Social Science Research Assistants pay range in Trenton
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,960 a year or less, while the top 10% make $85,270 or more. The middle half of social science research assistants in Trenton earn between $41,600 and $83,920.
- $38K10th
- $42K25th
- $61KMedian
- $84K75th
- $85K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $65,440 | $5,453 | $31.46 |
| Median | $60,980 | $5,082 | $29.32 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $41,600 | $3,467 | $20.00 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $83,920 | $6,993 | $40.35 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Social Science Research Assistants pay in Trenton vs. New Jersey and the U.S.
Social science research assistants in Trenton earn 6% less than the New Jersey average ($69,260) and about the same as the U.S. average ($66,140). At the median the gap is -2% against the U.S. median of $61,990.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trenton | $65,440 | $60,980 | $37,960 | $85,270 | 30 |
| New Jersey | $69,260 | $62,760 | $37,960 | $105,390 | 370 |
| 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 Trenton
On the average salary of $65,440, a single filer in Trenton takes home about $52,693 a year, or $4,391 a month and $2,027 every two weeks. Taxes take 19% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and state income tax (2025 rules). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Is Trenton a good place for social science research assistants? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Trenton area are 3% above the U.S. average (BEA price parity 103.2), so the average $65,440 buys what about $63,423 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 1.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Trenton ($63,490). A typical home costs $446,377, or 6.8 years of this average salary before tax.
Social Science Research Assistants salary in nearby metro areas
- Philadelphia, PA$63,190
- New York, NY$71,420
- Baltimore, MD$69,840
- Harrisburg, PA$58,920
- Albany, NY$49,940
- Washington, DC$73,440
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 Trenton: questions
How much do social science research assistants make an hour in Trenton?
$31.46 an hour on average, and $29.32 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level social science research assistants salary in Trenton?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $37,960 a year and the 25th percentile is $41,600, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the social science research assistants take-home pay in Trenton?
About $52,693 a year ($4,391 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $65,440. New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
Do social science research assistants earn more in Trenton than elsewhere?
The average here is about the same as 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 Trenton-Princeton, NJ (45940). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 6.3%.
- 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 state income tax (2025 rules). New Jersey's employee unemployment, disability and family-leave contributions are not included.
- Job concentration: location quotient 0.64, this job is less common than in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.64).
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