Social Science Research Analyst Jobs
Social Science Research Analyst jobs are open from entry-level to senior across government agencies, nonprofits, healthcare, and research institutions, with specializations in policy analysis, program evaluation, and survey research. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a qualified Data Scientist I to join the Methodology and Quantitative Social Sciences department and support innovative research and analytics. The Data Scientist I works collaboratively with methodologists, researchers, statisticians, software developers, and subject matter experts throughout the research lifecycle, including study design, data collection, quality assessment, quantitative analysis, and dissemination of results. This role combines strong foundations in data management, research methodology, and computational social science to develop methodological and data science solutions that improve research, operational efficiency, and decision-making.
The Data Scientist I will contribute to projects involving structured and unstructured data, survey data, administrative records, commercial data, text data, and other novel data sources. Responsibilities may include developing data pipelines, implementing data management approaches, maintaining analytical workflows, conducting analysis and creating data visualizations, and assisting in the writing and dissemination of results. The ideal candidate possesses strong social science research and data expertise, written and communication skills, R programming expertise, experience building reproducible analytical workflows, and an interest in applying advanced methods to solve complex research and business problems. Data Scientists are expected to manage multiple assignments, contribute to projects and proposals, stay current with emerging analytic tools, and work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
Location: This is a hybrid role based in our Chicago Loop office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office.
Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.
The Methodology and Quantitative Social Sciences (MQSS) department implements state-of-the-art methodologies and develops innovations to deliver reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business and policy decisions for NORC clients. The department provides leadership throughout the project lifecycle on study design, data collection, assessment of data quality, quantitative analysis, and dissemination of results. The Methodological and Quantitative Social Sciences department also conducts its own research and is a leader in designing and implementing rigorous, efficient methods for gathering, evaluating, and analyzing data from primary and secondary sources. The department provides expertise and leads NORC strategy on the use of a broad range of methods and techniques, including research and experimental design, recruitment and retention, instrument design and testing, assessing data quality, evaluating measurement properties of new measures, causal inference methods, machine learning, analysis of clustered data, data visualization, use of novel data sources and technologies to improve data gathering, and building AI solutions that support NORC’s research. The department collaborates with the Statistics and Data Science Department on areas of synergy and intersection and with all NORC subject matter departments, in addition to leading its own projects.
- Apply computational and machine learning methods to support survey research, evaluation studies, and other social science research initiatives
- Contribute to and review the methodological/analytical sections of reports, tables/graphics, presentations, dashboards, and other deliverables
- Assist with proposal and business development activities related to methodological, analytic, and/or study design tasks.
- Establish reproducible, quality‑assured analytic workflows; implement version control (Git), environment management, peer code review, automated testing, and validation checks.
- Develop robust data pipelines that integrate, transform, and analyze structured and unstructured data from multiple sources to support research and operational objectives.
- Design and implement data products, dashboards, applications, and automated tools that enable data-driven decision making.
- Write and implement R programs to extract/manipulate data, link complex datasets, and execute machine learning and statistical analyses.
- Present research papers at professional conferences and submit articles for publication in journals.
- Work with relational databases, cloud platforms, and large-scale computing environments to manage and analyze complex datasets efficiently.
- Uphold data disclosure limitation and data privacy best practices.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor's degree in computational social science, data science, computer science or a related quantitative field with social science emphasis.
- At least 4 years of relevant experience (graduate research, internships, and applied professional experience may be considered).
- Demonstrated proficiency developing production-quality code in R.
- Strong foundation in areas of social science research, analytic methods, data engineering, machine learning, and scientific methods of inquiry.
- Must be detail-oriented and quality-focused, with demonstrated written and oral communication skills
- Strong interpersonal communication, analytic capability, technical writing, problem identification and resolution, and task management
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, effectively organize and manage time, including ability to set priorities to meet all project, proposal, and administrative needs in a timely fashion
- Experience developing software, data pipelines, or analytical applications.
- Experience conducting statistical analysis and machine learning using real-world datasets.
- Experience working with Git and collaborative development workflows.
- Enthusiasm for teamwork and collaboration across disciplinary boundaries.
Preferred Skills:
- Demonstrated experience programming in Python
- Experience analyzing survey, administrative, or other large-scale observational datasets, and/or working with longitudinal survey data.
- Experience with interactive data visualization and mapping libraries such as R Shiny, D3.js or other JavaScript data visualization libraries and HTML/CSS.
- Experience with large-scale data platforms such as Databricks, Spark, Hadoop, or Hive.
- Experience developing, evaluating, or deploying machine learning and AI solutions, including work with large language models, and cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
The pay range for this position is $90,000-$100,000.
