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Research assistant professor salary
Average research assistant professor salary
$73,455
Understanding Research Assistant Professor Salaries
The role of a Research Assistant Professor is pivotal in academia, focusing on both research and teaching responsibilities. As of October 2025, the average salary is $73,455 per year, translating to about $35 per hour. Salaries in this field can greatly vary, influenced by geographical location, years of experience, and the type of institution. For instance, states like California and New York tend to offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for skilled educators.
Factors Affecting Salary
- Experience: More experienced professionals typically command higher salaries.
- Location: Urban areas and states with high living costs generally pay more.
- Institution Type: Research universities often provide better pay compared to community colleges.
Additionally, as the job market evolves, keeping track of salary trends is essential. Utilize resources like Zippia to stay informed on salary estimates and job opportunities tailored for Research Assistant Professors.
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Where can a Research Assistant Professor earn more?
Research assistant professor salary estimates from across the web
Average research assistant professor salary by state
The highest-paying states for research assistant professors are Massachusetts, California, and Georgia. The lowest average research assistant professor salary states are South Dakota, Hawaii, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research assistant professors
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $90,744 | $43.63 |
| 2 | Oregon | $85,028 | $40.88 |
| 3 | District of Columbia | $93,043 | $44.73 |
| 4 | California | $89,697 | $43.12 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $81,824 | $39.34 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $83,255 | $40.03 |
| 7 | West Virginia | $76,105 | $36.59 |
| 8 | Georgia | $86,939 | $41.80 |
| 9 | Delaware | $81,639 | $39.25 |
| 10 | Illinois | $77,394 | $37.21 |
| 11 | New Hampshire | $76,073 | $36.57 |
| 12 | Kentucky | $76,329 | $36.70 |
| 13 | Louisiana | $76,374 | $36.72 |
| 14 | Washington | $76,243 | $36.66 |
| 15 | Ohio | $74,015 | $35.58 |
| 16 | Alaska | $74,476 | $35.81 |
| 17 | Nevada | $78,288 | $37.64 |
| 18 | Minnesota | $73,857 | $35.51 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $73,296 | $35.24 |
| 20 | New York | $74,503 | $35.82 |
| 21 | New Mexico | $71,811 | $34.52 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $70,216 | $33.76 |
| 23 | Virginia | $73,188 | $35.19 |
| 24 | Idaho | $73,007 | $35.10 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $68,387 | $32.88 |
| 26 | Indiana | $71,347 | $34.30 |
| 27 | Maryland | $75,147 | $36.13 |
| 28 | Michigan | $68,174 | $32.78 |
| 29 | Missouri | $70,728 | $34.00 |
| 30 | Colorado | $70,367 | $33.83 |
| 31 | Arizona | $72,435 | $34.82 |
| 32 | Connecticut | $72,343 | $34.78 |
| 33 | Utah | $67,393 | $32.40 |
| 34 | Florida | $70,885 | $34.08 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $65,793 | $31.63 |
| 36 | Tennessee | $66,043 | $31.75 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $71,073 | $34.17 |
| 38 | Maine | $66,409 | $31.93 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $65,494 | $31.49 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $62,792 | $30.19 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $67,176 | $32.30 |
| 42 | Vermont | $56,934 | $27.37 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $63,926 | $30.73 |
| 44 | Montana | $64,653 | $31.08 |
| 45 | Kansas | $64,303 | $30.91 |
| 46 | Texas | $58,075 | $27.92 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $63,968 | $30.75 |
| 48 | Iowa | $62,792 | $30.19 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $59,042 | $28.39 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $54,961 | $26.42 |
| 51 | Alabama | $56,570 | $27.20 |
Highest paying cities for research assistant professors
The highest-paying cities for research assistant professors are Washington, DC, Boston, MA, and Los Angeles, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $93,149 | $44.78 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $90,727 | $43.62 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $88,186 | $42.40 |
| 4 | Atlanta, GA | $87,078 | $41.86 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $84,745 | $40.74 |
| 6 | Reno, NV | $81,675 | $39.27 |
| 7 | Evanston, IL | $77,537 | $37.28 |
| 8 | Seattle, WA | $77,067 | $37.05 |
| 9 | Morgantown, WV | $76,843 | $36.94 |
| 10 | New Orleans, LA | $76,356 | $36.71 |
| 11 | College Park, MD | $75,049 | $36.08 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $74,653 | $35.89 |
