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Job outlook for social sciences research scientists in the United States
Social sciences research scientist job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected social sciences research scientist job growth rate is 17% from 2018-2028.
About 20,800 new jobs for social sciences research scientists are projected over the next decade.
Social sciences research scientist salaries have increased 13% for social sciences research scientists in the last 5 years.
There are over 4,239 social sciences research scientists currently employed in the United States.
There are 113,592 active social sciences research scientist job openings in the US.
The average social sciences research scientist salary is $71,977.
Are social sciences research scientist jobs in demand?
Social sciences research scientist job and salary trends over time
Social sciences research scientist jobs over time
Social sciences research scientist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4,239 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 4,268 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 4,159 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 4,387 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 4,382 | 0.00% |
Average social sciences research scientist salary over time
Social sciences research scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $71,977 | $34.60 | +4.7% |
| 2025 | $68,735 | $33.05 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $67,094 | $32.26 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $65,469 | $31.48 | +3.1% |
| 2022 | $63,531 | $30.54 | +0.8% |
Social sciences research scientist jobs by state
Most common states for social sciences research scientists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | 961,939 | 295 | 31% |
| 2 | Vermont | 623,657 | 194 | 31% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 1,779 | 29% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 240 | 28% |
| 5 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 368 | 27% |
| 6 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 251 | 24% |
| 7 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,878 | 22% |
| 8 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 1,261 | 22% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 166 | 22% |
| 10 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 126 | 22% |
| 11 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 888 | 21% |
| 12 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 287 | 21% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 220 | 21% |
| 14 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 606 | 20% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 695 | 19% |
| 16 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 387 | 19% |
| 17 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,641 | 18% |
| 18 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 1,000 | 18% |
| 19 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 341 | 18% |
| 20 | Idaho | 1,716,943 | 284 | 17% |
Most common cities for social sciences research scientists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newark | 1 | 3% | $80,836 |
Social Sciences Research Scientist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of social sciences research scientist experts
SUNY Stony Brook
Washburn University of Topeka
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Washington State University
University of Pittsburgh
Albion College
Eastern Oregon University
University of Maryland Baltimore County
Vanguard University of Southern California
Caldwell University
Tiffin University
Boise State University
What will help Social Sciences Research Scientists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Vitaly Citovsky: Multi-prong advice: try to get a higher degree, look for jobs that you enjoy (e.g., research, patient care) rather than chase the money.
Susan Bjerke
Associate Professor of BiologyWashburn University of Topeka
Biological And Physical Sciences
What Social Sciences Research Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Susan Bjerke: Maximizing your salary is important, but don’t forget that jobs can come with other benefits that may compensate for a lower starting salary. For instance, maybe you get to work out in the field instead of being tied to a desk all day. Maybe you have the opportunity to work from home some of the time. Some employers offer matches for retirement plans or discounted health insurance for spouses. Negotiating for the best salary you can makes sense, but also look into those intangibles!
What general advice would you give to a Social Sciences Research Scientist?
Dr. Melanie Wilcox Ph.D., ABPP: There are some exciting new career pathways for Experimental Psychologists as technology continues to shift the world of work; for example, User Experience (UX) research is a great potential career pathway for Experimental Psychologists.
What will help Social Sciences Research Scientists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Melanie Wilcox Ph.D., ABPP: This is more difficult to answer as it highly depends on the person! What matters most in career choice is whether the chosen occupation is a good fit for your interests, skills, values, and priorities. If you enjoy research, consider yourself to be a data-driven and curious person, and like to engage in work that benefits people, organizations, and/or society, Experimental Psychology could be a great fit. If you prefer to help people more directly such as through psychological services, then Clinical, Counseling, or School psychology may be a better fit; Experimental Psychology is solely a research-focused path.
What general advice would you give to a Social Sciences Research Scientist?
Jacob Nordman: Salary potential in my field of neuroscience almost always involves publications, awards, and technical acumen. Therefore, as I mentioned, it is important to start early looking for opportunities that can strengthen these areas. Another important aspect of getting high-profile, and thus high-paying, positions, is being able to tell a story with your research and career. Employers want to see that you have thought deeply and strategically about your career and where it’s going. This will allow them to believe you are a safe bet and worthy of their investment.
What will help Social Sciences Research Scientists increase their earning potential?
Lindsey du Toit: Take every opportunity you can to learn, network, and build an effective team of people that bring a greater breadth and depth of skills and expertise to the work on which you will be focusing. Cultivate a life-long sense of intellectual curiosity and learning. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Treat ignorance as an opportunity to learn. Questions demonstrate you want to understand the situation/problem effectively and that you are paying attention. Always demonstrate integrity in your work. It is one of the most valuable traits you can bring to your career. Be kind and supportive of your colleagues.
