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Graduate research assistant salary
Average graduate research assistant salary
$16.46
Understanding Graduate Research Assistant Salaries
The average salary for Graduate Research Assistants stands at around $34,230 per year. This figure represents a crucial entry point for many students entering research-focused roles in academic settings. Salaries can differ significantly based on geographic location, with states like California and New York typically offering higher pay due to the higher cost of living.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience level also plays a vital role in salary determination. Graduate Research Assistants with more years of experience or those working in specialized fields may command higher wages. Additionally, the specific institution and funding sources contribute to salary variations. For instance, research positions funded by grants or private foundations may offer more competitive salaries compared to those funded by university budgets.
Job Prospects
As research roles continue to expand in various sectors, including technology and healthcare, the demand for skilled Graduate Research Assistants is expected to grow. This trend opens doors for recent graduates looking to build their careers. Gaining hands-on experience as a Graduate Research Assistant can not only enhance academic knowledge but also provide networking opportunities that are invaluable in the job market.
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Where can a Graduate Research Assistant earn more?
Graduate research assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average graduate research assistant salary by state
The average graduate research assistant salary in Pennsylvania, New York, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average graduate research assistant salary states are Kentucky, Alabama, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for graduate research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York | $43,651 | $20.99 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $41,516 | $19.96 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $43,852 | $21.08 |
| 4 | Maryland | $41,878 | $20.13 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $38,701 | $18.61 |
| 6 | Colorado | $36,587 | $17.59 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $38,539 | $18.53 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $39,959 | $19.21 |
| 9 | Maine | $38,909 | $18.71 |
| 10 | Michigan | $35,736 | $17.18 |
| 11 | Illinois | $35,972 | $17.29 |
| 12 | Indiana | $39,592 | $19.03 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $42,624 | $20.49 |
| 14 | Ohio | $35,868 | $17.24 |
| 15 | Idaho | $37,173 | $17.87 |
| 16 | New Mexico | $32,617 | $15.68 |
| 17 | Washington | $33,872 | $16.28 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $33,118 | $15.92 |
| 19 | South Dakota | $32,845 | $15.79 |
| 20 | Utah | $32,305 | $15.53 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $31,305 | $15.05 |
| 22 | California | $35,376 | $17.01 |
| 23 | Kansas | $33,710 | $16.21 |
| 24 | Alaska | $32,233 | $15.50 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $30,629 | $14.73 |
| 26 | Delaware | $32,719 | $15.73 |
| 27 | Mississippi | $32,703 | $15.72 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $31,634 | $15.21 |
| 29 | District of Columbia | $32,423 | $15.59 |
| 30 | Virginia | $32,186 | $15.47 |
| 31 | Tennessee | $29,735 | $14.30 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $30,431 | $14.63 |
| 33 | Oregon | $30,389 | $14.61 |
| 34 | Vermont | $30,074 | $14.46 |
| 35 | Montana | $31,977 | $15.37 |
| 36 | Nevada | $32,050 | $15.41 |
| 37 | Arizona | $29,983 | $14.41 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $30,893 | $14.85 |
| 39 | North Dakota | $30,239 | $14.54 |
| 40 | Missouri | $29,635 | $14.25 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $27,520 | $13.23 |
| 42 | South Carolina | $30,551 | $14.69 |
| 43 | North Carolina | $28,777 | $13.84 |
| 44 | Oklahoma | $28,949 | $13.92 |
| 45 | Florida | $26,845 | $12.91 |
| 46 | Iowa | $28,522 | $13.71 |
| 47 | Texas | $26,970 | $12.97 |
| 48 | Georgia | $28,539 | $13.72 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $28,271 | $13.59 |
| 50 | Alabama | $27,593 | $13.27 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $26,634 | $12.80 |
Highest paying cities for graduate research assistants
