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Research associate salary
Average research associate salary
$60,166
Average Research Associate Salary
The average salary for a Research Associate in the United States is $60,166 per year. Salaries can vary based on factors like location, experience, and the specific industry. For instance, research associates in the biotech sector may earn more due to the specialized skills required. Understanding the salary estimates across different states can also provide insights into earning potential.
Where Can Research Associates Earn More?
Research Associates in states such as California, Massachusetts, and New York typically command higher salaries, reflecting the demand and cost of living in these areas. For example, the highest paying states offer salaries significantly above the national average, providing opportunities for career advancement.
Additionally, pursuing advanced degrees or specialized certifications can enhance earning potential. Research positions in academia, government, and private sectors also differ in compensation, with private sector roles often providing the best financial rewards. By comparing salaries across various industries and locations, you can identify the best opportunities that align with your career goals.
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Where can a Research Associate earn more?
Research associate salary estimates from across the web
Average research associate salary by state
The highest-paying states for research associates are Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The lowest average research associate salary states are South Dakota, Iowa, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $71,991 | $34.61 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $69,731 | $33.52 |
| 3 | New Mexico | $63,145 | $30.36 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $68,933 | $33.14 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $68,059 | $32.72 |
| 6 | Delaware | $65,974 | $31.72 |
| 7 | Oregon | $59,457 | $28.59 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $58,703 | $28.22 |
| 9 | Illinois | $61,086 | $29.37 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | $56,461 | $27.14 |
| 11 | Alaska | $64,145 | $30.84 |
| 12 | New York | $60,060 | $28.88 |
| 13 | California | $60,536 | $29.10 |
| 14 | Georgia | $61,926 | $29.77 |
| 15 | North Carolina | $57,606 | $27.70 |
| 16 | New Hampshire | $56,675 | $27.25 |
| 17 | Minnesota | $56,190 | $27.01 |
| 18 | Maryland | $57,545 | $27.67 |
| 19 | West Virginia | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| 20 | Washington | $53,804 | $25.87 |
| 21 | Idaho | $56,334 | $27.08 |
| 22 | South Carolina | $57,255 | $27.53 |
| 23 | Florida | $55,934 | $26.89 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $55,230 | $26.55 |
| 25 | Virginia | $53,766 | $25.85 |
| 26 | Colorado | $52,194 | $25.09 |
| 27 | Ohio | $50,974 | $24.51 |
| 28 | Maine | $52,248 | $25.12 |
| 29 | Missouri | $50,372 | $24.22 |
| 30 | Arizona | $52,510 | $25.25 |
| 31 | Indiana | $50,850 | $24.45 |
| 32 | Michigan | $50,397 | $24.23 |
| 33 | Vermont | $48,512 | $23.32 |
| 34 | Louisiana | $52,632 | $25.30 |
| 35 | Nevada | $52,002 | $25.00 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $56,419 | $27.12 |
| 37 | Wisconsin | $49,889 | $23.99 |
| 38 | Utah | $48,658 | $23.39 |
| 39 | Arkansas | $49,777 | $23.93 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $46,488 | $22.35 |
| 41 | Nebraska | $47,067 | $22.63 |
| 42 | Wyoming | $46,504 | $22.36 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $47,755 | $22.96 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $48,021 | $23.09 |
| 45 | South Dakota | $43,355 | $20.84 |
| 46 | Kansas | $45,420 | $21.84 |
| 47 | Texas | $41,885 | $20.14 |
| 48 | Montana | $41,781 | $20.09 |
| 49 | Iowa | $43,022 | $20.68 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $40,614 | $19.53 |
| 51 | Alabama | $41,883 | $20.14 |
Highest paying cities for research associates
The highest-paying cities for research associates are Worcester, MA, Newark, NJ, and Washington, DC.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Worcester, MA | $72,205 | $34.71 |
| 2 | Newark, NJ | $69,764 | $33.54 |
| 3 | Washington, DC | $68,100 | $32.74 |
| 4 | Newark, DE | $65,978 | $31.72 |
| 5 | San Francisco, CA | $63,461 | $30.51 |
| 6 | Atlanta, GA | $61,616 | $29.62 |
| 7 | Chicago, IL | $61,394 | $29.52 |
| 8 | New York, NY | $60,288 | $28.98 |
| 9 | Portland, OR | $59,206 | $28.46 |
| 10 | Raleigh, NC | $58,561 | $28.15 |
| 11 | Miami, FL | $57,821 | $27.80 |
| 12 | Baltimore, MD | $57,794 | $27.79 |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,868 | $27.34 |
| 14 | Minneapolis, MN | $56,168 | $27.00 |
| 15 | Seattle, WA | $54,420 | $26.16 |
| 16 | Charlottesville, VA | $52,805 | $25.39 |
| 17 | Portland, ME | $52,730 | $25.35 |
| 18 | Baton Rouge, LA | $52,633 | $25.30 |
| 19 | Cleveland, OH | $52,279 | $25.13 |
| 20 | Boulder, CO | $52,162 | $25.08 |
Research Associates are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Research associate salary details
A research associate's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $87,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $87,000 | $7,250 | $42 |
| 75th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| Average | $60,166 | $5,014 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying research associate jobs
The highest paying types of research associates are research leader, scientist, and research and development scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
| Laboratory Researcher | $27,760 | $2,313 | $13.35 | 57,359 |
| Graduate Research Student | $34,658 | $2,888 | $16.66 | 58,921 |
| Research And Development Technician | $83,552 | $6,963 | $40.17 | 111,268 |
| Research And Development Scientist | $90,278 | $7,523 | $43.40 | 129,803 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for research associates, 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 associates now:
Which companies pay research associates the most?
