Research associate demographics and statistics in the US
Research associate demographics research summary. Zippia estimates research associate demographics and statistics in the United States by using a database of 30 million profiles. Our research associate estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. Zippia's data science team found the following key facts about research associates after extensive research and analysis:
- There are over 98,195 research associates currently employed in the United States.
- 49.2% of all research associates are women, while 50.8% are men.
- The average research associate age is 37 years old.
- The most common ethnicity of research associates is White (52.6%), followed by Asian (16.6%), Hispanic or Latino (15.2%) and Black or African American (8.5%).
- Research associates are most in-demand in New York, NY.
- Worcester, MA pays an annual average wage of $72,205, the highest in the US.
- In 2022, women research associates earned 96% of what men earned.
- Massachusetts is the best state for research associates to live.
- Research associates are 46% more likely to work at education companies in comparison to private companies.
On this page
Research associate demographics by:
Research associate gender statistics
49.2% of research associates are women and 50.8% of research associates are men.
- Male, 50.8%
- Female, 49.2%
Research associate gender ratio
| Gender | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Male | 50.8% |
| Female | 49.2% |
Research associate gender pay gap
Women earn 96¢ for every $1 earned by men
Male income
$64,991
Female income
$62,187
Research associate gender ratio over time
This data breaks down the percentage of men and women in research associate positions over time. Currently, 49.2% of research associates are female.
Research associate gender ratio by year
| Year | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 55.66% | 44.34% |
| 2011 | 52.71% | 47.29% |
| 2012 | 52.17% | 47.83% |
| 2013 | 55.95% | 44.05% |
| 2014 | 53.63% | 46.37% |
| 2015 | 53.65% | 46.35% |
| 2016 | 53.02% | 46.98% |
| 2017 | 54.42% | 45.58% |
| 2018 | 54.81% | 45.19% |
| 2019 | 49.55% | 50.45% |
| 2020 | 52.56% | 47.44% |
| 2021 | 50.83% | 49.17% |
Research associate related jobs gender ratio
We compared research associates with similar job titles to see how gender ratios vary. As you can see, precision crop manager and chemical compounder have the biggest gender ratio gaps.
| Job title | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|
| Feed Research Aide | 13% | 87% |
| Taste Tester | 15% | 85% |
| Formula Technician | 27% | 73% |
| Research Associate | 51% | 49% |
| Hot Cell Technician | 97% | 3% |
| Chemical Compounder | 98% | 2% |
| Precision Crop Manager | 98% | 2% |
Male
Female
100%
75%
50%
25%
0%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Research associate demographics by race
The most common ethnicity among research associates is White, which makes up 52.6% of all research associates. Comparatively, 16.6% of research associates are Asian and 15.2% of research associates are Hispanic or Latino.
- White, 52.6%
- Asian, 16.6%
- Hispanic or Latino, 15.2%
- Black or African American, 8.5%
- Unknown, 6.0%
- American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%
Research associate race
| Research associate race | Percentages |
|---|---|
| White | 52.6% |
| Asian | 16.6% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 15.2% |
| Black or African American | 8.5% |
| Unknown | 6.0% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 1.1% |
Research associate race and ethnicity over time
See how research associate racial and ethnic diversity trended since 2010 according to the United States Census Bureau data.
Research associate race and ethnicity by year
| Year | White | Black or African American | Asian | Hispanic or Latino |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 63.36% | 6.76% | 14.79% | 11.23% |
| 2011 | 60.44% | 8.54% | 16.21% | 10.50% |
| 2012 | 62.17% | 7.62% | 16.17% | 10.05% |
| 2013 | 60.03% | 8.35% | 16.26% | 11.39% |
| 2014 | 60.20% | 8.21% | 16.52% | 11.11% |
| 2015 | 58.83% | 8.02% | 16.13% | 12.77% |
| 2016 | 59.36% | 8.61% | 16.20% | 12.01% |
| 2017 | 57.13% | 7.27% | 16.77% | 14.25% |
| 2018 | 57.89% | 6.96% | 17.74% | 12.98% |
| 2019 | 59.29% | 6.65% | 16.32% | 13.17% |
| 2020 | 55.02% | 8.82% | 16.82% | 12.40% |
| 2021 | 52.57% | 8.54% | 16.63% | 15.23% |
Research associate wage gap by race
According to our data, unknown research associates have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Asian research associates have the lowest average salary at $64,282.
| Ethnicity | Salary |
|---|---|
| Unknown | $66,420 |
| White | $64,901 |
| Black or African American | $64,291 |
| Asian | $64,282 |
| Hispanic or Latino | $65,086 |
Average research associate age
See how the average age of research associates varies based on ethnicity and gender.
