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Research assistant/technician job growth summary. After extensive research, interviews, and analysis, Zippia's data science team found that:
The projected research assistant/technician job growth rate is 19% from 2018-2028.
About 150,300 new jobs for research assistant/technicians are projected over the next decade.
Research assistant/technician salaries have increased 5% for research assistant/technicians in the last 5 years.
There are over 101,981 research assistant/technicians currently employed in the United States.
There are 47,820 active research assistant/technician job openings in the US.
The average research assistant/technician salary is $39,567.
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101,981 | 0.03% |
| 2020 | 105,039 | 0.03% |
| 2019 | 103,958 | 0.03% |
| 2018 | 99,312 | 0.03% |
| 2017 | 92,950 | 0.03% |
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $39,567 | $19.02 | +3.2% |
| 2025 | $38,353 | $18.44 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $37,950 | $18.25 | --0.2% |
| 2023 | $38,016 | $18.28 | +1.1% |
| 2022 | $37,613 | $18.08 | +0.7% |
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 182 | 26% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,304 | 19% |
| 3 | Vermont | 623,657 | 87 | 14% |
| 4 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 760 | 13% |
| 5 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 689 | 12% |
| 6 | Oregon | 4,142,776 | 506 | 12% |
| 7 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 128 | 12% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 146 | 11% |
| 9 | Delaware | 961,939 | 107 | 11% |
| 10 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 542 | 10% |
| 11 | Alaska | 739,795 | 72 | 10% |
| 12 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 742 | 9% |
| 13 | Utah | 3,101,833 | 275 | 9% |
| 14 | Nebraska | 1,920,076 | 165 | 9% |
| 15 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 77 | 9% |
| 16 | New York | 19,849,399 | 1,614 | 8% |
| 17 | Pennsylvania | 12,805,537 | 1,079 | 8% |
| 18 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 701 | 8% |
| 19 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 274 | 8% |
| 20 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 161 | 8% |
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frankfort | 1 | 4% | $36,231 |
| 2 | Annapolis | 1 | 3% | $43,222 |
| 3 | Dover | 1 | 3% | $51,183 |
| 4 | Juneau | 1 | 3% | $52,833 |
| 5 | North Bethesda | 1 | 2% | $42,864 |
| 6 | Hartford | 1 | 1% | $50,377 |
| 7 | Lansing | 1 | 1% | $37,800 |
| 8 | Little Rock | 1 | 1% | $37,960 |
| 9 | Mobile | 1 | 1% | $36,225 |
| 10 | Phoenix | 3 | 0% | $37,424 |
| 11 | Atlanta | 1 | 0% | $38,591 |
| 12 | Baton Rouge | 1 | 0% | $34,674 |
| 13 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $47,835 |
| 14 | Denver | 1 | 0% | $39,413 |
| 15 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $37,648 |
| 16 | Indianapolis | 1 | 0% | $35,200 |
| 17 | Montgomery | 1 | 0% | $36,189 |
| 18 | New York | 1 | 0% | $51,062 |
College of New Jersey, The
North Dakota State University
University of Nebraska - Omaha
Middlebury College
University of Texas at Austin
Furman University
University of Cincinnati
Fairfield University
University of North Georgia

Seattle University
Adelphi University

Adelphi University
Dillard University

Bowling Green State University
Columbus State University
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: By saying "Yes". Most companies have standard salaries or small scale for adjusting salary. Per Diem jobs, research interventionist, additional weekend on call, adjunct jobs, and other opportunities gives you the ability to increase salary and opportunities.
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: Research skills will be extremely important as the use of evidence-based research in practice and value-based services are imperative. Leadership and entrepreneurship skills will also be important as we promote programming and services in community-based settings.
Chrissy Daeschner OTD, MS, OTR/L: I would suggest they keep an open mind and don't be fearful of the unknown, embrace it. I think there is a lot of stress of a getting a certain job or style of job, but taking different opportunities increases your connections and experiences.
Dr. Piper Williams PhD: Students who major in AAS bring additional expertise and qualifications to any application - so a clear articulation of these could help to maximize salary potential. They will have: skills that will enable them to contribute to innovation in the workplace, a demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems, demonstrate ethical judgment and integrity; intercultural skills; and the capacity for continued new learning, critical thinking, complex problem-solving, written and oral communication, and applied knowledge in real-world settings.