| 13 | Raleigh, NC | $73,891 | $35.52 |
| 14 | Gainesville, FL | $73,779 | $35.47 |
| 15 | Cincinnati, OH | $73,003 | $35.10 |
| 16 | Charlottesville, VA | $72,567 | $34.89 |
| 17 | Tempe, AZ | $72,465 | $34.84 |
| 18 | Albuquerque, NM | $71,726 | $34.48 |
| 19 | Columbia, SC | $71,346 | $34.30 |
| 20 | Indianapolis, IN | $71,344 | $34.30 |
Research assistant professor salary details
A research assistant professor's salary ranges from $52,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $102,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research assistant professor's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| 75th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| Average | $73,455 | $6,121 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $61,000 | $5,083 | $29 |
| 10th Percentile | $52,000 | $4,333 | $25 |
Highest paying research assistant professor jobs
The highest paying types of research assistant professors are professor, research scientist, and assistant professor.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctoral Fellow | $53,366 | $4,447 | $25.66 | 22,661 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Professor | $157,570 | $13,131 | $75.75 | 21,861 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for research assistant professors, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David Simon
Professor, Stonehill College
In most cases, academic positions have significantly lower starting salaries than industry, since the standard academic salary is for nine or ten months of teaching rather than for 12 months. However, the tradeoff is that academic jobs allow a greater degree of freedom in how you spend your time and what type of research you pursue. Furthermore, academic salaries can be supplemented by extra teaching, consultant work, or grant-funded summer salaries, which, in many cases, can raise a professor's total income to levels close to what would be earned in the industry. So, although salary is certainly a consideration, ultimately, the deciding factor for what type of career to pursue should be based on what type of work would make you happiest in the long term.
Top companies hiring research assistant professors now:
Which companies pay research assistant professors the most?
Research assistant professor salaries at Stanford University and Columbia University in the City of New York are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research assistant professor salary at companies like University of California, Berkeley and New York University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanford University | $99,086 | $47.64 |
| 2 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $98,959 | $47.58 |
| 3 | University of California-Berkeley | $96,822 | $46.55 |
| 4 | New York University | $95,272 | $45.80 |
| 5 | University of California | $94,617 | $45.49 |
| 6 | University of Alaska | $94,062 | $45.22 |
| 7 | City College of San Francisco | $93,523 | $44.96 |
| 8 | Georgetown University | $93,385 | $44.90 |
| 9 | Northeastern University | $92,077 | $44.27 |
| 10 | Tulane University | $91,948 | $44.21 |
| 11 | University of Massachusetts Medical School | $90,855 | $43.68 |
| 12 | University of New Orleans | $90,344 | $43.43 |
| 13 | 91X KXUL | $90,287 | $43.41 |
| 14 | California Institute of Technology | $90,244 | $43.39 |
| 15 | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | $88,996 | $42.79 |
| 16 | Oregon Health & Science University | $88,428 | $42.51 |
| 17 | University of Washington | $88,101 | $42.36 |
| 18 | Fox Chase Cancer Center | $87,961 | $42.29 |
| 19 | Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago | $86,298 | $41.49 |
| 20 | UT Health East Texas | $85,691 | $41.20 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research assistant professor salary trends
The average research assistant professor salary has risen by $15,539 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research assistant professor earned $57,916 annually, but today, they earn $73,455 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for research assistant professors over the last decade.
Compare research assistant professor salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research assistant professor salary over time
Compare research assistant professor salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research assistant professor salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $73,500 | $35.32 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $70,900 | $34.10 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $69,600 | $33.47 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $68,700 | $33.01 | +6.1% |
| 2021 | $64,500 | $30.99 | +1.6% |
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