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Graduate research student salary
Average graduate research student salary
$16.66
Understanding Graduate Research Student Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Graduate Research Student stands at $34,658 per year. Factors influencing this figure include geographical location, field of study, and years of experience. For instance, students in high-demand areas or specialized fields may earn significantly more.
Salary Variations by State
In states like California and New York, salaries can exceed the national average, reflecting the higher cost of living and demand for research roles. Conversely, students in states with lower living costs may see lower salary figures.
Opportunities for Advancement
Graduate Research Students play a vital role in academic research, gaining hands-on experience that can lead to lucrative career paths in academia or industry. The skills developed in this position are highly valued, paving the way for future job opportunities.
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Where can a Graduate Research Student earn more?
Average graduate research student salary by state
The highest-paying states for graduate research students are Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Maryland. The lowest average graduate research student salary states are Georgia, Iowa, and Florida.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for graduate research students
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pennsylvania | $48,842 | $23.48 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $46,911 | $22.55 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $43,402 | $20.87 |
| 4 | Maine | $42,775 | $20.56 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $43,399 | $20.86 |
| 6 | Michigan | $39,037 | $18.77 |
| 7 | Indiana | $40,381 | $19.41 |
| 8 | Wisconsin | $41,548 | $19.98 |
| 9 | Ohio | $38,409 | $18.47 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $35,392 | $17.02 |
| 11 | Maryland | $46,087 | $22.16 |
| 12 | Illinois | $36,825 | $17.70 |
| 13 | New Hampshire | $35,561 | $17.10 |
| 14 | Delaware | $36,299 | $17.45 |
| 15 | Oregon | $34,589 | $16.63 |
| 16 | Colorado | $34,839 | $16.75 |
| 17 | California | $36,092 | $17.35 |
| 18 | Vermont | $33,134 | $15.93 |
| 19 | New York | $39,612 | $19.04 |
| 20 | Texas | $36,927 | $17.75 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $32,327 | $15.54 |
| 22 | Minnesota | $33,234 | $15.98 |
| 23 | Idaho | $35,026 | $16.84 |
| 24 | Hawaii | $37,111 | $17.84 |
| 25 | West Virginia | $32,544 | $15.65 |
| 26 | Alabama | $35,280 | $16.96 |
| 27 | Virginia | $34,356 | $16.52 |
| 28 | Alaska | $32,030 | $15.40 |
| 29 | Kansas | $32,662 | $15.70 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $31,634 | $15.21 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $35,491 | $17.06 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $28,639 | $13.77 |
| 33 | Mississippi | $32,627 | $15.69 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $29,178 | $14.03 |
| 35 | Montana | $29,991 | $14.42 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $29,759 | $14.31 |
| 37 | Washington | $32,076 | $15.42 |
| 38 | Nevada | $32,129 | $15.45 |
| 39 | Arizona | $29,697 | $14.28 |
| 40 | Missouri | $28,888 | $13.89 |
| 41 | Louisiana | $31,199 | $15.00 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $29,169 | $14.02 |
| 43 | Iowa | $27,893 | $13.41 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $26,349 | $12.67 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $30,027 | $14.44 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | $28,363 | $13.64 |
| 47 | Kentucky | $28,236 | $13.57 |
| 48 | Utah | $26,053 | $12.53 |
| 49 | Florida | $27,011 | $12.99 |
| 50 | Georgia | $28,036 | $13.48 |
| 51 | Arkansas | $26,168 | $12.58 |
Highest paying cities for graduate research students
The highest-paying cities for graduate research students are Boston, MA, Edison, NJ, and Appleton, WI.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $46,801 | $22.50 |
| 2 | Edison, NJ | $43,449 | $20.89 |
| 3 | Appleton, WI | $41,781 | $20.09 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $40,213 | $19.33 |
| 5 | Detroit, MI | $39,380 | $18.93 |
| 6 | Sunnyvale, CA | $37,526 | $18.04 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $37,174 | $17.87 |