Dr. Piper Williams PhD: I would advise a graduate to reflect on what they've learned about the contributions, experiences, history and present reality of people of African descent in the New World. In addition, thinking about the skills they developed related to the major in African American Studies, including but not limited to: Research and Analysis, Writing, Public Speaking, Project Development and Completion, Ethical Reasoning, Listening, Teamwork and Collaboration, Perspective-Taking, Awareness of Context and what they call 'Cultural Competence. Use this education, to make the case that in addition to all the skills you can bring, the education offered by AAS will allow you to distinguish yourself as a candidate who can meet the needs the current moment demands. Black Americans encounter implicit racism in all walks of life: medicine and healthcare, law, politics and gov't, business and industry, performing arts and entertainment, sports, education, news media and social, community and humanitarian services. With this degree, you can enter almost any field and be more equitable to everyone you meet. (And by the way, in the list above, there are a number of people with a degree in African American Studies.)
Dr. Piper Williams PhD: As the chair of African American Studies (AAS) at TCNJ, I know that an AAS major combines the strengths of the traditional liberal arts major with the community engagement, cultural, and social awareness that is at the heart of the African American scholarly tradition. Students graduating with a degree in African American Studies will have the intellectual and practical tools to pursue any number of careers requiring analytical ability, cultural competence, and creative problem-solving skills.
Christina Weber PhD: There are a number of skills that will be important. Soft skills such as creativity, adaptability, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and persuasion. In addition, there is a growing need for folks who have high cultural competence, especially with understanding the experiences of diverse groups. Finally, there is a need for folks to have skills in social science research—understanding how to develop research projects, conduct surveys, focus groups, as well as experience with programs such as GIS, SPSS, and r-studio.
John Lyden: Research skills (ability to find and interpret information), oral and written communication skills (ability to present information clearly), data analysis and interpretation, language interpretation and translation. Computer facility will be highly valued. Employers will include those in higher education, government, non-profits, research institutes, and museums.
Jeffrey Knopf: Some of the most important skills are traditional skills. Good communication skills are still number one. The ability to write well and communicate clearly will always help you. Qualitative research skills also remain important. The ability to learn from history or understand other cultures will always be valuable. Beyond this, I am seeing increasing demand for a variety of hard practical skills, such as data analytics or imagery analysis. Finally, in a world where the problems of misinformation and disinformation keep getting worse, critical thinking skills and the ability to discern what is true and what is fake will only increase in importance.
Jeffrey Knopf: It's a good idea to be open to different possibilities. If a graduate is willing to say yes to an opportunity, even if it is not ideally what they were looking for, this can open the door to better opportunities down the road. Relationships with other people are also very important. The better you can get along with and work with other people, the more those people will become part of your network and maybe able to help you later on.
Lori Bruce MA, MBE, HEC-C: If you only have a Bachelor’s degree in bioethics, your best bet is probably to get a position within research ethics. These positions are in academic institutions or private industry, and you can move up in management. You could work in Human Research Subject Protection, or for an Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees. All these positions mean you would review research studies and suggest modifications to ensure they are in line with federal standards. This is important work to safeguard trust in medicine!
Lori Bruce MA, MBE, HEC-C: Multidisciplinary partnership is critical, since bioethicists can be “gatekeepers;” their policies may influence which members of the public receive certain health services, and which do not receive them.
Knowledge, applied cautiously! It’s important to have a nuanced understanding of many bioethics principles and theories, and apply them with caution, so that the most relevant values are influencing your work.
Autumn Mathias Ph.D., LCSW: Similar to my answer for the first question, I think that this begins during college as students
build their overall portfolio of knowledge and skills. In addition to strategically selecting
courses, students might think about different volunteer activities (both on and off campus) and
experiential learning opportunities that could help them to further develop skills and build
professional connections. For instance, students can ask professors if there are opportunities for
them to work as a research assistant, or develop their own independent research project. In
addition, students can complete internships with public or private organizations within
community, or even through study abroad programs. In some cases, internships can provide a
bridge to employment post-graduation in that organization.