Research associate salaries at The Citadel and Urban Institute are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research associate salary at companies like Putnam Investments and Edelman Financial Engines are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Citadel | $121,378 | $58.35 |
| 2 | Urban Institute | $116,707 | $56.11 |
| 3 | Putnam Investments | $114,559 | $55.08 |
| 4 | Edelman Financial Engines | $114,270 | $54.94 |
| 5 | BMO Capital Markets | $113,274 | $54.46 |
| 6 | $113,097 | $54.37 | |
| 7 | Neuberger Berman | $111,652 | $53.68 |
| 8 | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC | $111,228 | $53.48 |
| 9 | PDT Partners | $110,078 | $52.92 |
| 10 | Sentinel Benefits | $109,950 | $52.86 |
| 11 | Wedbush Securities | $109,663 | $52.72 |
| 12 | AQR Capital Management | $109,174 | $52.49 |
| 13 | Dodge & Cox | $108,344 | $52.09 |
| 14 | Microsoft | $107,647 | $51.75 |
| 15 | Cowen | $107,255 | $51.56 |
| 16 | International Center for Research on Women | $107,034 | $51.46 |
| 17 | Coatue Management | $106,671 | $51.28 |
| 18 | William Blair | $106,348 | $51.13 |
| 19 | Sterne Agee & Leach Inc | $106,201 | $51.06 |
| 20 | Royal Bank of Canada | $105,811 | $50.87 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research Associate salary by industry
The average research associate salary varies across industries:
- The average research associate salary in the finance industry is $84,005, the highest of any industry.
- The average research associate salary in the finance industry is $79,853.
- Research associates in the education industry earn an average salary of $58,655, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for research associates
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Finance | $84,005 | $40.39 |
| 2 | Pharmaceutical | $79,853 | $38.39 |
| 3 | Health Care | $65,943 | $31.70 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $64,996 | $31.25 |
| 5 | Professional | $63,096 | $30.33 |
| 6 | Education | $58,655 | $28.20 |
High paying research associate jobs
Research associate salary trends
The average research associate salary has risen by $12,727 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research associate earned $47,439 annually, but today, they earn $60,166 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for research associates over the last decade.
Compare research associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research associate salary over time
Compare research associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $60,200 | $28.93 | +3.5% |
| 2024 | $58,100 | $27.93 | +1.8% |
| 2023 | $57,000 | $27.42 | +1.4% |
| 2022 | $56,200 | $27.04 | +6.1% |
| 2021 | $52,800 | $25.39 | +1.6% |
Recently added research associate salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Arkansas | Ualrs Research Associate | Little Rock, AR | 06/30/2025 | $60,000 |
| Franklin Templeton | Research Associate (Dynatech Fund) | San Mateo, CA | 06/30/2025 | $100,000 |
| Neuberger Berman | Research Associate | Day, NY | 06/30/2025 | $145,000 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | Maritime Research Associate | Wilmington, NC | 06/30/2025 | $77,619 |
| University of Colorado | Research Associate | Aurora, CO | 06/30/2025 | $70,000 |
| Trustage | Research Associate, Filene | Dallas, TX | 06/30/2025 | $55,300 |
| Natera | Research Associate 2 | San Carlos, CA | 06/29/2025 | $68,100 |
| Ketchum | Insights and Strategic Research Associate Managing Consultant, Ketchum Analytics | Raleigh, NC | 06/29/2025 | $85,000 |
| Dodge & Cox | 2025 Global Bond Research Associate | San Francisco, CA | 06/29/2025 | $155,000 |
| KBI Biopharma Inc. | Research Associate II | Durham, NC | 06/29/2025 | $63,000 |
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