What do they do?

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.

Also known as:

Clinical Research Assistant, Data Analyst, Graduate Assistant, Graduate Research Assistant, Research Aide, Research Assistant, Research Associate, Research Scientist, Research Technician, Social Research Assistant

Typical Wages

Projected Growth Rate

Employment of Social Science Research Assistants is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, more slowly than average compared to all occupations.

Projected Employment For All United States

No Data Available
  • 4.7%

    Change

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    4,400

    Job Openings

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Education Level

Percent of workers in this field with these degrees:

  • Bachelor's degree  (35%)
  • Some college, no degree  (20%)
  • High school diploma equivalent  (14%)
  • Associate's degree  (14%)
  • Master's degree  (11%)
  • Less than high school diploma  (4%)
  • Doctorate or Professional Degree  (3%)

Typical College Majors

Most Popular Majors that prepare Social Science Research Assistants

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People in this career often have these skills:

  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
  • Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

People in this career often know a lot about:

  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

People in this career often have talent in:

  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
  • Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

People in this career often do these activities:

  • Develop software or applications for scientific or technical use.
  • Collect information from people through observation, interviews, or surveys.
  • Administer standardized physical or psychological tests.
  • Prepare scientific or technical reports or presentations.
  • Conduct research on social issues.
  • Record research or operational data.
  • Plan social sciences research.
  • Develop technical or scientific databases.
  • Prepare information or documentation related to legal or regulatory matters.
  • Manage scientific or technical project resources.
  • Collect archival data.
  • Develop methods of social or economic research.
  • Supervise scientific or technical personnel.
  • Confer with clients to exchange information.
  • Collect biological specimens.

This page includes data from:

O*NET OnLine Career data: O*NET 28.3 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

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Logo Occupation statistics: USDOL U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment Statistics

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