The median annual wage for Social Science Research Assistants in California is $48,720 (May 2024 BLS OES). The mean (average) is $62,740.
Pay spans roughly $36,310 at the 10th percentile to $105,930 at the 90th, so experience and specialisation move this figure a lot. At the median that is about $23.42 per hour. An estimated 5,610 people work as social science research assistants in California.
| Median (annual) | $48,720 |
| Mean (annual) | $62,740 |
| Median (hourly) | $23.42 |
| 10th percentile | $36,310 |
| 90th percentile | $105,930 |
| Employment | 5,610 |
Updated 2026-07-23.
Source: BLS OES May 2024 — bls.gov/oes. Checked 2026-07-23.