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Fellow salary
Average fellow salary
$66,364
Average Fellow Salary Overview
As of October 2025, the average Fellow salary is approximately $66,364 annually or $32 hourly. This role is prevalent in various fields, including academia and healthcare, where fellows often engage in research or specialized training. The salary can vary based on several factors, including experience, geographic location, and the specific industry.
Salary Variation by State
Fellows in states like California and New York typically earn higher wages compared to those in other regions. For instance, states with higher living costs generally offer salaries that reflect these expenses. Additionally, fellows in specialized fields such as medicine or engineering may command higher salaries due to the expertise required.
Job Opportunities for Fellows
Positions vary widely, with roles available in research institutions, universities, and healthcare organizations. Exploring fellowships that match your skills can enhance your career trajectory and improve your earning potential. To find the right opportunity, consider factors such as the institution's reputation, location, and the support provided for professional development.
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Where can a Fellow earn more?
Fellow salary estimates from across the web
Average fellow salary by state
The average fellow salary in Tennessee, Connecticut, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average fellow salary states are Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for fellows
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $78,492 | $37.74 |
| 2 | Maine | $77,590 | $37.30 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $71,549 | $34.40 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $94,634 | $45.50 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $81,389 | $39.13 |
| 6 | Arizona | $74,523 | $35.83 |
| 7 | Idaho | $74,239 | $35.69 |
| 8 | California | $79,879 | $38.40 |
| 9 | Delaware | $72,044 | $34.64 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $68,140 | $32.76 |
| 11 | New York | $70,101 | $33.70 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $68,438 | $32.90 |
| 13 | New Jersey | $77,138 | $37.09 |
| 14 | Illinois | $69,389 | $33.36 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $68,188 | $32.78 |
| 16 | Oregon | $65,977 | $31.72 |
| 17 | New Hampshire | $66,874 | $32.15 |
| 18 | Indiana | $73,104 | $35.15 |
| 19 | Maryland | $67,381 | $32.39 |
| 20 | Washington | $66,266 | $31.86 |
| 21 | West Virginia | $61,093 | $29.37 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $66,595 | $32.02 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $74,084 | $35.62 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $60,987 | $29.32 |
| 25 | Colorado | $61,043 | $29.35 |
| 26 | Michigan | $61,628 | $29.63 |
| 27 | Oklahoma | $60,395 | $29.04 |
| 28 | Ohio | $61,476 | $29.56 |
| 29 | Iowa | $57,314 | $27.55 |
| 30 | Vermont | $57,857 | $27.82 |
| 31 | Wyoming | $57,848 | $27.81 |
| 32 | Montana | $63,420 | $30.49 |
| 33 | Virginia | $61,082 | $29.37 |
| 34 | Alaska | $58,787 | $28.26 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $59,653 | $28.68 |
| 36 | North Carolina | $60,483 | $29.08 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $59,574 | $28.64 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $58,567 | $28.16 |
| 39 | Kansas | $54,926 | $26.41 |
| 40 | New Mexico | $55,058 | $26.47 |
| 41 | Florida | $57,890 | $27.83 |
| 42 | Georgia | $52,141 | $25.07 |
| 43 | Nevada | $57,623 | $27.70 |
| 44 | Alabama | $55,669 | $26.76 |
| 45 | Missouri | $57,476 | $27.63 |
| 46 | Texas | $54,543 | $26.22 |
| 47 | South Carolina | $51,229 | $24.63 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $44,690 | $21.49 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $51,954 | $24.98 |
| 50 | Utah | $49,175 | $23.64 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $45,551 | $21.90 |
Highest paying cities for fellows
The highest-paying cities for fellows are Oak Ridge, TN, San Francisco, CA, and Bridgeport, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Ridge, TN | $94,447 | $45.41 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $83,775 | $40.28 |
| 3 | Bridgeport, CT | $81,280 | $39.08 |
| 4 | Providence, RI | $78,493 | $37.74 |
| 5 | Portland, ME | $77,817 | $37.41 |
| 6 | Tucson, AZ | $74,334 | $35.74 |
| 7 | Indianapolis, IN | $73,144 | $35.17 |
| 8 | Boston, MA | $71,614 | $34.43 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $70,132 | $33.72 |
| 10 | Springfield, IL | $69,576 | $33.45 |
| 11 | Allentown, PA | $68,758 | $33.06 |
| 12 | Milwaukee, WI | $68,212 | $32.79 |
| 13 | Minneapolis, MN | $68,153 | $32.77 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $67,472 | $32.44 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $66,787 | $32.11 |
| 16 | Washington, DC | $66,635 | $32.04 |
| 17 | Portland, OR | $65,534 | $31.51 |
| 18 | Cleveland, OH | $61,790 | $29.71 |
| 19 | Detroit, MI | $61,704 | $29.67 |
| 20 | Springfield, VA | $61,457 | $29.55 |
Fellows are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Fellow salary details
A fellow's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $93,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a fellow's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $93,000 | $7,750 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| Average | $66,364 | $5,530 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
Highest paying fellow jobs
The highest paying types of fellows are medical science liaison, senior scientist, and scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public Affairs Internship | $31,924 | $2,660 | $15.35 | 57,898 |
| Laboratory Researcher | $27,760 | $2,313 | $13.35 | 57,359 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
| Policy Internship | $64,641 | $5,387 | $31.08 | 47,625 |
| Staff Scientist | $93,941 | $7,828 | $45.16 | 121,054 |
| PHD Researcher | $51,634 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 19,736 |
Which companies pay fellows the most?