After students graduate and secure employment, they might consider different ways to engage in
professional development and continuing education. This can occur both within and outside
employer-sponsored activities. For instance, graduates might consider online courses on software
such as Excel, ArcGIS, Python, Tableau, or R. In addition, graduates may think of creative ways
to take leadership on projects in their respective organizations, and/or make a significant
contribution to their organization that will showcase their professional strengths. Finally,
graduates may consider pursuing graduate degrees according to their professional goals, such as
a Master of Social Work (MSW), Master of Public Health (MPH), Juris Doctor (JD), Master's in
Education (M.Ed.), or a Master of Public Administration (MPA).
Autumn Mathias Ph.D., LCSW: My general advice for undergraduate students majoring in sociology would be to begin thinking
(as early as possible) about how studying sociology might prepare you for different careers.
Explore resources online, including the websites of professional organizations such as the
American Sociological Association and the Society for the Study of Social Problems, and
occupational outlook data provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In addition, I would advise
students to speak with their academic advisors, professors, and their college/university career
services personnel about their specific interests, strengths, and opportunities to further develop
various transferable skills throughout (and beyond) their college career. For some students, this
may mean taking certain electives (such as those geared towards maximizing research skills),
and/or adding a minor or a second major. This can also include internships and other experiential
learning opportunities. In addition, students should think about which subfields of sociology
interest them most, and how they see themselves applying their knowledge in a specific field.
Some subfields include urban sociology, medical sociology, political sociology, global and
transnational sociology, law and crime, social inequality, collective behavior, economic
sociology, environmental sociology, and the sociology of education. Sociology students develop
knowledge and skills that are valuable to several fields, including education, legal assistance,
business, public relations, human services/social work, government, public health, urban
planning, criminal justice, market and/or user experience research, and administration. Sociology
students learn to apply a historically and theoretically grounded lens to understanding human
behavior, social institutions, and the interactions between various actors in society across
national and cultural contexts. In addition, they develop both qualitative and quantitative
research skills and are uniquely positioned to apply these skills in a variety of roles to find
solutions to social problems. Accordingly, they are encouraged to develop both cultural humility
and cultural competence, which is critical for promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in any
professional setting. As a result, sociology graduates may pursue jobs including (but not limited
to) the following: research assistant at a non-profit organization, probation officer, community
health worker, residential counselor, case manager, legislative aide, policy analyst, and user
experience researcher for a corporation.
In terms of job searching, I would recommend consulting with professors, advisors, and your
college/university's career services office on the best strategies for highlighting your transferable
skills and tailoring your resume and cover letter to specific job postings. Many organizations
utilize AI to review and narrow down job application materials before they are even reviewed by
human eyes. Also, I would encourage graduates to keep an open mind as they search job postings
as their knowledge and skills can be applied in a variety of settings. Additionally, students may
think about whether or not their long-term career goals require a graduate degree. Some
employers offer tuition reimbursement for graduate education.
Autumn Mathias Ph.D., LCSW: I think it is important for graduates to look at projections on the Bureau of Labor Statistics
website and to conduct general research on the state of certain industries at the time of
graduation. For instance, the tech industry is currently very saturated; some people who started
positions as user experience researchers just a few years ago were laid off. Individuals who have
years of experience in these positions will then have an advantage in securing new positions.
That being said, I believe that quantitative research skills in particular are advantageous for many
positions. This includes attaining coding skills and learning coding languages such as Python, R,
and Java.
In addition to the tech industry, the higher education market for individuals with a Master's
degree or PhD in sociology for tenure-track, full-time assistant professor positions in sociology
proves to remain highly competitive, as there are far more graduates than full-time positions.
That being said, some Master's programs emphasize an applied focus that prepares students for a
variety of research and evaluation positions.
In relation to research skills focused on data collection and analysis, sociology majors develop
writing and presentation skills that are crucial to success in any field. Also, the major's emphasis
on a critical global perspective along with cultural humility, cultural competence, empathy, and
overall interpersonal skills are sought-after skills in many fields. For instance, the U.S. is
experiencing a serious shortage of mental health professionals. Although some mental health
positions require a bachelor's or Master's degree in social work, others are also open to
individuals with a bachelor's degree in sociology or psychology.
