What does a Social Science Research Assistants salary really buy you in Texas?
Texas is 2.5% cheaper than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Texas's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 97.5, meaning prices are 2.5% lower the national average. A Social Science Research Assistants earning $55,430 in Texas has the equivalent purchasing power of $56,851 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Texas's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $36,590 | $37,528 | +$938 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $43,380 | $44,492 | +$1,112 |
| Median (P50) | $55,430 | $56,851 | +$1,421 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $67,070 | $68,789 | +$1,719 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $102,970 | $105,610 | +$2,640 |
Texas's cost of living is close to the national average, so $55,430 keeps most of its value at $56,851 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Social Science Research Assistants salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Texas ranks #14 out of 39 states for Social Science Research Assistants after cost-of-living adjustment.
Some links are affiliate links. See our disclosure.
A Social Science Research Assistants in Texas earns a median salary of $55,430 per year. After adjusting for Texas's cost of living (RPP=97.5), the real purchasing power is $56,851 — a +2.6% difference.
Texas's cost of living is 2.5% lower than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Texas is 97.5 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Social Science Research Assistants in Texas: $55,430 x (100 / 97.5) = $56,851. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.
From a purchasing power perspective, yes. A Social Science Research Assistants in Texas enjoys 2.6% more buying power than the nominal salary suggests, because living costs are below the national average. However, other factors like job availability, career growth, and quality of life also matter.