Social Science Research Assistants salary
in San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
- Middle 50%
- $46,550–$105,250
- vs U.S. median
- +32%
- Metro rank
- #2 of 25
Social Science Research Assistants in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro earn a median of $82,020 a year, based on BLS estimates for 710 jobs (May 2025). That is 32% above the U.S. median of $61,990 and 36% above the CA statewide median of $60,250. It ranks #2 of 25 metros with published figures for this job.
- SOURCEBLS OEWS, May 2025
- SAMPLE710 jobs (estimate)
- SCOPEall employers, all experience levels
- PERIODMay 2025 estimates
Full percentile breakdown
BLS · metro vs U.S.
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Employers filing for this job in San Francisco
1 employers · DOL
Median of each employer’s DOL LCA filings (5+ filings) in this metro, FY2026 Q3. Visa-sponsored positions only, base pay.
| Employer | Median base | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| The Sphere Institute | $105,000 | 11 |
Social Science Research Assistants pay in other CA metros
3 metros · BLS
| Metro | Median |
|---|---|
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $75,010 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $66,520 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $59,240 |
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RELATED JOBS IN SAN FRANCISCO
Questions
What is the average Social Science Research Assistants salary in San Francisco?
The BLS median is $82,020 a year (May 2025). Half of the 710 jobs pay between $46,550 and $105,250. The 10th percentile is $43,290 and the 90th is $136,910.
Is San Francisco a high-paying metro for Social Science Research Assistants?
That is 32% above the U.S. median of $61,990 and 36% above the CA statewide median of $60,250. It ranks #2 of 25 U.S. metros with published BLS figures for this job.
How much do Social Science Research Assistants make an hour in San Francisco?
About $39.43 an hour at the median (the BLS annual figure of $82,020 divided by 2,080 hours, the conversion BLS uses). The middle half earn about $22.38–$50.60 an hour. Straight-time pay, before overtime and shift differentials.
Does this include experience levels?
BLS figures cover all experience levels together. Employer filings carry a DOL wage level, which the free checker can filter by (approximate).
Which employers pay Social Science Research Assistants the most in San Francisco?
Among employers with 5+ visa-sponsored filings here, the highest medians were The Sphere Institute ($105,000). These are base wages for sponsored positions, not all employees.
Sources: U.S. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (national + state) (metro area estimates, all employers); employer rows from U.S. DOL OFLC LCA Disclosure Data, FY2026 Q3 (LCA_Disclosure_Data_FY2026_Q3.xlsx). Base pay only. Estimates can have sampling error, especially for smaller metros.