This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:
Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment
Dental and vision insurance
A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program
Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance
Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
NORC is committed to equity and transparency in its pay practices. We publish salary ranges and benefit information for every job. The listed hiring range reflects what we, in good faith, expect to pay at the time of posting, though actual compensation may vary and may be adjusted over time. A candidate’s placement within the range depends on factors such as competencies, education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs.
NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.
For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.
NORC is an equal opportunity employer. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics.
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NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking a qualified Data Scientist I to join the Methodology and Quantitative Social Sciences department and support innovative research and analytics. The Data Scientist I works collaboratively with methodologists, researchers, statisticians, software developers, and subject matter experts throughout the research lifecycle, including study design, data collection, quality assessment, quantitative analysis, and dissemination of results. This role combines strong foundations in data management, research methodology, and computational social science to develop methodological and data science solutions that improve research, operational efficiency, and decision-making.
The Data Scientist I will contribute to projects involving structured and unstructured data, survey data, administrative records, commercial data, text data, and other novel data sources. Responsibilities may include developing data pipelines, implementing data management approaches, maintaining analytical workflows, conducting analysis and creating data visualizations, and assisting in the writing and dissemination of results. The ideal candidate possesses strong social science research and data expertise, written and communication skills, R programming expertise, experience building reproducible analytical workflows, and an interest in applying advanced methods to solve complex research and business problems. Data Scientists are expected to manage multiple assignments, contribute to projects and proposals, stay current with emerging analytic tools, and work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.
Location: This is a hybrid role based in our Chicago Loop office, with a minimum of six days per month in the office.
Qualified applicants must be eligible to work in the U.S. We regret that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position.
The Methodology and Quantitative Social Sciences (MQSS) department implements state-of-the-art methodologies and develops innovations to deliver reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business and policy decisions for NORC clients. The department provides leadership throughout the project lifecycle on study design, data collection, assessment of data quality, quantitative analysis, and dissemination of results. The Methodological and Quantitative Social Sciences department also conducts its own research and is a leader in designing and implementing rigorous, efficient methods for gathering, evaluating, and analyzing data from primary and secondary sources. The department provides expertise and leads NORC strategy on the use of a broad range of methods and techniques, including research and experimental design, recruitment and retention, instrument design and testing, assessing data quality, evaluating measurement properties of new measures, causal inference methods, machine learning, analysis of clustered data, data visualization, use of novel data sources and technologies to improve data gathering, and building AI solutions that support NORC’s research. The department collaborates with the Statistics and Data Science Department on areas of synergy and intersection and with all NORC subject matter departments, in addition to leading its own projects.
- Apply computational and machine learning methods to support survey research, evaluation studies, and other social science research initiatives
- Contribute to and review the methodological/analytical sections of reports, tables/graphics, presentations, dashboards, and other deliverables
- Assist with proposal and business development activities related to methodological, analytic, and/or study design tasks.
- Establish reproducible, quality‑assured analytic workflows; implement version control (Git), environment management, peer code review, automated testing, and validation checks.
- Develop robust data pipelines that integrate, transform, and analyze structured and unstructured data from multiple sources to support research and operational objectives.
- Design and implement data products, dashboards, applications, and automated tools that enable data-driven decision making.
- Write and implement R programs to extract/manipulate data, link complex datasets, and execute machine learning and statistical analyses.
- Present research papers at professional conferences and submit articles for publication in journals.
- Work with relational databases, cloud platforms, and large-scale computing environments to manage and analyze complex datasets efficiently.
- Uphold data disclosure limitation and data privacy best practices.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor's degree in computational social science, data science, computer science or a related quantitative field with social science emphasis.
- At least 4 years of relevant experience (graduate research, internships, and applied professional experience may be considered).
- Demonstrated proficiency developing production-quality code in R.
- Strong foundation in areas of social science research, analytic methods, data engineering, machine learning, and scientific methods of inquiry.
- Must be detail-oriented and quality-focused, with demonstrated written and oral communication skills
- Strong interpersonal communication, analytic capability, technical writing, problem identification and resolution, and task management
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, effectively organize and manage time, including ability to set priorities to meet all project, proposal, and administrative needs in a timely fashion
- Experience developing software, data pipelines, or analytical applications.
- Experience conducting statistical analysis and machine learning using real-world datasets.
- Experience working with Git and collaborative development workflows.
- Enthusiasm for teamwork and collaboration across disciplinary boundaries.
Preferred Skills:
- Demonstrated experience programming in Python
- Experience analyzing survey, administrative, or other large-scale observational datasets, and/or working with longitudinal survey data.
- Experience with interactive data visualization and mapping libraries such as R Shiny, D3.js or other JavaScript data visualization libraries and HTML/CSS.
- Experience with large-scale data platforms such as Databricks, Spark, Hadoop, or Hive.
- Experience developing, evaluating, or deploying machine learning and AI solutions, including work with large language models, and cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP).