| 8 | Austin, TX | $37,095 | $17.83 |
| 9 | Arlington, VA | $35,829 | $17.23 |
| 10 | Huntsville, AL | $35,421 | $17.03 |
| 11 | Providence, RI | $35,341 | $16.99 |
| 12 | Colorado Springs, CO | $35,103 | $16.88 |
| 13 | Albany, OR | $34,903 | $16.78 |
| 14 | Jackson, MS | $32,715 | $15.73 |
| 15 | Lawrence, KS | $32,608 | $15.68 |
| 16 | Kirkland, WA | $32,086 | $15.43 |
| 17 | Fairbanks, AK | $30,997 | $14.90 |
| 18 | Chapel Hill, NC | $30,184 | $14.51 |
| 19 | Jackson, TN | $28,881 | $13.89 |
| 20 | Cedar Rapids, IA | $28,598 | $13.75 |
Graduate research student salary details
A graduate research student's salary ranges from $19,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $60,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a graduate research student's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $60,000 | $5,000 | $29 |
| 75th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
| Average | $34,658 | $2,888 | $17 |
| 25th Percentile | $25,000 | $2,083 | $12 |
| 10th Percentile | $19,000 | $1,583 | $9 |
Highest paying graduate research student jobs
The highest paying types of graduate research students are research scientist, researcher, and assistant research scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $57,587 | $4,799 | $27.69 | 18,983 |
| Laboratory Internship | $35,305 | $2,942 | $16.97 | 90,970 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Research Internship | $39,573 | $3,298 | $19.03 | 95,123 |
| Research Technician | $43,034 | $3,586 | $20.69 | 64,786 |
Top companies hiring graduate research students now:
Which companies pay graduate research students the most?
Graduate research student salaries at Capgemini and ConocoPhillips are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average graduate research student salary at companies like Google and Los Alamos National Laboratory are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Capgemini | $92,862 | $44.65 |
| 2 | ConocoPhillips | $88,947 | $42.76 |
| 3 | $88,716 | $42.65 | |
| 4 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $70,379 | $33.84 |
| 5 | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | $58,728 | $28.23 |
| 6 | Abbott | $52,223 | $25.11 |
| 7 | Cleveland Clinic | $43,990 | $21.15 |
| 8 | PSEA | $42,893 | $20.62 |
| 9 | Henry Ford Health System | $41,805 | $20.10 |
| 10 | UES | $40,909 | $19.67 |
| 11 | Fred Hutch | $39,719 | $19.10 |
| 12 | Lifespan | $39,711 | $19.09 |
| 13 | Legacy Health | $39,352 | $18.92 |
| 14 | Maverick Transportation | $38,230 | $18.38 |
| 15 | UCLA | $35,519 | $17.08 |
| 16 | The University of Kansas Health System | $35,518 | $17.08 |
| 17 | Randstad North America, Inc. | $34,924 | $16.79 |
| 18 | Selmet | $34,271 | $16.48 |
| 19 | CIA Inc | $33,748 | $16.23 |
| 20 | Broken Hill Proprietary | $33,748 | $16.23 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Graduate research student salary trends
The average graduate research student salary has risen by $5,652 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average graduate research student earned $29,006 annually, but today, they earn $34,658 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for graduate research students over the last decade.
Compare graduate research student salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average graduate research student salary over time
Compare graduate research student salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Graduate research student salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $34,700 | $16.66 | +2.0% |
| 2024 | $34,000 | $16.33 | +7.8% |
| 2023 | $31,300 | $15.05 | +3.7% |
| 2022 | $30,100 | $14.49 | -5.5% |
| 2021 | $31,800 | $15.29 | +10.0% |
Recently added graduate research student salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google LLC | Student Researcher | Mountain View, CA | 03/13/2025 | $141,000 |
| Nova | Neurology, Psychology Graduate Students WHO Want To Change Lives | Reston, VA | 02/16/2025 | $39,653 |
| University of Portland | Undergraduate Research Student (Summer, NIH Grant) | Portland, OR | 05/21/2024 | $33,914 |
| Microsoft Corporation | [Microsoft Federal] Account Management: University Students and Recent Graduates | Arlington, VA | 12/02/2023 | $86,100 |
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