What will help Social Sciences Research Scientists increase their earning potential?
Arjumand Ghazi Ph. D: Having an advanced degree such as a PhD and even a few years postdoc is a good way to start at a higher level. It often allows one to make up for the reduced earnings during the training periods while increasing long-term earnings.
What general advice would you give to a Social Sciences Research Scientist?
Dr. Andrea Francis: Social scientists often like that they can use objective methods to help individuals by informing systemic change. On the other hand, this is often a slow process that requires attention to detail and persistence. In some cases individuals may not see the impact of their work for many years.
What Social Sciences Research Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Andrea Francis: Overall, students who get a degree in a social science field, such as psychology, anthropology, sociology, or political science become experts at understanding motivation in different contexts. At Albion, we want our social science graduates to be well-versed in data interpretation as well as written and oral presentation skills, all of which are critical skills that employers want to see from new college graduates. The combination of understanding how to evaluate data as well as a understanding both individual motives and the systems in which individuals make those decisions makes students with social science degrees uniquely qualified to work on and solve problems in any domain that involves individuals and social systems. For example, some students in psychology go on to obtain social work masters degrees while others go on to analyze large datasets for educational or business groups. Thus, depending on the nature of the system, a social scientist may be asked to work with clients, students, or constituents on an individual basis, collect or analyze data, conduct program evaluations, or even create new marketing strategies.
What will help Social Sciences Research Scientists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Andrea Francis: Understanding how to extract, interpret, and communicate meaning from large amounts of data about human behavior is increasingly important as this data becomes easier to collect through digital technologies. Social scientists are essential because they can help others make sense of data and then use that data to help communities, businesses, and other systems make objective research-based improvements to the system.
What general advice would you give to a Social Sciences Research Scientist?
Aaron Thornburg: The route to maximizing your salary potential in Social Science careers, or any other type of career, is in gaining the concrete skills and experience in the practice of the particular career position for which you are applying. Want to be an Archaeologist? Then, try to get real-life archaeological work experience (https://shovelbums.org/index.php/2015-02-23-16-25-08/current-jobs). Want to work in museums and heritage? Then, apply for a (paid) internship in the field (https://americananthro.org/learn-teach/louise-lamphere-internship/). Want to work in academic publishing? Then, get applied skills in proofreading/editing by working for your school's undergraduate research publication (https://www.eou.edu/scijou/). Nothing is more attractive to an employer than a candidate who already has experience in the role that they would be taking on.
Dr. Eric Stokan
Assistant Professor of Political ScienceUniversity of Maryland Baltimore County
Department of Political Science
What hard/technical skills are most important for Social Sciences Research Scientists?
Dr. Eric Stokan: There are many hard/technical skills that one can learn in the pursuit of a political science degree that is valued in the market. However, some of these skills will be dependent on the position they seek. Nonetheless, I believe all students would benefit from developing research skills and taking a formal course on research design and methods. This includes both quantitative and qualitative design. It helps to structure a logical way to answer questions. While this may seem disjointed from certain types of occupations, I would suggest that it provides a broader intellectual framework for thinking through the answer to many types of questions.
Increasingly, data literacy is a critical component of any information-age job. From interpreting data expressed numerically, visually in bar charts and line graphs, or explained in narrative form, students would be well served to work on developing these skills. Research design is a compliment here because it also provides a framework for not simply accepting data as they are but also questioning the validity and generalizability of the data toward different situations.
The future of decision-making requires a greater need for tools and data availability, whether they enter the public, non-profit, or private sectors. Students would be well served to develop their quantitative and programming skills if they opt to go into a research-oriented role. From traditional statistical models to advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning, these skills are going to be increasingly important.
We don't tend to think about ethical analysis as a hard or technical skill, but the realm of machine learning and artificial intelligence opens up new questions centered on moral and ethical questions that those across sectors are going to grapple with. Policy analysis, for example, tends to couple the technical program evaluation skills with an ethical analysis component.
What skills will help Social Sciences Research Scientists earn the most?
Dr. Eric Stokan: Without a doubt, the soft skills and hard/technical skills identified above are among the most important skills that will lead students to earn the most. There are many pathways to earn more depending on the particular sector and position that one is seeking.
Additionally, there are some skills that I might consider as the connective tissue between soft and hard skills that will be increasingly valuable going forward.
One skill that is hard to instill but many employers will acknowledge as important is developing a general conscientiousness. I believe this can be achieved by really taking time to think things through and begin to anticipate what it is that an employer, negotiation partner, politician, or others may need. Fostering this initiative while working independently is a key dimension of this conscientiousness that needs to be honed. Being able to stop and think through relevant questions can be far more important than having the right answer. I think conscientiousness can be fostered by taking the time to work on one's empathy and engage in what Cal Newport calls Deep Work. This leads to my next suggestion.