The pay range for this position is $90,000-$100,000.
This position is classified as regular. Regular staff are eligible for NORC’s comprehensive benefits program. Benefits include, but are not limited to:
Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment
Dental and vision insurance
A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program
Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance
Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
NORC is committed to equity and transparency in its pay practices. We publish salary ranges and benefit information for every job. The listed hiring range reflects what we, in good faith, expect to pay at the time of posting, though actual compensation may vary and may be adjusted over time. A candidate’s placement within the range depends on factors such as competencies, education, qualifications, experience, skills, performance, and organizational needs.
NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, our teams have conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with us to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge.
For over 80 years, NORC has evolved in many ways, moving the needle with research methods, technical applications and groundbreaking research findings. But our tradition of excellence, passion for innovation, and commitment to collegiality have remained constant components of who we are as a brand, and who each of us is as a member of the NORC team. With world-class benefits, a business casual environment, and an emphasis on continuous learning, NORC is a place where people join for the stellar research and analysis work for which we’re known, and stay for the relationships they form with their colleagues who take pride in the impact their work is making on a global scale.
NORC is an equal opportunity employer. NORC evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, sexual orientation, and other legally protected characteristics.
#LI-MS1
Social Science Research Analyst Jobs by Experience Level
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Find JobsSocial Science Research Analyst Job Market
Who's Hiring
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in social science research analyst jobs.
- Bachelor's or master's degree in social science, public policy, or a related field
- Proficiency in statistical software such as SPSS, Stata, R, or Python
- Experience designing and conducting surveys, interviews, or focus groups
- Ability to analyze quantitative and qualitative data and interpret findings clearly
- Strong written communication skills for producing reports, briefs, and memos
- Familiarity with research ethics, IRB protocols, and human subjects protections
Tips for Your Social Science Research Analyst Job Search
Tailor your resume to methods
Social science research analyst postings screen heavily on methodology. Name the specific quantitative and qualitative methods you've used, such as regression modeling, content analysis, or focus group facilitation, rather than listing broad skills like 'data analysis' or 'research.'
Highlight software beyond the basics
Employers expect SPSS, Stata, or R, so listing them alone won't differentiate you. Call out less common tools you know, like ATLAS.ti for qualitative coding or GIS software for spatial analysis, since those appear in postings for specialized roles.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists social science research analyst openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by funding source
Federal grant-funded positions at universities or nonprofits often have fixed salary bands and hard start dates tied to grant cycles. If you want scheduling flexibility, prioritize postings at organizations with diversified funding rather than single-grant projects.
Prepare a writing sample before you search
Many social science research analyst applications require a writing sample at the screening stage, not after the interview. Have a polished policy brief, research memo, or report section ready so you can submit it the moment a posting requests one.
Ask about dissemination in your interview
Asking how research findings are used and shared signals genuine interest in impact. It also helps you assess whether you'll be doing independent analysis or producing work that gets shelved, which is a real distinction across employers in this field.
Social Science Research Analyst Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most social science research analysts?
The companies hiring the most social science research analysts right now include Stanford University, University of Houston, and Honda Research Institute USA, with the largest share of openings in California, Texas, and Ohio, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Federal agencies, research universities, and large nonprofits are consistently among the most active hirers in this field.
How many social science research analyst jobs are remote?
About 100% of social science research analyst openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting strong demand for flexible arrangements in this field. Roles focused on data analysis, policy writing, and literature review tend to be the most remote-eligible, while positions requiring in-person data collection, focus groups, or fieldwork are more likely to be on-site.
How do you become a social science research analyst?
Most social science research analyst roles require at least a bachelor's degree in a social science discipline such as sociology, psychology, political science, or economics, with a master's degree preferred for many positions. Building experience through research assistant roles, internships, or academic projects matters as much as the degree. Developing hands-on proficiency in statistical software, survey design, and report writing is essential before applying.
Can you get a social science research analyst job with little experience?
Entry-level social science research analyst positions do exist, particularly at nonprofits, government contractors, and research institutes that hire recent graduates for analyst or research associate roles. Strengthening your application with a capstone project, thesis, or volunteer research experience that demonstrates real methodology use will help. Roles titled 'research assistant' or 'junior analyst' are realistic starting points that can lead to full analyst positions within a couple of years.
What does the social science research analyst interview process look like?
The interview process typically starts with a phone or video screen focused on your research background and methods experience. A second round often involves a skills assessment, writing sample review, or a short task where you analyze a dataset or summarize findings from a brief. Final interviews usually include a panel with researchers or program staff who ask about past projects, your familiarity with their subject area, and how you communicate findings to non-technical audiences.
Where can I find and apply to social science research analyst jobs?
You can find and apply to social science research analyst jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your methods background, sector preference, and seniority level, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
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Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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