Highest-paying cities for social science research assistants
Flagstaff, AZ leads at $86,020 a year. Pay is not adjusted for local prices; see each page for the cost-of-living view.
| Place | Median | 25th–75th |
|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | $86,020 | $71,350–$86,020 |
| Bowling Green, KY | $84,680 | $67,530–$106,870 |
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | $82,500 | $53,050–$106,590 |
| San Francisco, CA | $82,020 | $46,550–$105,250 |
| San Jose, CA | $75,010 | $44,350–$99,930 |
| Greenville, SC | $74,060 | $56,680–$74,600 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $72,710 | $60,880–$110,650 |
| San Antonio, TX | $67,780 | $52,960–$82,160 |
| Atlanta, GA | $67,440 | $64,150–$108,100 |
| San Diego, CA | $66,520 | $38,150–$86,160 |
| Dallas, TX | $66,200 | $51,530–$107,190 |
| Charlotte, NC | $65,740 | $55,990–$79,740 |
| Baltimore, MD | $65,550 | $52,240–$84,780 |
| New York, NY | $65,330 | $50,020–$82,700 |
| Raleigh, NC | $65,330 | $52,130–$67,680 |
| Washington, DC | $65,330 | $57,700–$81,910 |
| Columbia, MO | $65,050 | $65,050–$80,850 |
| Austin, TX | $64,900 | $49,660–$67,150 |
| Chicago, IL | $64,890 | $47,720–$79,840 |
| Kansas City, MO | $64,650 | $49,750–$65,940 |
| Greensboro, NC | $64,490 | $52,990–$66,450 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $64,290 | $47,970–$64,290 |
| Lansing, MI | $64,220 | $54,760–$64,220 |
| Charleston, SC | $63,440 | $52,350–$79,160 |
| Detroit, MI | $62,670 | $48,530–$82,870 |
| Columbia, SC | $62,090 | $45,890–$81,250 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $61,760 | $48,630–$75,140 |
| Tucson, AZ | $61,680 | $51,750–$61,680 |
| Trenton, NJ | $60,980 | $41,600–$83,920 |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $60,710 | $52,600–$60,710 |
| Portland, OR | $59,850 | $55,810–$74,360 |
| Lincoln, NE | $59,780 | $59,780–$61,800 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $59,240 | $38,070–$77,760 |
| Worcester, MA | $58,110 | $46,730–$73,290 |
| Cincinnati, OH | $57,370 | $50,900–$83,270 |
| Indianapolis, IN | $57,020 | $40,060–$78,750 |
| Sacramento, CA | $54,310 | $38,090–$69,000 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $53,260 | $51,590–$66,280 |
| Greenville, NC | $53,140 | $53,140–$65,040 |
| Athens, GA | $52,890 | $41,220–$66,620 |
| Providence, RI | $52,470 | $51,420–$76,590 |
| Albany, NY | $52,070 | $36,050–$59,820 |
| Lafayette, LA | $52,070 | $43,890–$64,290 |
| Lexington, KY | $51,780 | $51,780–$66,390 |
| Eugene, OR | $51,530 | $48,720–$56,840 |
| Augusta, GA | $51,140 | $51,140–$99,090 |
| Miami, FL | $50,800 | $48,680–$64,000 |
| Tampa, FL | $50,700 | $45,190–$64,610 |
| Portland, ME | $50,650 | $44,530–$65,010 |
| Harrisburg, PA | $50,450 | $50,450–$58,510 |
Data period: BLS OEWS May 2025.