside$53,230
- Chico$41,790
All Social Science Research Assistants salaries in California
Highest-paying cities for social science research assistants
Atlanta, GA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($90,820).
- Atlanta, GA$90,820
- Bowling Green, KY$88,200
- San Francisco, CA$86,880
- Oklahoma City, OK$80,710
- Flagstaff, AZ$80,680
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Social Science Research Assistants salary in San Francisco: questions
How much do social science research assistants make an hour in San Francisco?
$41.77 an hour on average, and $39.43 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level social science research assistants salary in San Francisco?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $43,290 a year and the 25th percentile is $46,550, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the social science research assistants take-home pay in San Francisco?
About $65,962 a year ($5,497 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $86,880. California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
Do social science research assistants earn more in San Francisco than elsewhere?
The average here is 31% more than the U.S. average for this job ($66,140).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 19-4061; area San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA (41860). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 4.7%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). California State Disability Insurance (1.3% of wages, paid by employees) is not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.52, this job is 1.5 times as concentrated as in the U.S. overall.
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