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Post doctoral researcher salary
Average post doctoral researcher salary
$50,995
Understanding Postdoctoral Researcher Salaries
The average salary for a postdoctoral researcher in the United States is around $50,995 per year. This figure can fluctuate significantly depending on various factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific field of research. For instance, postdoctoral researchers in high-demand fields such as biomedical sciences may earn more than those in other disciplines.
Factors Influencing Salaries
In addition to field specialization, the institution type also plays a crucial role. Research positions at prestigious universities or private research institutions tend to offer higher salaries compared to smaller colleges or non-profit organizations. Moreover, geographical regions with a higher cost of living, such as California or New York, typically provide more competitive compensation for postdoctoral researchers.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Postdoctoral positions serve as a vital step for many researchers aiming to secure tenure-track faculty positions or leading roles in industry. They offer a unique opportunity to develop research skills, publish findings, and build professional networks, which can significantly enhance future job prospects.
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Where can a Post Doctoral Researcher earn more?
Average post doctoral researcher salary by state
The average post doctoral researcher salary in California, Hawaii, and Connecticut are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average post doctoral researcher salary states are Utah, South Carolina, and West Virginia.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for post doctoral researchers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $80,602 | $38.75 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $69,608 | $33.47 |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $60,287 | $28.98 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $62,661 | $30.13 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $59,742 | $28.72 |
| 6 | Washington | $54,305 | $26.11 |
| 7 | Oregon | $54,772 | $26.33 |
| 8 | Tennessee | $54,764 | $26.33 |
| 9 | Maine | $57,744 | $27.76 |
| 10 | Alaska | $59,768 | $28.73 |
| 11 | Arizona | $60,484 | $29.08 |
| 12 | New York | $54,012 | $25.97 |
| 13 | Indiana | $58,951 | $28.34 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $73,000 | $35.10 |
| 15 | Nevada | $60,685 | $29.18 |
| 16 | Colorado | $51,619 | $24.82 |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | $50,044 | $24.06 |
| 18 | Delaware | $51,076 | $24.56 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $47,768 | $22.97 |
| 20 | Maryland | $49,805 | $23.94 |
| 21 | Montana | $49,853 | $23.97 |
| 22 | Wyoming | $50,801 | $24.42 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $46,643 | $22.42 |
| 24 | Illinois | $48,236 | $23.19 |
| 25 | Michigan | $47,891 | $23.02 |
| 26 | Vermont | $47,903 | $23.03 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $47,313 | $22.75 |
| 28 | Idaho | $46,763 | $22.48 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $43,018 | $20.68 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $45,832 | $22.03 |
| 31 | Virginia | $44,926 | $21.60 |
| 32 | New Hampshire | $46,430 | $22.32 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $41,741 | $20.07 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $43,043 | $20.69 |
| 35 | Missouri | $40,095 | $19.28 |
| 36 | Oklahoma | $44,198 | $21.25 |
| 37 | Iowa | $41,463 | $19.93 |
| 38 | Ohio | $42,471 | $20.42 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $43,223 | $20.78 |
| 40 | Texas | $41,178 | $19.80 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $38,372 | $18.45 |
| 42 | West Virginia | $33,869 | $16.28 |
| 43 | Florida | $40,578 | $19.51 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $40,386 | $19.42 |
| 45 | Utah | $35,825 | $17.22 |
| 46 | Kansas | $40,424 | $19.43 |
| 47 | Alabama | $39,120 | $18.81 |
| 48 | Georgia | $32,633 | $15.69 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $32,026 | $15.40 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $32,817 | $15.78 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $34,101 | $16.39 |
Highest paying cities for post doctoral researchers
The highest-paying cities for post doctoral researchers are Palo Alto, CA, Hoboken, NJ, and Falmouth, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto, CA | $85,410 | $41.06 |
| 2 | Hoboken, NJ | $63,309 | $30.44 |
| 3 | Falmouth, MA | $60,748 | $29.21 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $58,740 | $28.24 |
| 5 | Albany, NY | $55,631 | $26.75 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $54,880 | $26.38 |
| 7 | Knoxville, TN | $53,803 | $25.87 |
| 8 | Newark, DE | $51,114 | $24.57 |
| 9 | Laramie, WY | $50,624 | $24.34 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $50,369 | $24.22 |
| 11 | Baltimore, MD | $50,130 | $24.10 |
| 12 | Detroit, MI | $48,023 | $23.09 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $47,310 | $22.75 |
| 14 | Richmond, VA | $44,764 | $21.52 |
| 15 | Akron, OH | $43,283 | $20.81 |
| 16 | Las Cruces, NM | $43,129 | $20.74 |
| 17 | Raleigh, NC | $41,800 | $20.10 |
| 18 | Austin, TX | $41,204 | $19.81 |
| 19 | Tampa, FL | $41,064 | $19.74 |
| 20 | Kansas City, MO | $40,544 | $19.49 |
Post doctoral researcher salary details
A post doctoral researcher's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $76,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a post doctoral researcher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $76,000 | $6,333 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $50,995 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 25th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying post doctoral researcher jobs
The highest paying types of post doctoral researchers are senior scientist, scientist, and staff scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Staff Scientist | $93,941 | $7,828 | $45.16 | 121,054 |
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
| Chemist | $64,961 | $5,413 | $31.23 | 20,221 |
| Research And Development Scientist | $90,278 | $7,523 | $43.40 | 129,803 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
Top companies hiring post doctoral researchers now:
Which companies pay post doctoral researchers the most?