University of Texas at Austin
Slavic, Baltic And Albanian Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
Mary Neuburger: Network as much as possible, online (LinkedIn or social media) and at events related to Russian studies or policy. These tend to be open to the public at most large er universities and some smaller. Attend, ask good questions, and introduce yourself to people. Make sure you highlight all of the skills you have gained on your CV-include projects in courses, extracurricular activities, study abroad etc.
Mary Neuburger: Language skills are always important, as well as research skills, and experience working on team projects. I also think deep interdisciplinary knowledge of Russia and its sphere of influence will continue to be important, as well as teachnical skills and knowledge of the information environment-and especially disinformation. UT Austin has a new Global Disinformation Lab, in which study of Russian disinformation (among other things) is carried out.
Mary Neuburger: Increase your experience and education in the field. Think about a Russian Studies master's program, for which you can get funding and gain more education and professional experience. UT Austin is looking for good applicants! Also think about doing workshops in various technical skills or platforms to bolster your resume. Think about initiating a club, small organization or project, and taking a leadership role. Highlight these efforts on your cv.
Dr. Claire Gilliland PhD: my general advice is for students to be thoughtful and strategic about how they sell the skills they've gained in sociology to potential employers. The skills we prioritize in sociology (generating research questions, thinking critically, examining social systems, analyzing multiple types of data) are all skills that are well-suited to multiple different careers, but it may require some translation to match the priorities of a particular field. For example, students would describe a class paper where they searched for and read about empirical research as a "literature review," a term that mostly applies to academic work. However, the skills required for a literature review are gathering, analyzing, and synthesizing information from a range of sources, which is a skill many employers would want in a future employee.
Dr. Jennifer Caplan PhD: Technology advances so quickly these days that staying on top of advances will be really important. Luckily, any religion major has spent a ton of time thinking about the way society advances and develops, so you're well-positioned to be an early adopter of new software and tech platforms.
Dr. Jennifer Caplan PhD: The great thing about a religion major, of course, is that there IS no one field you're funneled into! Religion majors succeed highly in EVERY field, because you get such well-rounded training. So the best way to maximize your salary potential is to harness the skills you have gained, and to tap into the innate curiosity and interest in the world to throw yourself into your new career and ensure you shine. Religion majors know how to see the big picture of the world around them and how to really analyze the documents or tasks in front of them. Those are talents that are perfect to help you rise to the top!
Dr. Jennifer Caplan PhD: My biggest advice would be to use the skills you have spent 4 years developing to your best advantage! The transition from being a senior who knows a lot to a new member of a field can be rough, so just remember that you have killer reading comprehension, excellent writing skills, and an ability to synthesize information that far outstrips colleagues who came through less interdisciplinary majors, so use those to learn quickly and nail your new workload!
Martha Taylor: Stay abreast of new trends. Read broadly and be widely curious. Keep up with advances in English literature (since so much of interpretation of Classical texts follows similar lines).
Giovanna Percontino: Research the industries that really speak to your values and philosophies. Look for the companies you want to work for not necessarily the role. Align your skills with the roles you are interested make sure you are a good fit. Ask questions to those who are in the industry or jobs you would love to be. These are just conversations with successful people.
Giovanna Percontino: The soft skills are really important now: Communication, Adaptability, Reliability, Leadership, Writing, Rigor
Fairfield University
Human Development, Family Studies, And Related Services
Alessandra Bryant PhD, LMFT: -Human development is an interdisciplinary major with multiple avenues to pursue post-bachelor's degree. You really need to pursue a master's degree post bachelor's to ensure job security post-grad. Have an idea in mind of what you'd like to pursue-whether it be education or mental health.
Alessandra Bryant PhD, LMFT: -Research proficiency-get involved in undergrad if you can. As the field progresses, we need innovative thinkers to keep advancing our knowledge.
Alessandra Bryant PhD, LMFT: -Pursue a master's degree in a more specific human development related field. Do your research-look for reputable programs in areas with earning potential post-grad.
Mary Norman: -Project management skills
-Knowledge of key marketing tools and analytics:
-Social media tools like Hootsuite, Google analytics, etc.