Male
Female
Research associate age by race and gender
| Race | Male age | Female age |
|---|---|---|
| Black or African American | 35.5 | 38.5 |
| Unknown | 35 | 34 |
| Asian | 30 | 29 |
| Hispanic or Latino | 33 | 33 |
| White | 37 | 35 |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 39 |
Research associate age breakdown
The average age of research associates is 40+ years years old, representing 40% of the research associate population.
Research associate age breakdown
| Research Associate Years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| 40+ years | 40% |
| 30-40 years | 26% |
| 20-30 years | 33% |
Research associate educational attainment
The most common degree for research associates is bachelor's degree, with 63% of research associates earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are master's degree degree at 20% and master's degree degree at 11%.
- Bachelor's, 63%
- Master's, 20%
- Doctorate, 11%
- Associate, 3%
- Other Degrees, 3%
Research associates by degree level
| Research associate degree | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 63% |
| Master's | 20% |
| Doctorate | 11% |
| Associate | 3% |
| Other Degrees | 3% |
Research associate jobs you might like
Research associate wage gap by degree level
According to the data, research associates with a Master's degree earn more than those without, at $69,492 annually. With a Associate degree, research associates earn a median annual income of $63,340 compared to $60,810 for research associates with an Bachelor's degree.
| Education | Salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $69,492 |
| High School Diploma or Less | $58,537 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $60,810 |
| Some College/ Associate Degree | $63,340 |
Research associate employment statistics
Most research associates work for a education in the education industry.
Company size where research associates work
Below, you can see the size of companies where research associates work.
Research associate jobs by employer size
| Company size | Percentages |
|---|---|
| < 50 employees | 2% |
| 50 - 100 employees | 8% |
| 100 - 500 employees | 14% |
| 500 - 1,000 employees | 8% |
| 1,000 - 10,000 employees | 43% |
| > 10,000 employees | 25% |
Research associate jobs by company type
Employees with the research associate job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. For instance, most research associates prefer to work at education companies over private companies.
Research associate jobs by sector
| Company type | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 46% |
| Public | 23% |
| Private | 28% |
| Government | 3% |
Research associate jobs by industry
The most common industries for research associates are education, health care and professional.
Research associate industry statistics
| Industry | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Education | 38% |
| Health Care | 17% |
| Professional | 9% |
| Finance | 8% |
| Fortune 500 | 6% |
| Manufacturing | 5% |
| Pharmaceutical | 5% |
| Non Profits | 3% |
| Technology | 3% |
| Government | 2% |
| Media | 1% |
| Retail | 1% |
| Start-up | 1% |
Research associate turnover and employment statistics
Research associate unemployment rate over time
The unemployment rate for research associates between 2008 and the most recent data has varied, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Research associate unemployment rate by year
| Year | Research associate unemployment rate |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 7.78% |
| 2011 | 6.41% |
| 2012 | 6.49% |
| 2013 | 6.74% |
| 2014 | 6.13% |
| 2015 | 4.16% |
| 2016 | 4.16% |
| 2017 | 4.43% |
| 2018 | 4.24% |
| 2019 | 3.68% |
| 2020 | 3.86% |
| 2021 | 4.42% |
Average research associate tenure
The average research associate stays at their job for 1-2 years, based on the 49,981 research associates resumes in Zippia's database.
Research associate tenure statistics
| Number of years | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | 23% |
| 1-2 years | 39% |
| 3-4 years | 15% |
| 5-7 years | 13% |
| 8-10 years | 5% |
| 11+ years | 6% |
Research associate LGBT ratio compared to similar jobs
Review the percent of research associates that are members of the LGBT community. You can see how this compares to similar jobs in the chart below.
| Job title | LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Fishery Observer | 5.71% | 405 |
| Feed Research Aide | 7.88% | 85,652 |
| Research Associate | 8.16% | - |
| Textile Colorist Formulator | 9.49% | 236 |
Similar research associate jobs LGBT demographics
| Profession | Percentages of LGBT | Job openings |
|---|---|---|
| Fishery Observer | 5.71% | 405 |
| Feed Research Aide | 7.88% | 85,652 |
| Textile Colorist Formulator | 9.49% | 236 |
Foreign languages spoken by research associates
The most common foreign language among research associates is Spanish at 34.2%. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is French at 13.0% and Chinese is the third-most popular at 10.1%.
- Spanish, 34.2%
- French, 13.0%
- Chinese, 10.1%
- Mandarin, 6.6%
- German, 5.5%
- Other, 30.6%
Research associate languages spoken
| Foreign language | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 34.2% |
| French | 13.0% |
| Chinese | 10.1% |
| Mandarin | 6.6% |
| German | 5.5% |
| Other | 30.6% |
