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Psychology research assistant salary
Average psychology research assistant salary
$54,582
Average Psychology Research Assistant Salary
The average salary for a Psychology Research Assistant stands at $54,582 annually. This figure reflects the median earnings across the United States, with variations based on experience, education, and location. Entry-level positions typically start lower, while those with advanced degrees or specialized skills may earn significantly more.
Factors Influencing Salary
Several factors can impact a psychology research assistant's salary:
- Experience Level: Professionals with more years in the field often command higher salaries.
- Geographic Location: Salaries can vary widely by state; for instance, urban areas may offer higher compensation compared to rural regions.
- Sector of Employment: Research assistants in private industry may earn more than those in academic settings.
Salary by State
Understanding regional salary differences is crucial. For example, states like California and New York typically offer higher average salaries due to the cost of living and demand for psychological services.
For a comprehensive look at salary estimates and trends, explore our data, which includes salary distributions and insights from various sources.
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Where can a Psychology Research Assistant earn more?
Psychology research assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average psychology research assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for psychology research assistants are New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Washington. The lowest average psychology research assistant salary states are Vermont, Texas, and Tennessee.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for psychology research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $72,993 | $35.09 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $76,144 | $36.61 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $60,876 | $29.27 |
| 4 | Delaware | $64,595 | $31.06 |
| 5 | Illinois | $61,567 | $29.60 |
| 6 | Oregon | $60,139 | $28.91 |
| 7 | North Carolina | $63,358 | $30.46 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | $58,690 | $28.22 |
| 9 | Minnesota | $58,249 | $28.00 |
| 10 | West Virginia | $59,152 | $28.44 |
| 11 | Ohio | $57,945 | $27.86 |
| 12 | Washington | $66,628 | $32.03 |
| 13 | Arizona | $57,180 | $27.49 |
| 14 | Michigan | $54,232 | $26.07 |
| 15 | Missouri | $55,221 | $26.55 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $56,654 | $27.24 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $64,205 | $30.87 |
| 18 | Idaho | $57,302 | $27.55 |
| 19 | Wyoming | $53,685 | $25.81 |
| 20 | Kentucky | $56,696 | $27.26 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $55,630 | $26.75 |
| 22 | Kansas | $54,976 | $26.43 |
| 23 | California | $54,057 | $25.99 |
| 24 | Alaska | $57,834 | $27.80 |
| 25 | Nevada | $55,516 | $26.69 |
| 26 | Indiana | $53,829 | $25.88 |
| 27 | Maryland | $59,375 | $28.55 |
| 28 | Georgia | $54,428 | $26.17 |
| 29 | Iowa | $53,608 | $25.77 |
| 30 | Utah | $51,605 | $24.81 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $54,349 | $26.13 |
| 32 | Montana | $51,912 | $24.96 |
| 33 | Maine | $50,638 | $24.35 |
| 34 | Colorado | $50,009 | $24.04 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $49,973 | $24.03 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $52,660 | $25.32 |
| 37 | Florida | $52,786 | $25.38 |
| 38 | North Dakota | $51,306 | $24.67 |
| 39 | Mississippi | $52,861 | $25.41 |
| 40 | Virginia | $52,336 | $25.16 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $48,870 | $23.50 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $49,377 | $23.74 |
| 43 | Pennsylvania | $43,984 | $21.15 |
| 44 | Vermont | $43,653 | $20.99 |
| 45 | New York | $53,183 | $25.57 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $51,100 | $24.57 |
| 47 | Tennessee | $41,423 | $19.91 |
| 48 | Texas | $42,238 | $20.31 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $38,609 | $18.56 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $38,781 | $18.64 |
| 51 | Alabama | $39,789 | $19.13 |
Highest paying cities for psychology research assistants
The highest-paying cities for psychology research assistants are Piscataway, NJ, Baltimore, MD, and Norwalk, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Piscataway, NJ | $76,173 | $36.62 |
| 2 | Baltimore, MD | $59,526 | $28.62 |
| 3 | Norwalk, CT | $56,801 | $27.31 |
| 4 | Mountain View, CA | $56,509 | $27.17 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $53,380 | $25.66 |
| 6 | Coral Gables, FL | $52,847 | $25.41 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $50,027 | $24.05 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $43,026 | $20.69 |
Psychology research assistant salary details
A psychology research assistant's salary ranges from $34,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $86,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a psychology research assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $86,000 | $7,167 | $41 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $54,582 | $4,549 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $34,000 | $2,833 | $16 |
Highest paying psychology research assistant jobs
The highest paying types of psychology research assistants are research assistant member, research assistant professor, and research and development assistant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Research Scholar | $58,047 | $4,837 | $27.91 | 51,721 |
| Research Internship | $39,573 | $3,298 | $19.03 | 95,123 |
Top companies hiring psychology research assistants now:
Which companies pay psychology research assistants the most?
Psychology research assistant salaries at MassBay Community College and Rutgers University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average psychology research assistant salary at companies like PSEA and UMiami Health System are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MassBay Community College | $75,961 | $36.52 |
| 2 | Rutgers University | $70,524 | $33.91 |
| 3 | PSEA | $60,048 | $28.87 |
| 4 | UMiami Health System | $59,352 | $28.53 |
| 5 | Carnegie Mellon University | $58,216 | $27.99 |
| 6 | Kelly Services | $56,199 | $27.02 |
| 7 | University of Notre Dame | $52,009 | $25.00 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Psychology research assistant salary trends
The average psychology research assistant salary has risen by $11,547 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average psychology research assistant earned $43,035 annually, but today, they earn $54,582 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for psychology research assistants over the last decade.
Compare psychology research assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average psychology research assistant salary over time
Compare psychology research assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Psychology research assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,600 | $26.24 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $52,700 | $25.33 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $51,700 | $24.87 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $51,000 | $24.53 | +6.1% |
| 2021 | $47,900 | $23.03 | +1.6% |
Recently added psychology research assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Millersville University of Pennsylvania | Psychology-Research Assistant | Millersville, PA | 06/28/2025 | $19,827 |
| Outlier | Psychology Researcher | Detroit, MI | 03/29/2025 | $83,480 |
| Outlier | Psychology Researcher | Newark, NJ | 03/29/2025 | $83,480 |
| Outlier | Psychology Researcher | Lincoln, NE | 03/29/2025 | $83,480 |
| Outlier | Psychology Researcher | Waukegan, IL | 03/29/2025 | $83,480 |
| Outlier | Psychology Researcher | Boulder, CO | 03/29/2025 | $83,480 |
| Outlier | Psychology Researcher | South Bend, IN | 03/29/2025 | $83,480 |
| Outlier | Psychology Researcher | Norman, OK | 03/29/2025 | $83,480 |
| Outlier | Psychology Researcher | Clarksville, TN | 03/29/2025 | $83,480 |
| Outlier | Psychology Researcher | Salt Lake City, UT | 03/29/2025 | $83,480 |
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