In Cal Newport's book Deep Work, he calls attention to the fact that increasingly individuals have difficulty concentrating and focusing at length on tasks. Our brains, according to Newport, are literally being rewired through the advent of non-stop texts, group chats, social media scrolling, email checking, and other forms of constant distraction. From his vantage point, and I believe he is right, employers will be challenged to find individuals who can engage in "deep work." This means working through a task without distraction and focusing deeply on it. Many will be good at jumping right in and doing a job quickly, but few will step back and really think about the most efficient way to accomplish the goal or whether we are driving toward the wrong goal or answering the wrong question. Few will take the time to focus on a task at a depth needed in the information age. One can overcome these deleterious effects by limiting distractions for extended periods of time and retraining the brain for this type of work. Meditation is also conducive to focusing the mind in this way.
Finally, those students who are inquisitive, think critically, and, as we say at the University of Maryland Baltimore County- show true GRIT/are persistent in their endeavors to answer questions will have a winning combination of characteristics to excel in any domain.
What soft skills should all Social Sciences Research Scientists possess?
Dr. Eric Stokan: There are many soft skills that political science students should learn as they transition from student to professional. Whether the student opts to run a political campaign, join a think tank, hold political office, serve as a lobbyist, join the private sector, or seek employment elsewhere, a set of soft skills will prove important in this transition. First, one should never underestimate the importance of active listening. Often when individuals explain details or simply mention their names, we are thinking about what we will say next or focused on ourselves in some way. It's critical that we understand our clients, negotiating partners, politicians, or other actors with whom we choose to work. Before being able to communicate effectively, this is key. Of course, written and verbal communication are central components of any of these jobs. Failure to convey one's ideas properly through these mediums may translate into fewer job interviews, stagnant employment prospects, and/or ineffectiveness while employed. Often times we treat empathy and directness as opposing forces; however, I believe this is a false dichotomy. In any of these roles, as in any aspect of life where individuals will hold different perspectives and ideas about how to proceed, empathy can be a critical tool for ensuring effectiveness in one's job. Whether that is empathy toward a colleague who needs assistance or toward a boss with whom you disagree, truly taking the time to consider their perspectives will set one apart as they proceed. This does not mean that one should cower or be a "yes person" to the boss. I believe directness is to be valued as a soft skill; however, and borrowing from Dr. Brene Brown, one should have a soft front and a strong back. Thus, students should work on simultaneously being direct and empathetic.
Inherent in the development of empathy and emotional intelligence is self-awareness and consideration of one's own values and judgments, as well as the biases that may lead to such a perception.
Kristen Lashua
Chair, Department of History and Political Science, Associate Professor of HistoryVanguard University of Southern California
Department of History and Political Science
What soft skills should all Social Sciences Research Scientists possess?
Kristen Lashua: Soft skills that stand out for social science majors are critical thinking and problem-solving. Their studies have focused on how and why people think and act the way they do, whether on the individual level (psychology and history) or in groups (sociology, political science, anthropology, and history). They are therefore well-suited for positions that require working with people and keeping organizational health strong.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Social Sciences Research Scientists?
Kristen Lashua: Social science majors have a number of hard skills, including research, analysis (often, this includes quantitative and qualitative analysis), and written and oral communication.
What skills will help Social Sciences Research Scientists earn the most?
Kristen Lashua: We have recently been emphasizing quantitative analysis as it is in increasing demand among a variety of fields. Really, though, I believe that critical thinking, research, and analysis are the key skills here. It prepares our majors for success no matter what field they choose, whether it be education, law, business, government work, or more.
Sara Tedrick Parikh Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Faculty, Psychology and CounselingCaldwell University
School of Psychology and Counseling
What skills stand out on Social Sciences Research Scientist resumes?
Sara Tedrick Parikh Ph.D.: -Part of what sets Social Scientists apart is our ability to take in, process, analyze, apply, and act on new information. Highlight ways that you have used these skills in class, especially any service-learning experiences or in internships and jobs.
-Social Scientists are trained to understand, predict, and interact with other people, and every business in the world involves interacting with people!
-Many social scientists have work experience as babysitters, camp counselors, tutors, or resident assistants. These jobs use many communication, empathy, and management skills that could be relevant to jobs such as case managers or group home assistants. To really capitalize on these widely applicable experiences, tailor your resume for each job you apply for. Identify key skills by carefully analyzing the job ad and looking up descriptions of similar positions, then think carefully about how your paid and unpaid experiences have prepared you for the position.
-Remember that your resume is used to get you the interview, where you can talk in more detail about skills and experiences relevant to the job. Do not feel pressured to fit everything relevant into the resume, but have someone else read the resume and job ad side-by-side to see if you have clearly made your case.
