Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities — Average Employee Salary
The average employee in the research and development in the social sciences and humanities industry earns $91,844 per year ($44.16/hour), according to Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW data.
What Do Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities Workers Earn?
At $91,844/year (equivalent to $44.16/hour for a full-time worker), research and development in the social sciences and humanities wages are significantly above the national average of ~$65,000.
Higher wages in this industry typically reflect specialized skills, professional certifications, or technical expertise required for the work. Employers competing for talent in this space face elevated labor costs.
The typical research and development in the social sciences and humanities business employs 11 people. These are mid-sized operations where payroll is a significant but manageable expense.
Wages as a Percentage of Revenue
For the average research and development in the social sciences and humanities business generating $4.0M/year with 11 employees at $91,844 each, total payroll represents roughly 25.4% of revenue. Labor costs are relatively low compared to revenue — other costs (materials, equipment, overhead) dominate.
What This Means for Business Owners
If you're starting or running a research and development in the social sciences and humanitiesbusiness, here's what the wage data means for your bottom line:
- Per-employee cost: Budget approximately $119,397/year per employee (salary + ~30% for benefits, taxes, and insurance).
- Typical team size: 11 employees = ~$1,010,284/year in base payroll.
- Hourly equivalent: $44.16/hour base — factor this into pricing and project estimates.
- Revenue needed: With average revenue of $4.0M/business, you need strong utilization rates to maintain healthy margins after payroll.
See how these wages compare to total revenue and profit margins.
View full Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities revenue benchmarks →Frequently Asked Questions
- How much do research and development in the social sciences and humanities employees make?
- The average research and development in the social sciences and humanities employee earns $91,844 per year, which is equivalent to $44.16/hour for a full-time worker (2,080 hours/year). This is above the national average of approximately $65,000.
- How many people work in the research and development in the social sciences and humanities industry?
- The research and development in the social sciences and humanities industry employs 68,231 workers across 6,081 establishments in the United States. The average business in this industry has approximately 11 employees.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW 2023).