-Design tools like Canva, Photoshop, Illustrator
-Email and Survey tools like Mailchimp and Survey Monkey
-SEO Tools like Google Ads
-Digital/Social Media Marketing Skills in the following areas:
-Email marketing
-Search Engine Marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEM/SEO)
-Email marketing
-Content marketing - ability to create content for social media and additional formats like blogs, etc.
-Social Media marketing through top platforms: i.e., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, etc.
-Data Analysis - mining insights into customer behavior based on website and social media analytics
-Trendwatching / Consumer insights

Seattle University
Department of Anthropology and Sociology
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Understanding human diversity, Difference is viewed not as an obstacle but as an opportunity for generating new ideas, etc.
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Understanding human diversity, effective communication (speaking and writing: the ability to convey complex ideas respectfully to a diverse audience) across differences, adept at working in groups, yet also independent thinkers.
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Empirical data collection: Research skills for collecting original data, analyzing the data, writing up the information collected, and presenting it in a professional manner.
Harriet Phinney Ph.D.: Anthropologists are analysts and researchers with sharp thinking skills who have the ability to collect, manage, evaluate, and interpret large volumes of data on human behavior.
Adelphi University
School Psychology and Institute for Parenting and Postgraduate Certificates in Infant, Child, & Adolescent Psychotherapy
Lea Theodore Ph.D.: The ability to have respectful communication with people in all roles: directors, supervisors, research participants, peers, and project staff. A 360-degree evaluation would show that everyone agrees that the candidate can be a good fit.

Adelphi University
School Psychology and Institute for Parenting and Postgraduate Certificates in Infant, Child, & Adolescent Psychotherapy
Joaniko Kohchi MPhil, LCSW, IECMH-E®: Skills and experiences that show responsibility, organization, and specific aptitude for the project at hand. A successful resume emphasizes the ways the candidate's learning and experience meet the stated job requirements.
Eva Baham: History graduates often apply to law schools. Although this is a delayed profession for an undergraduate degree, there are several sources including the Law School Admissions Council (LSAC), which note that a high percentage of students with history degrees are admitted to law school. History's emphasis on research, analysis, and evidence prepare students for law school.
Eva Baham: History graduates also account for their preparation to work in a number of positions in business.
Overall, history degrees shall serve individuals quite well, especially as the current health crisis (hopefully) comes to a close.
Eva Baham: With the hope that the economy returns to a sense of normalcy accompanied by stability in family incomes, families and individuals may seek ways to re-add a quality of life to their activities. Visits to museums (inside and outside), libraries, tourist destinations and other venues requiring information guided by sound and reputable knowledge should require individuals with a history background.

Malcolm Forbes Ph.D.: Presentation skills are key - staying up to date on new technologies will be very important (for example, there is now a way to insert yourself into a pptx file and point to things on the slide). Also multiple cameras so you can change perspectives is changing how people give talks. Writing skills are also important, but in industry "less is more" so these skills must be developed to make conciseness a priority. No one reads long emails any more, so clear, short, to the point writing is essential.
Attention to diversity and inclusion will grow - finding internal biases that may or may not be intentional, and how to eliminate or minimize their impact, will also be important.
Malcolm Forbes Ph.D.: Work from home will become much more normal for many people. Perhaps not 100%, but maybe 2-3 days per week. Chemists with intense lab activities might not get as much of this privilege as others.
WFH will make it easier for women with families to be hired. Companies and managers will be more tuned in to employees' mental health.
Malcolm Forbes Ph.D.: Academic salaries are strange. They are tied to a weird "anti-loyalty" system, where a faculty member gets a significant raise as part of a retention package based on a offer from another institution. Otherwise academic salaries at public universities stay at or just ahead of inflation (private institutions are slightly better, but not much). So this game must be played.
At some universities, faculty are unionized. In this case collective bargaining agreements ensure reasonable raises ahead of inflation every year. But this involves paying dues every month and the agreements have to be renegotiated every 3-4 years, which is time-consuming and expensive.
In chemical industry, starting salaries for PhDs have hovered around $80-100K (field dependent) for quite some time and this looks to be stable for some time to come. Bonuses have grown in size in recent years (they had stalled for some time after the 2008 economic downturn).
Dr. Monica Frazier: Depends on the job.