What hard/technical skills are most important for Social Sciences Research Scientists?
Sara Tedrick Parikh Ph.D.: -Companies are often looking for entry-level employees to bring knowledge of technology. Most organizations expect a strong working knowledge of Microsoft suites (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint) and appreciate familiarity with graphic design, web design and editing, video, and podcast editing, and social media presence.
-Research and assessment are so essential to Social Scientists that it's easy for me to forget it's not universal. We understand how to break down and analyze a problem in ways that most other fields do not. Even being able to thoughtfully build and interpret internal employee surveys may be highly prized by your employer, especially if you work outside of a typical Social Science field. Being able to work with Institutional Review Boards, select empirically validated scales, and do descriptive and interpretive data analysis might make you the local rock star or even open up job opportunities in high-paying industries.
What skills will help Social Sciences Research Scientists earn the most?
Sara Tedrick Parikh Ph.D.: -Technology skills, including web and social media skills, give you the edge of being the "fixer" in the organization, which can help you negotiate raises and promotions.
-Employees who can effectively balance seeking out information for themselves with seeking support as needed are more likely to advance. I've heard managers complain that, compared to previous cohorts, new graduates were less skilled at developing their own processes and were more likely to ask for templates or examples for basic tasks. To help students build these skills at "figuring it out," I build my courses with detailed support and templates when students first start, then more general instructions as they build experience.
-Research skills can help you qualify for positions outside traditional social science areas.
-Blending social science with natural sciences, such as getting a minor in neuroscience or a double major in psychology and biology, can open high-paying career paths.
-Two of the best skills for high earnings (or any other job requirement, such as flexible work hours or desirable location) are open-mindedness and investigation while applying for jobs. Talk to a few dozen people about your interests and skills, and ask them what kind of roles your interests remind them of in their field. Use loose ties, like your old roommate's aunty, that professor in another field, or that person your old supervisor said they could put you in touch with. Remember, everyone with a job was once on the market, and most people are extremely willing to help you understand your options and perhaps even put you in touch with someone. Be sure to thank people for their time, both at the end of the conversation and in a follow-up email (or a hand-written note if you want to get fancy). Shakespeare's Hamlet said, "There are more things in heaven and Earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy," and the same is true of career opportunities.
Sami Mejri Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Science, Assistant Dean, Graduate ProgramsTiffin University
School of Arts & Sciences
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for Social Sciences Research Scientists to find work opportunities?
Sami Mejri Ph.D.: With the rising cost of living, a college graduate's ideal first job may not be in their home state or favorite vacation town. According to Business Insider, MidWestern cities like Columbus-Ohio, Cincinnati-Ohio, Madison-Wisconsin, Milwaukee-Wisconsin, and Indianapolis-Indiana were some of the best geographical areas to live for college graduates. The cost of living in these Midwestern states remains relatively lower than coastal areas, making these locations ideal for college graduates entering the workforce. However, college graduates with degrees in healthcare, computer science, and data analytics may not be limited to these geographical areas, given employers' incentives to these in-demand jobs.
What general advice would you give to a Social Sciences Research Scientist?
Dr. Arthur Scarritt: Skills at understanding interpersonal relations, how people engage and relate to each other, will only become more and more important. These are the truly robot-proof skills. As Large Language Models - LLM or what people are calling AI - may make mechanistic jobs like coding increasingly obsolete, the human element is only going to become more central and important. This is true for developing such tools as well as for how society decides to use them - the processes behind deciding how these will enhance and take away from our wellbeing. But beyond issues of AI, engaging the intersection of human interaction and knowledge, how to successfully navigate and act creatively amidst the constant barrage of information will prove increasingly invaluable. Issues central to society, business, and government will all need people with skills at critically managing and processing large amounts of information, including skills in how to work in complex and highly diverse organizations.
What Social Sciences Research Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Arthur Scarritt: Follow your passions! More and more research indicates that doing what we like doing makes us much more successful in our lives and careers. This includes issues of mental health, where students giving up what they want to do for what they think they should do causes great distress. In contrast, people pursuing what they are truly interested in generates wellbeing in all aspects of life. While people think they are giving up their passions for need of income, research increasingly demonstrates that pursuing passions is also much more economically stable.
What will help Social Sciences Research Scientists increase their earning potential?
Dr. Arthur Scarritt: Again, the key is to follow your passions. The social sciences provide you with the core skills for a huge variety of fields. At the center of this is the skill of learning how to learn. The keys are to engage in processes of continuous learning, and of successfully illustrating your knowledge and understanding to others. Even the most specialized fields requires new employees to continuously learn on the job and to engage meaningfully and substantively with others. When we like what we do, we are eager to keep learning and to think through emerging successful strategies.