Research Summary. Following thorough analysis by the Zippia data science team, we present the updated findings on research associate salaries across the United States for 2026:
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Massachusetts continues to lead with the highest research associate salary at $71,991
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Oklahoma remains the state with the lowest research associate salary at $40,614
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The national average salary for research associates is now $60,166
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The national hourly wage for research associates stands at $28.93
For more detailed insights, refer to our specific methodology.
Background
Consistently, salary ranks as the most crucial factor for job seekers across various demographics. The question persists: how much do research associates earn in my area?
While individual salaries may vary based on various factors, comprehensive data reveals average salaries for research associates categorized by state and seniority level. Although your specific location may reflect slight deviations from state averages, these figures provide a valuable overview of expected compensation.
As previously noted, Massachusetts tops the list for research associate salaries.
Here’s a brief overview of the top ten states with the highest salaries for research associates:
Let’s delve into the data and provide a complete ranking of all states.
Highest-Paid Research Associates By State
| Rank | State | Average Research Associate Salary | 10th Percentile | 90th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $71,991 | $50,000 | $102,000 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $69,731 | $47,000 | $101,000 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $68,933 | $47,000 | $99,000 |
| 4 | Delaware | $65,974 | $45,000 | $96,000 |
| 5 | Alaska | $64,145 | $53,000 | $77,000 |
| 6 | New Mexico | $63,145 | $42,000 | $93,000 |
| 7 | Georgia | $61,926 | $42,000 | $90,000 |
| 8 | Illinois | $61,086 | $41,000 | $90,000 |
| 9 | California | $60,536 | $39,000 | $93,000 |
| 10 | New York | $60,060 | $41,000 | $87,000 |
| 11 | Oregon | $59,457 | $39,000 | $89,000 |
| 12 | Rhode Island | $58,703 | $40,000 | $84,000 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $57,606 | $39,000 | $84,000 |
| 14 | Maryland | $57,545 | $39,000 | $84,000 |
| 15 | South Carolina | $57,255 | $39,000 | $83,000 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $56,675 | $39,000 | $80,000 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $56,461 | $38,000 | $82,000 |
| 18 | Hawaii | $56,419 | $32,000 | $97,000 |
| 19 | Idaho | $56,334 | $38,000 | $81,000 |
| 20 | Minnesota | $56,190 | $37,000 | $83,000 |
| 21 | Florida | $55,934 | $38,000 | $80,000 |
| 22 | Kentucky | $55,230 | $37,000 | $81,000 |
| 23 | West Virginia | $54,910 | $37,000 | $81,000 |
| 24 | Washington | $53,804 | $36,000 | $80,000 |
| 25 | Virginia | $53,766 | $36,000 | $78,000 |
| 26 | Louisiana | $52,632 | $35,000 | $77,000 |
| 27 | Arizona | $52,510 | $34,000 | $79,000 |
| 28 | Maine | $52,248 | $37,000 | $73,000 |
| 29 | Colorado | $52,194 | $36,000 | $75,000 |
| 30 | Nevada | $52,002 | $34,000 | $78,000 |
| 31 | Ohio | $50,974 | $34,000 | $75,000 |
| 32 | Indiana | $50,850 | $34,000 | $75,000 |
| 33 | Michigan | $50,397 | $33,000 | $74,000 |
| 34 | Missouri | $50,372 | $34,000 | $73,000 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $49,889 | $33,000 | $74,000 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $49,777 | $34,000 | $72,000 |
| 37 | Utah | $48,658 | $33,000 | $70,000 |
| 38 | Vermont | $48,512 | $34,000 | $68,000 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $48,021 | $32,000 | $70,000 |
| 40 | North Dakota | $47,755 | $32,000 | $69,000 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $47,067 | $32,000 | $68,000 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $46,504 | $32,000 | $66,000 |
| 43 | Tennessee | $46,488 | $31,000 | $68,000 |
| 44 | Kansas | $45,420 | $31,000 | $66,000 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $43,355 | $29,000 | $63,000 |
| 46 | Iowa | $43,022 | $29,000 | $63,000 |
| 47 | Texas | $41,885 | $28,000 | $62,000 |
| 48 | Alabama | $41,883 | $28,000 | $61,000 |
| 49 | Montana | $41,781 | $29,000 | $59,000 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $40,614 | $27,000 | $59,000 |
Methodology: Research Associate Salary By State
To accurately assess research associate compensation by state, Zippia has compiled data from various reputable sources including the BLS, FLC, and OPM. This data is enhanced with real-time salary listings from job advertisements. Our data science team then computes a weighted average from these inputs to establish average salaries for research associates across states.
We ranked the states based on their average annual salary data for research associates, identifying the state with the highest salary as the leader in compensation for this profession.
Research Associate Salary By State FAQs
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What is the highest-paid state for research associates?
The highest-paid state for research associates is Massachusetts, with an average salary of $71,991 per year.
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What city pays research associates the most?
Worcester, MA offers the highest pay for research associates, averaging $72,205 annually.
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What is the lowest-paying state for research associates?
The lowest-paying state for research associates is Oklahoma, with an average salary of $40,614 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.
