Graduate Research Assistant Salary By State: Highest-Paid Graduate Research Assistants by State [2026]
Research Summary. After comprehensive analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the current salary information for graduate research assistants across the United States:
-
Pennsylvania boasts the highest average graduate research assistant salary at $43,852.
-
Arkansas offers the lowest average salary for graduate research assistants at $26,634.
-
The national average salary for graduate research assistants is $34,230.
-
The national hourly wage for graduate research assistants is $16.46.
You can learn more about our specific methodology.
Background
Salary remains the most critical factor for job seekers across various demographics, with many asking: how much do graduate research assistants earn in my area?
While individual salaries can vary based on numerous factors, solid data exists for average graduate research assistant salaries by state, segmented by seniority level. Although your city’s average may differ from the state average, these figures provide a useful benchmark for salary expectations.
As of 2026, Pennsylvania leads the pack as the state with the highest salary for graduate research assistants.
Here’s a quick overview of the top ten states for graduate research assistant salaries:
Let’s delve into the data and present a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Graduate Research Assistants By State
| Rank | State | Average Graduate Research Assistant Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $43,852 | $28,000 | $68,000 |
| 2 | New York | $43,651 | $28,000 | $67,000 |
| 3 | Hawaii | $42,624 | $32,000 | $55,000 |
| 4 | Maryland | $41,878 | $26,000 | $66,000 |
| 5 | Massachusetts | $41,516 | $28,000 | $60,000 |
| 6 | Wisconsin | $39,959 | $28,000 | $56,000 |
| 7 | Indiana | $39,592 | $26,000 | $59,000 |
| 8 | Maine | $38,909 | $29,000 | $51,000 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $38,701 | $25,000 | $59,000 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $38,539 | $25,000 | $58,000 |
| 11 | Idaho | $37,173 | $27,000 | $49,000 |
| 12 | Colorado | $36,587 | $25,000 | $52,000 |
| 13 | Illinois | $35,972 | $24,000 | $52,000 |
| 14 | Ohio | $35,868 | $23,000 | $54,000 |
| 15 | Michigan | $35,736 | $24,000 | $52,000 |
| 16 | California | $35,376 | $22,000 | $54,000 |
| 17 | Washington | $33,872 | $25,000 | $44,000 |
| 18 | Kansas | $33,710 | $22,000 | $49,000 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $33,118 | $24,000 | $45,000 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $32,845 | $24,000 | $44,000 |
| 21 | Delaware | $32,719 | $20,000 | $51,000 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $32,703 | $20,000 | $52,000 |
| 23 | New Mexico | $32,617 | $21,000 | $50,000 |
| 24 | Utah | $32,305 | $22,000 | $45,000 |
| 25 | Alaska | $32,233 | $27,000 | $37,000 |
| 26 | Virginia | $32,186 | $19,000 | $51,000 |
| 27 | Nevada | $32,050 | $21,000 | $47,000 |
| 28 | Montana | $31,977 | $24,000 | $41,000 |
| 29 | New Hampshire | $31,634 | $22,000 | $44,000 |
| 30 | Rhode Island | $31,305 | $21,000 | $46,000 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $30,893 | $18,000 | $51,000 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $30,629 | $19,000 | $48,000 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $30,551 | $18,000 | $49,000 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $30,431 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 35 | Oregon | $30,389 | $22,000 | $41,000 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $30,239 | $23,000 | $39,000 |
| 37 | Vermont | $30,074 | $22,000 | $40,000 |
| 38 | Arizona | $29,983 | $19,000 | $46,000 |
| 39 | Tennessee | $29,735 | $19,000 | $46,000 |
| 40 | Missouri | $29,635 | $19,000 | $44,000 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $28,949 | $18,000 | $44,000 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $28,777 | $17,000 | $46,000 |
| 43 | Georgia | $28,539 | $17,000 | $45,000 |
| 44 | Iowa | $28,522 | $19,000 | $40,000 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $28,271 | $18,000 | $43,000 |
| 46 | Alabama | $27,593 | $17,000 | $44,000 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $27,520 | $19,000 | $39,000 |
| 48 | Texas | $26,970 | $16,000 | $44,000 |
| 49 | Florida | $26,845 | $15,000 | $46,000 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $26,634 | $17,000 | $41,000 |
Methodology: Graduate Research Assistant Salary By State
To analyze graduate research assistant pay by state, Zippia has gathered data from various sources, including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. We enhance this data with actual salary listings from job postings. The data science team then calculates a weighted average of these inputs to determine the average pay for graduate research assistants by state.
We ranked each state based on the average annual salary for graduate research assistants derived from these estimates, with the highest salary ranking as the top state for graduate research assistants.
Graduate Research Assistant Salary By State FAQs
-
What is the highest-paid state for graduate research assistants?
The highest-paid state for graduate research assistants is Pennsylvania with an average salary of $43,852 per year.
-
What city pays graduate research assistants the most?
New York, NY offers the highest pay for graduate research assistants, with an average salary of $43,939 per year.
-
What is the lowest-paid state for graduate research assistants?
The lowest-paid state for graduate research assistants is Arkansas with an average salary of $26,634 per year.
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
