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Postdoc salary
Average postdoc salary
$65,875
Understanding Postdoc Salaries
A postdoc position is a valuable stepping stone for researchers, offering crucial experience and networking opportunities. Currently, the average postdoc salary stands at $65,875 annually. However, this figure can vary widely depending on factors such as geographical location, specific discipline, and years of experience. For instance, postdocs in high-demand research fields or prestigious institutions tend to command higher salaries.
In terms of geographical disparities, states like California and New York consistently offer some of the highest salaries for postdocs, reflecting their robust academic ecosystems. Meanwhile, cities like San Francisco and Boston emerge as top contenders for lucrative positions. Additionally, understanding the salary trends over time can provide insight into how the demand for postdoctoral researchers is evolving.
To maximize your salary potential, consider seeking positions in specialized fields or institutions known for competitive compensation. Always research the average salaries within your specific area of expertise and remain informed about changes in funding and institutional support, which can also influence salary ranges.
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Where can a Postdoc earn more?
Average postdoc salary by state
The average postdoc salary in Hawaii, Tennessee, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average postdoc salary states are Utah, Mississippi, and North Dakota.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for postdocs
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | $84,479 | $40.61 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $75,948 | $36.51 |
| 3 | California | $84,058 | $40.41 |
| 4 | Montana | $75,574 | $36.33 |
| 5 | Oregon | $70,342 | $33.82 |
| 6 | Maine | $73,877 | $35.52 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $72,524 | $34.87 |
| 8 | Indiana | $75,481 | $36.29 |
| 9 | Connecticut | $75,250 | $36.18 |
| 10 | Arizona | $77,732 | $37.37 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $87,876 | $42.25 |
| 12 | Nevada | $76,396 | $36.73 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $63,195 | $30.38 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $67,984 | $32.68 |
| 15 | Alaska | $73,302 | $35.24 |
| 16 | Colorado | $66,569 | $32.00 |
| 17 | Delaware | $67,767 | $32.58 |
| 18 | Idaho | $60,478 | $29.08 |
| 19 | Missouri | $58,830 | $28.28 |
| 20 | West Virginia | $58,717 | $28.23 |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | $58,519 | $28.13 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $57,029 | $27.42 |
| 23 | Arkansas | $59,978 | $28.84 |
| 24 | Vermont | $61,302 | $29.47 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $60,974 | $29.31 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $60,654 | $29.16 |
| 27 | Rhode Island | $61,845 | $29.73 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $65,601 | $31.54 |
| 29 | Illinois | $57,427 | $27.61 |
| 30 | Maryland | $60,167 | $28.93 |
| 31 | Nebraska | $55,821 | $26.84 |
| 32 | Texas | $56,883 | $27.35 |
| 33 | New York | $57,483 | $27.64 |
| 34 | Washington | $59,237 | $28.48 |
| 35 | New Hampshire | $59,404 | $28.56 |
| 36 | Georgia | $57,855 | $27.81 |
| 37 | Ohio | $55,088 | $26.48 |
| 38 | Alabama | $55,362 | $26.62 |
| 39 | Virginia | $54,812 | $26.35 |
| 40 | Wisconsin | $55,849 | $26.85 |
| 41 | Michigan | $54,901 | $26.39 |
| 42 | Kentucky | $52,769 | $25.37 |
| 43 | Florida | $52,962 | $25.46 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $50,751 | $24.40 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $52,566 | $25.27 |
| 46 | Kansas | $53,440 | $25.69 |
| 47 | Iowa | $41,623 | $20.01 |
| 48 | Utah | $50,826 | $24.44 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $46,741 | $22.47 |
| 50 | North Dakota | $48,793 | $23.46 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $48,320 | $23.23 |
Highest paying cities for postdocs
The highest-paying cities for postdocs are San Francisco, CA, Memphis, TN, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $88,170 | $42.39 |
| 2 | Memphis, TN | $85,314 | $41.02 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $76,058 | $36.57 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $75,522 | $36.31 |
| 5 | Boulder, CO | $66,520 | $31.98 |
| 6 | Morgantown, WV | $58,990 | $28.36 |
| 7 | Philadelphia, PA | $58,875 | $28.31 |
| 8 | Idaho Falls, ID | $58,579 | $28.16 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $57,518 | $27.65 |
| 10 | Chicago, IL | $57,396 | $27.59 |
| 11 | Albuquerque, NM | $57,067 | $27.44 |
| 12 | Mobile, AL | $55,626 | $26.74 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $55,420 | $26.64 |
| 14 | Ann Arbor, MI | $54,904 | $26.40 |
| 15 | Richmond, VA | $54,714 | $26.30 |
| 16 | Charleston, SC | $46,509 | $22.36 |
Postdoc salary details
A postdoc's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $94,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a postdoc's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| Average | $65,875 | $5,490 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $54,000 | $4,500 | $26 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
Highest paying postdoc jobs
The highest paying types of postdocs are medical science liaison, principal scientist, and senior scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Science Liaison | $145,718 | $12,143 | $70.06 | 57,208 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Research And Development Scientist | $90,278 | $7,523 | $43.40 | 129,803 |
| Fellow | $66,364 | $5,530 | $31.91 | 7,459 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
| Research Laboratory Manager | $64,333 | $5,361 | $30.93 | 89,981 |
Which companies pay postdocs the most?
