Subgroup (213) - 2026-Q1
The workforce of Researchers and Social Scientists during first quarter of 2026 was 477k people, whose salary averaged $11.3k MX working around 38 hours per week.
The average age of Researchers and Social Scientists was 42.5 years. The workforce was distributed in 57% men with an average salary of $12.9k MX and, 43% women with average salary of $9.1k MX.
The best average salaries received by Researchers and Social Scientists were in Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ($16.5k MX), Estado de México ($16.2k MX), and Sonora ($15.4k MX) while the workforce was larger in Estado de México (111k), Ciudad de México (83.2k), and Jalisco (30.3k).
In terms of industries, the best average salaries were in Repair and Maintenance of Automobiles and Trucks ($50k MX), Beauty Salons and Clinics, Public Baths and Washrooms, and Shoeshine Shops ($30.7k MX), and Retail Trade of Automobiles and Pickup Trucks ($30k MX), while the workforce was concentrated on Legal Services (590k), General Public Administration (8.59%), and Regulation and Promotion of Economic Developmen (7.69%).
37.1% of the total informal workers correspond to women with an average salary of $8.58k MX and 62.9% to men with an average salary of $8.85k MX.
At the level of states, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave had the highest percentage of informal workers with 54.1% corresponding to 6.47k from 12k workers, while the state with the lowest percentage of informal workers was Tamaulipas with a 7.78% corresponding to 468 from 6.02k workers.
At first quarter of 2026, the people who worked as Researchers and Social Scientists were 477k being a 8.51% higher than the fourth quarter of 2025. (440k).
In the same period, an average salary of $11.3k MX was observed, registering an increase of 26.2%, compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 ($8.93k MX).
The states with the highest number of Researchers and Social Scientists during the first quarter of 2026 were Estado de México (111k), Ciudad de México (83.2k), and Jalisco (30.3k)
Comparing the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2026, the main positive variations occurred in Estado de México and Michoacán de Ocampo with an increase of 11.7k (11.8%) and 9.69k (96.6%), respectively. On the other hand, the negative variations were accentuated in San Luis Potosí and Tamaulipas with a decrease of 2.01k (25.2%) and 1.75k (22.5%), respectively.
The states with the best average salaries for Researchers and Social Scientists during first quarter of 2026 were Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave ($16.5k MX), Estado de México ($16.2k MX), and Sonora ($15.4k MX)
Comparing the first quarter of 2021 and the first quarter of 2026, the positive salary growth was higher in Estado de México and Michoacán de Ocampo with an increase of $11.1k MX (213%) and $10.1k MX (247%), respectively. Por otro lado, las variaciones salariales negativas se acentuaron en Coahuila de Zaragoza and Tlaxcala with a decrease of $8.24k MX (44.5%) and $7.08k MX (67%), respectively.
Average Age 2026-Q1
At first quarter of 2026, the male workforce in Researchers and Social Scientists represented the 57% of the employed population and women 43%. The male and female workforce was higher in the age group 35 to 44 years (85.5k men and 68.3k women).
The highest average salary was $16.9k MX received by men from 45 to 54 years, while the lowest average salary was $5.4k MX received by women from 55 to 64 years.
* The data regarding salaries have low statistical precision so it should not be used as conclusions.
Average Schooling in Years (2026-Q1)
During the first quarter of 2026, male and female workforce in Researchers and Social Scientists was concentrated in the educational segment with 16 to 18 years of schooling (254k men and 193k women).
The highest average salary was $13.3k MX received by men with 16 to 18 years of schooling, while the lowest average salary was $9.11k MX received by women with 16 to 18 years of schooling.
* The data regarding salaries have low statistical precision so it should not be used as conclusions.
The visualization shows the distribution of Researchers and Social Scientists in different industries and economic sectors.
At first quarter of 2026, the workforce was higher in Legal Services (65.7%), General Public Administration (8.59%), and Regulation and Promotion of Economic Developmen (7.69%).
In the same period, the best average salaries were received in Repair and Maintenance of Automobiles and Trucks ($50k MX), Beauty Salons and Clinics, Public Baths and Washrooms, and Shoeshine Shops ($30.7k MX), and Retail Trade of Automobiles and Pickup Trucks ($30k MX).
Labor Informality 2026-Q1
During the first quarter of 2026, the labor informality of Researchers and Social Scientists reached a 21.1%, which implied a decrease from 4.99 percentage points compared to the fourth quarter of 2025 (26.1%).
The labor informality of this occupation was lower than informality at the country level in 33.7 percentage points during the first quarter of 2026.
Greater Labor Informality: 54.1%, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave
Less Labor Informality: 7.78 %, Tamaulipas
At first quarter of 2026, the states with the highest rate of labor informality in Researchers and Social Scientists were Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (54.1%), Tlaxcala (48%), and Oaxaca (44.8%).
The states with the lowest informality rate were Jalisco (11.3%), Ciudad de México (8.84%), and Tamaulipas (7.78%).
The workforce of Researchers and Social Scientists during the first quarter of 2026 was higher in the age group with 35 to 44 years concentrating 154k workers of which 77.5% corresponds to formal employment (119k) and 22.5% to informal employment (34.6k).
Regarding the schooling years, the workforce was higher in the range with 16 to 18 years of schooling concentrating 447k workers of which 79.6% corresponds to formal employment (356k) and 20.4% corresponds to informal employment (90.9k).