How to become a Social Science Research Assistant

Official title: Social Science Research Assistants

Also called: Clinical Research Assistant, Graduate Assistant, Graduate Research Assistant, Research Aide, Research Assistant, Research Associate, Research Technician, Social Research Assistant

Assist social scientists in laboratory, survey, and other social science research. May help prepare findings for publication and assist in laboratory analysis, quality control, or data management.

Main tasks

• Design and create special programs for tasks such as statistical analysis and data entry and cleaning.
• Provide assistance with the preparation of project-related reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
• Prepare tables, graphs, fact sheets, and written reports summarizing research results.
• Perform descriptive and multivariate statistical analyses of data, using computer software.
• Verify the accuracy and validity of data entered in databases, correcting any errors.
• Develop and implement research quality control procedures.
• Prepare, manipulate, and manage extensive databases.
• Perform data entry and other clerical work as required for project completion.

How to become one

Typical education to start: Bachelor's degree

Ways in

• College: Science degrees, Offered by 36 universities in the US
• College: Social Work & Community degrees, Offered by 11 universities in the US

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: $61,990 a year The middle half earn $48,620 to $77,760.
• About 38,400 people work in this job now, and about 40,400 are projected by 2035. (+5%)
• People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Social Science Research Assistant?

Ways in include: Science degrees; Social Work & Community degrees.

How much does a Social Science Research Assistant earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $61,990 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $48,620 to $77,760.

Is a Social Science Research Assistant a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 5% by 2035, from about 38,400 to about 40,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Social Science Research Assistant?

Not always. 52% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Science degrees; Social Work & Community degrees.

Will AI change the work of a Social Science Research Assistant?

People already use generative AI for some of this work. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as medium.

Sources

• Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.