Social Science Research Assistants pay range in Seattle
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,640 a year or less, while the top 10% make $76,320 or more. The middle half of social science research assistants in Seattle earn between $48,780 and $59,870.
- $46K10th
- $49K25th
- $50KMedian
- $60K75th
- $76K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $57,730 | $4,811 | $27.75 |
| Median | $50,310 | $4,192 | $24.19 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $48,780 | $4,065 | $23.45 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $59,870 | $4,989 | $28.78 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Social Science Research Assistants pay in Seattle vs. Washington and the U.S.
Social science research assistants in Seattle earn about the same as the Washington average ($56,120) and 13% less than the U.S. average ($66,140). At the median the gap is -19% against the U.S. median of $61,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle | $57,730 | $50,310 | $45,640 | $76,320 | 280 |
| Washington | $56,120 | $50,420 | $45,530 | $75,720 | 450 |
| 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 Seattle
On the average salary of $57,730, a single filer in Seattle takes home about $48,566 a year, or $4,047 a month and $1,868 every two weeks. Taxes take 16% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Is Seattle a good place for social science research assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Seattle area are 11% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 111.1), so the average $57,730 buys what about $51,947 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 0.7 times the median wage of all jobs in Seattle ($72,610). A typical home costs $750,279, or 13.0 years of this average salary before tax.
Social Science Research Assistants salary in nearby metro areas
- Portland, OR$65,370
- Eugene, OR$56,050
- Boise, ID$65,170
- Reno, NV$33,930
- Chico, CA$41,790
- Sacramento, CA$63,150
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 Seattle: questions
How much do social science research assistants make an hour in Seattle?
$27.75 an hour on average, and $24.19 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level social science research assistants salary in Seattle?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $45,640 a year and the 25th percentile is $48,780, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the social science research assistants take-home pay in Seattle?
About $48,566 a year ($4,047 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $57,730. Washington has no state income tax; Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
Do social science research assistants earn more in Seattle than elsewhere?
The average here is 13% less 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 Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA (42660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 1.5%.
- 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 no state income tax. Washington's WA Cares (0.58%) and Paid Family and Medical Leave payroll premiums are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.69, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.69).
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