Social Science Research Assistants H-1B Salaries (2026)
DOL occupation 19-4061 · common titles: Research Associate, Research Assistant, Policy Analyst, Clinical Research Coordinator
Short answer
The median H-1B salary for social science research assistants is $66,624 in FY2026 so far, across 259 certified filings. The middle half earn $58,573 – $81,224, and pay is up 4% since FY2024.
Median
$66,624
FY2026 so far
Filings
259
0.1% of all H-1B filings
Top 10%
$93,680+
90th percentile
Change since FY2024
+4%
$63,852 → $66,624
FY2026 so far · number of filings by salary
Salary distribution
Darker bars hold the middle 50% of filings. Bars are $20k wide; the first and last bars include everything below and above.
DOL prevailing-wage level
Median pay by experience level
Median salary and number of filings at each wage level.
FY2026 so far
By state
| State | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 43 | $72,100 |
| New York | 36 | $67,518 |
| California | 30 | $78,228 |
| Texas | 19 | $60,000 |
| Illinois | 17 | $61,000 |
| New Jersey | 14 | $66,695 |
| Virginia | 11 | $62,011 |
FY2026 so far
Top employers for this job
| Employer | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|
| The Sphere Institute | 22 | $85,000 |
| Texas A&M University | 7 | $60,000 |
| Center for Strategic and International Studies | 6 | $74,360 |
| The Trustees of Princeton University | 6 | $66,624 |
| Michigan State University | 5 | $60,631 |
| Atlantic Council of the United States Inc. | 5 | $63,253 |
| Research Foundation of CUNY | 4 | $74,364 |
| Johns Hopkins University | 4 | $75,667 |
| Apprise Incorporated | 4 | $70,114 |
| The University of Alabama at Birmingham | 4 | $60,274 |
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Social Science Research Assistants H-1B salary questions
What is the average H-1B salary for social science research assistants?
The median is $66,624 across 259 certified H-1B filings in FY2026 so far. The middle half earn $58,573 to $81,224, and the top 10% earn $93,680 or more.
Which state pays H-1B social science research assistants the most?
Among the 10 states with the most filings, California has the highest median at $78,228 (30 filings).
Which company sponsors the most H-1B social science research assistants?
The Sphere Institute, with 22 certified filings in FY2026 so far at a median of $85,000.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification LCA disclosure data, decisions through Jun 30, 2026. Salaries are annualized base wages from the filing and exclude bonus and stock. A certified LCA is not an approved H-1B petition. Updated Oct 4, 2026.