Fellow salaries at Peterson Institute for International Economics and American Enterprise Institute are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average fellow salary at companies like Center for American Progress and CSIS are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peterson Institute for International Economics | $116,044 | $55.79 |
| 2 | American Enterprise Institute | $112,674 | $54.17 |
| 3 | Center for American Progress | $110,904 | $53.32 |
| 4 | CSIS | $107,030 | $51.46 |
| 5 | The Brookings Institution | $106,786 | $51.34 |
| 6 | Resources for the Future | $99,132 | $47.66 |
| 7 | Earthjustice | $98,977 | $47.59 |
| 8 | Icma-rc | $94,588 | $45.48 |
| 9 | Amd | $92,279 | $44.36 |
| 10 | Novartis | $92,120 | $44.29 |
| 11 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $91,416 | $43.95 |
| 12 | Eli Lilly and Company | $91,078 | $43.79 |
| 13 | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation | $90,841 | $43.67 |
| 14 | Schrödinger Inc | $89,014 | $42.80 |
| 15 | Biogen | $88,954 | $42.77 |
| 16 | Intel | $87,399 | $42.02 |
| 17 | Micron Technology | $87,031 | $41.84 |
| 18 | TechnoServe | $86,205 | $41.44 |
| 19 | East-West Center | $86,117 | $41.40 |
| 20 | Boston Public Schools | $85,925 | $41.31 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Fellow salary by industry
The average fellow salary varies across industries:
- The average fellow salary in the professional industry is $67,978, the highest of any industry.
- The average fellow salary in the finance industry is $67,430.
- Fellows in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $62,652, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for fellows
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Professional | $67,978 | $32.68 |
| 2 | Health Care | $67,430 | $32.42 |
| 3 | Education | $64,526 | $31.02 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $62,652 | $30.12 |
High paying fellow jobs
Fellow salary trends
The average fellow salary has risen by $11,153 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average fellow earned $55,211 annually, but today, they earn $66,364 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for fellows over the last decade.
Compare fellow salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average fellow salary over time
Compare fellow salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Fellow salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $66,400 | $31.91 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $64,400 | $30.96 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $61,500 | $29.57 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $59,500 | $28.62 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $58,400 | $28.08 | -2.1% |
Recently added fellow salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sutterhealth | Psychology Fellow | San Francisco, CA | 06/30/2025 | $72,002 |
| Wake Forest University | Development Fellow, Annual Giving, Department of Athletics | Winston-Salem, NC | 06/30/2025 | $50,000 |
| University of Wisconsin Madison | Gi/Liver Pathology Fellow | Madison, WI | 06/30/2025 | $54,445 |
| Methodist Healthcare Ministries of S. Tx | Policy Fellow | San Antonio, TX | 06/29/2025 | $58,656 |
| University of Colorado | APP Fellow (NP or PA), Lowry Internal Medicine | Aurora, CO | 06/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| Fort Lewis College | Center of Southwest Studies Fellow | Durango, CO | 06/28/2025 | $40,000 |
| Carbon Health | Urgent Care Fellow | Federal Way, WA | 06/28/2025 | $104,350 |
| Gulfshore Life | Fall 2025 Editorial Fellowship | Bonita Springs, FL | 06/28/2025 | $29,218 |
| Kansas State University | Fellow (Post DOC) | Manhattan, KS | 06/27/2025 | $47,486 |
| Hillel International | Springboard Ezra Fellow at North Carolina State Hillel | Raleigh, NC | 06/27/2025 | $46,000 |
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