Post doctoral researcher salaries at Microsoft and IBM are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average post doctoral researcher salary at companies like VMware and Resources for the Future are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft | $154,486 | $74.27 |
| 2 | IBM | $126,004 | $60.58 |
| 3 | VMware | $112,591 | $54.13 |
| 4 | Resources for the Future | $106,986 | $51.44 |
| 5 | Amd | $106,363 | $51.14 |
| 6 | HP | $92,938 | $44.68 |
| 7 | Nokia | $85,837 | $41.27 |
| 8 | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | $77,541 | $37.28 |
| 9 | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory | $77,235 | $37.13 |
| 10 | Battelle | $77,110 | $37.07 |
| 11 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $76,849 | $36.95 |
| 12 | Boehringer Ingelheim | $74,809 | $35.97 |
| 13 | Genentech | $73,854 | $35.51 |
| 14 | Novartis | $72,877 | $35.04 |
| 15 | Xerox | $72,700 | $34.95 |
| 16 | MBO Partners | $71,486 | $34.37 |
| 17 | Johnson & Johnson | $71,122 | $34.19 |
| 18 | New York University | $67,366 | $32.39 |
| 19 | Rowan University | $66,615 | $32.03 |
| 20 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $64,437 | $30.98 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Post doctoral researcher salary trends
The average post doctoral researcher salary has risen by $8,570 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average post doctoral researcher earned $42,425 annually, but today, they earn $50,995 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for post doctoral researchers over the last decade.
Compare post doctoral researcher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average post doctoral researcher salary over time
Compare post doctoral researcher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Post doctoral researcher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $51,000 | $24.52 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $49,500 | $23.79 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $47,300 | $22.72 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $45,700 | $21.99 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $44,900 | $21.58 | -2.1% |
Recently added post doctoral researcher salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loyola University of Chicago Inc. | Post-Doctoral Research Scholar-Abbineni Lab | Chicago, IL | 06/28/2025 | $61,008 |
| Underwriters Laboratories | Post-Doctoral Researcher-Electrochemical Safety Research Institute | Houston, TX | 06/25/2025 | $67,319 |
| Argonne National Laboratory | Post-Doctoral Appointee--Pyrometallurgy | Lemont, IL | 06/20/2025 | $70,758 |
| BNL Technical Services | Post DOC Research | Fine, NY | 06/20/2025 | $70,200 |
| Children's Mercy KC | Post Doctoral Research Scholar-Clin Pharm | Kansas City, MO | 06/12/2025 | $59,250 |
| Children's Mercy Hospital | Post Doctoral Research Scholar-Clin Pharm | Kansas City, MO | 06/11/2025 | $59,250 |
| Mines.Edu | Temporary Research Hourly Evergreen Posting | Boone, CO | 06/09/2025 | $30,095 |
| C0001 | Post-Doctoral Research Assoc | Colorado Springs, CO | 05/29/2025 | $65,000 |
| BNL Technical Services | Post DOC Research | Fine, NY | 05/11/2025 | $70,200 |
| Argonne National Laboratory | Post-Doctoral Appointee--Pyrometallurgy | Lemont, IL | 04/29/2025 | $70,758 |
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