Postdoc salaries at IBM and AstraZeneca are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average postdoc salary at companies like Amgen and Genentech are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IBM | $95,310 | $45.82 |
| 2 | AstraZeneca | $83,453 | $40.12 |
| 3 | Amgen | $83,393 | $40.09 |
| 4 | Genentech | $82,936 | $39.87 |
| 5 | Argonne National Laboratory | $76,172 | $36.62 |
| 6 | Jet Propulsion Laboratory | $76,038 | $36.56 |
| 7 | Brookhaven National Laboratory | $75,826 | $36.45 |
| 8 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $75,290 | $36.20 |
| 9 | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $75,265 | $36.19 |
| 10 | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | $73,827 | $35.49 |
| 11 | Sandia National Labs | $73,324 | $35.25 |
| 12 | Xerox | $72,000 | $34.62 |
| 13 | Universal Health Services | $71,547 | $34.40 |
| 14 | Clear Labs | $66,505 | $31.97 |
| 15 | Alliance for Sustainable Energy | $66,333 | $31.89 |
| 16 | National Renewable Energy Laboratory | $66,239 | $31.85 |
| 17 | Lilly & Company | $66,200 | $31.83 |
| 18 | Brookhaven Science Associates LLC | $66,104 | $31.78 |
| 19 | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $65,275 | $31.38 |
| 20 | Stanford University | $63,474 | $30.52 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Postdoc salary trends
The average postdoc salary has risen by $11,071 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average postdoc earned $54,804 annually, but today, they earn $65,875 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for postdocs over the last decade.
Compare postdoc salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average postdoc salary over time
Compare postdoc salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Postdoc salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $65,900 | $31.67 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $63,900 | $30.73 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $61,100 | $29.35 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $59,100 | $28.41 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $58,000 | $27.87 | -2.1% |
Recently added postdoc salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota | Postdoc-Avian Repro | Minneapolis, MN | 06/24/2025 | $61,008 |
| Nrel | Postdoc In Molecular Biology/Metabolic Engineering | Golden, CO | 06/20/2025 | $74,900 |
| National Renewable Energy Laboratory | Postdoc In Molecular Biology/Metabolic Engineering | Golden, CO | 06/17/2025 | $74,900 |
| J&J Family of Companies | Postdoc Data Science, Dermatology Imaging | Cambridge, MA | 06/05/2025 | $95,000 |
| Clear Labs, Inc. | Industrial Postdoc-Molecular Biology | San Carlos, CA | 06/05/2025 | $75,698 |
| Los Alamos National Laboratory | Quantum-Enabled Bioimaging Postdoc | Los Alamos, NM | 06/04/2025 | $97,000 |
| University of Minnesota | Postdoc-Avian Repro | Minneapolis, MN | 05/28/2025 | $61,008 |
| Los Alamos National Laboratory | High Energy Nuclear Physics Postdoc | Los Alamos, NM | 05/24/2025 | $97,000 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Postdoc In Chemical Biology (Hartman LAB) | Richmond, VA | 05/15/2025 | $59,000 |
| Johnson & Johnson | Postdoc Medical Imaging Computer Vision | San Diego, CA | 04/23/2025 | $95,000 |
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