The highest-paying cities for graduate research assistants are New York, NY, Bridgewater, MA, and Bethesda, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | $43,939 | $21.12 |
| 2 | Bridgewater, MA | $41,964 | $20.18 |
| 3 | Bethesda, MD | $41,824 | $20.11 |
| 4 | West Lafayette, IN | $39,644 | $19.06 |
| 5 | Denver, CO | $36,595 | $17.59 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $36,152 | $17.38 |
| 7 | Orange, CA | $35,335 | $16.99 |
| 8 | Lawrence, KS | $33,714 | $16.21 |
| 9 | Washington, DC | $32,454 | $15.60 |
| 10 | Anchorage, AK | $32,347 | $15.55 |
| 11 | Salt Lake City, UT | $32,203 | $15.48 |
| 12 | Reno, NV | $32,136 | $15.45 |
| 13 | Richmond, VA | $32,096 | $15.43 |
| 14 | Portland, OR | $30,201 | $14.52 |
| 15 | Richmond, KY | $28,382 | $13.65 |
| 16 | Laredo, TX | $26,928 | $12.95 |
Graduate Research Assistants are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Graduate research assistant salary details
A graduate research assistant's salary ranges from $22,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $52,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a graduate research assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
| 75th Percentile | $43,000 | $3,583 | $21 |
| Average | $34,230 | $2,853 | $16 |
| 25th Percentile | $27,000 | $2,250 | $13 |
| 10th Percentile | $22,000 | $1,833 | $11 |
Highest paying graduate research assistant jobs
The highest paying types of graduate research assistants are research engineer, research scientist, and research assistant professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Graduate Internship | $52,511 | $4,376 | $25.25 | 48,962 |
| Research Engineer | $96,945 | $8,079 | $46.61 | 136,763 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
| Graduate Researcher | $32,346 | $2,696 | $15.55 | 17,313 |
| Graduate Research Student | $34,658 | $2,888 | $16.66 | 58,921 |
Top companies hiring graduate research assistants now:
Which companies pay graduate research assistants the most?
Graduate research assistant salaries at Los Alamos National Laboratory and MDRC are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average graduate research assistant salary at companies like Massachusetts General Hospital and MCPHS University - Boston are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $67,051 | $32.24 |
| 2 | MDRC | $61,541 | $29.59 |
| 3 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $55,753 | $26.80 |
| 4 | MCPHS University - Boston | $53,143 | $25.55 |
| 5 | Bridgewater State University | $51,421 | $24.72 |
| 6 | University of Nevada, Reno | $49,690 | $23.89 |
| 7 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $49,253 | $23.68 |
| 8 | PSEA | $36,992 | $17.78 |
| 9 | University of the Pacific | $36,200 | $17.40 |
| 10 | Chapman University | $34,485 | $16.58 |
| 11 | The University of Kansas Health System | $34,387 | $16.53 |
| 12 | University of Georgia Small Business Development Center | $33,812 | $16.26 |
| 13 | NORC at the University of Chicago | $33,612 | $16.16 |
| 14 | Children's National Medical Center | $33,475 | $16.09 |
| 15 | Partners Healthcare Solutions Inc | $33,362 | $16.04 |
| 16 | Virginia Commonwealth University | $32,826 | $15.78 |
| 17 | UTRGV - The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | $32,522 | $15.64 |
| 18 | Texas A&M International University | $31,879 | $15.33 |
| 19 | University of Alaska | $31,232 | $15.02 |
| 20 | Metropolitan State University of Denver | $30,661 | $14.74 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Graduate research assistant salary trends
The average graduate research assistant salary has risen by $5,583 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average graduate research assistant earned $28,647 annually, but today, they earn $34,230 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for graduate research assistants over the last decade.
Compare graduate research assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average graduate research assistant salary over time
Compare graduate research assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Graduate research assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $34,200 | $16.46 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | $33,500 | $16.13 | +7.8% |
| 2024 | $30,900 | $14.86 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $29,800 | $14.32 | -5.5% |
| 2022 | $31,400 | $15.10 | +10.0% |
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