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Behavioral Science Researcher Jobs in Washington, DC

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Behavioral Science Researcher information

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$34K

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How much do behavioral science researcher jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for behavioral science researcher in Washington, DC is $128,099.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $75,900.00 and $174,400.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a behavioral science researcher do?

A Behavioral Science Researcher studies how people think, feel, and behave by using methods from psychology, sociology, and related fields. They design and conduct experiments or surveys, analyze data, and interpret findings to understand human behavior. Their work can inform policies, improve products or services, and address social issues. Behavioral Science Researchers often work in academic, government, healthcare, or corporate settings and collaborate with professionals from various disciplines.

What are some common challenges behavioral science researchers face when conducting field studies, and how can they address them?

Behavioral Science Researchers often encounter challenges such as participant recruitment, ensuring data validity, and controlling for external variables in field settings. Building rapport with communities and clearly communicating the study's purpose can help with recruitment. To maintain data quality, researchers should establish rigorous protocols and use validated measurement tools. Collaborating closely with interdisciplinary teams and local stakeholders can also help anticipate and mitigate logistical and ethical challenges.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a behavioral science researcher, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Behavioral Science Researcher, you need expertise in research design, statistical analysis, and a solid background in psychology or related fields, often supported by an advanced degree. Familiarity with statistical software like SPSS, R, or Python, as well as experience with survey tools and data collection platforms, is typically required. Strong critical thinking, communication skills, and attention to detail help researchers interpret findings and collaborate effectively. These competencies are essential for generating valid insights, ensuring rigorous research, and translating behavioral data into actionable recommendations.

What can I do with a behavioral science researcher degree?

A behavioral science researcher degree prepares individuals for roles in academia, government, or private sectors, focusing on analyzing human behavior to inform policy, marketing, or product development. Common positions include research analyst, data scientist, or behavioral consultant, often requiring skills in data analysis, experimental design, and statistical tools like SPSS or R.

What are popular job titles related to Behavioral Science Researcher jobs in Washington, DC?

For Behavioral Science Researcher jobs in Washington, DC, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Behavioral Science Researcher jobs in Washington, DC look for?

The top searched job categories for Behavioral Science Researcher jobs in Washington, DC are:

NIST PREP Research Associate in Applied Economics

Southeastern Universities Research Association

Gaithersburg, MD • On-site

$75K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 4 days ago


Job description

This position is part of the National Institute of Standards (NIST) Professional Research Experience (PREP) program. NIST recognizes that its research staff may wish to collaborate with researchers at academic institutions on specific projects of mutual interest, thus requires that such institutions must be the recipient of a PREP award. The PREP program requires staff from a wide range of backgrounds to work on scientific research in many areas. Employees in this position will perform technical work that underpins the scientific research of the collaboration. This position requires US Citizenship.
The position will collaborate with NIST researchers and NIST's external collaborators in a variety of topics relevant to their work including social scientists, engineers, and scientists - connecting economics to fundamental research, multi-disciplinary analysis, and decision support tools related to activities across a range of research topic areas, building and infrastructure, circular economy, resilience, and decision science.
The position is in the Applied Economics Office (AEO), a part of the Engineering Laboratory (EL) at NIST, provides economic products and services through research and consulting to industry and government agencies in support of productivity enhancement, economic growth, and international competitiveness, with a focus on improving the life-cycle quality and economy of constructed facilities and manufacturing processes that support social and economic functions. The AEO is integrated within EL's major research thrusts: energy conservation, community resilience planning, manufacturing, fire, smart grid, building construction, and safety. The AEO delivers high quality research and tool development that informs and assists stakeholders in their decision-making processes.
The work will entail:
Key responsibilities could include, but are not limited to, leading the following activities:
  • Analyzing data
  • Reviewing relevant literature
  • Assist in Designing data collection instruments
  • Writing reports and research articles
  • Assist in Publishing within refereed journals and technical research series
  • Communicating research at professional conferences

Qualifications
  • US Citizen
  • A master's in economics, Social Science, Psychology, Policy, or related field.
  • Background in econometrics or statistics and at least two of the following areas:
    • Applied microeconomics
    • Decision-science or behavioral-science
    • Environmental economics
    • Environmental studies
    • Geography
    • Non-market valuation
    • Policy
    • Psychology
    • Regional studies or planning
    • Regional Economics
    • Risk and uncertainty
    • Social Science
    • Sociology
  • Strong oral and written communication skills.
  • Logical thinking and Problem solving
  • Patience and Attention to detail
  • Excellent writing and communication skills

Privacy Act StatementAuthority: 15 U.S.C. § 278g-1(e)(1) and (e)(3) and 15 U.S.C. § 272(b) and (c)
Purpose: The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) hosts the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) which is designed to provide valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to undergraduates, post-bachelor's degree holders, graduate students, master's degree holders, postdocs, and faculty.
PREP is a 5-year cooperative agreement between NIST laboratories and participating PREP Universities to establish a collaborative research relationship between NIST and U.S. institutions of higher education in the following disciplines including (but may not be limited to) biochemistry, biological sciences, chemistry, computer science, engineering, electronics, materials science, mathematics, nanoscale science, neutron science, physical science, physics, and statistics. This collection of information is needed to facilitate administrative functions of the PREP Program.
Routine Uses: NIST will use the information collected to perform the requisite reviews of the applications to determine eligibility, and to meet programmatic requirements. Disclosure of this information is also subject to all the published routine uses as identified in the Privacy Act System of Records Notices: NIST-1: NIST Associates.
Disclosure: Furnishing this information is voluntary. When you submit the form, you are indicating your voluntary consent for NIST to use of the information you submit for the purpose stated.
SURA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that no one should be discriminated against because of their differences, such as age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, religion, or sexual orientation. All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status, or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.
PREP0004224