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The average salary for a Research Methodologist is approximately $83,453 per year, translating to about $40 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on experience, education, and geographic location. For example, methodologists with advanced degrees or those working in high-demand urban areas often earn higher salaries.
In states such as California and New York, salaries can exceed the national average due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. Research Methodologists in these regions can expect to earn between $85,000 and $100,000 annually.
As a Research Methodologist, you may find opportunities in various sectors, including healthcare, government, and educational institutions. The demand for skilled methodologists is growing as organizations increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making. This role not only offers competitive compensation but also the chance to make a significant impact through research and analysis.
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The highest-paying states for research methodologists are Maryland, Washington, and West Virginia. The lowest average research methodologist salary states are Arkansas, Florida, and Pennsylvania.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maine | $110,638 | $53.19 |
| 2 | West Virginia | $111,341 | $53.53 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $104,656 | $50.32 |
| 4 | Ohio | $110,874 | $53.30 |
| 5 | Colorado | $103,790 | $49.90 |
| 6 | Idaho | $110,223 | $52.99 |
| 7 | Indiana | $107,053 | $51.47 |
| 8 | Arizona | $98,895 | $47.55 |
| 9 | Washington | $117,361 | $56.42 |
| 10 | Maryland | $120,113 | $57.75 |
| 11 | Kentucky | $107,279 | $51.58 |
| 12 | Virginia | $98,346 | $47.28 |
| 13 | California | $95,878 | $46.10 |
| 14 | South Carolina | $106,608 | $51.25 |
| 15 | Nebraska | $81,893 | $39.37 |
| 16 | Utah | $84,939 | $40.84 |
| 17 | New York | $107,471 | $51.67 |
| 18 | Missouri | $82,772 | $39.79 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $86,719 | $41.69 |
| 20 | Alaska | $103,042 | $49.54 |
| 21 | Rhode Island | $77,736 | $37.37 |
| 22 | Mississippi | $83,641 | $40.21 |
| 23 | North Dakota | $82,334 | $39.58 |
| 24 | Illinois | $78,208 | $37.60 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $77,296 | $37.16 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $76,226 | $36.65 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $97,062 | $46.66 |
| 28 | Michigan | $74,811 | $35.97 |
| 29 | South Dakota | $74,574 | $35.85 |
| 30 | Connecticut | $77,677 | $37.34 |
| 31 | Oregon | $75,175 | $36.14 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $74,651 | $35.89 |
| 33 | Nevada | $78,371 | $37.68 |
| 34 | Massachusetts | $77,234 | $37.13 |
| 35 | Hawaii | $83,067 | $39.94 |
| 36 | Delaware | $76,949 | $36.99 |
| 37 | Montana | $76,114 | $36.59 |
| 38 | Louisiana | $77,627 | $37.32 |
| 39 | Vermont | $74,313 | $35.73 |
| 40 | Kansas | $75,958 | $36.52 |
| 41 | Iowa | $75,980 | $36.53 |
| 42 | Tennessee | $70,814 | $34.05 |
| 43 | Texas | $73,300 | $35.24 |
| 44 | Pennsylvania | $62,400 | $30.00 |
| 45 | Oklahoma | $73,459 | $35.32 |
| 46 | Georgia | $73,311 | $35.25 |
| 47 | Minnesota | $56,304 | $27.07 |
| 48 | Wyoming | $55,479 | $26.67 |
| 49 | Florida | $62,666 | $30.13 |
| 50 | Arkansas | $70,321 | $33.81 |
| 51 | Alabama | $56,387 | $27.11 |
The highest-paying cities for research methodologists are Morgantown, WV, New York, NY, and Stanford, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Morgantown, WV | $112,880 | $54.27 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $107,625 | $51.74 |
| 3 | Stanford, CA | $100,645 | $48.39 |
| 4 | Springfield, VA | $99,242 | $47.71 |
| 5 | Fort Belvoir, VA | $99,220 | $47.70 |
| 6 | Chantilly, VA | $99,127 | $47.66 |
| 7 | Quantico, VA | $98,977 | $47.59 |
| 8 | Washington, DC | $97,095 | $46.68 |
| 9 | Parkton, NC | $86,567 | $41.62 |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | $85,858 | $41.28 |
| 11 | Springfield, MO | $83,066 | $39.94 |
| 12 | Chicago, IL | $78,477 | $37.73 |
| 13 | Itasca, IL | $78,303 | $37.65 |
| 14 | Waltham, MA | $77,163 | $37.10 |
| 15 | Oldsmar, FL | $63,342 | $30.45 |
| 16 | Newtown, PA | $62,783 | $30.18 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $62,721 | $30.15 |
A research methodologist's salary ranges from $58,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $118,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $118,000 | $9,833 | $57 |
| 75th Percentile | $100,000 | $8,333 | $48 |
| Average | $83,453 | $6,954 | $40 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 10th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
The highest paying types of research methodologists are survey operations director, junior research associate, and research archaeologist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field Researcher | $25,347 | $2,112 | $12.19 | 49,321 |
| Data Research Analyst | $57,865 | $4,822 | $27.82 | 135,144 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
Top companies hiring research methodologists now:
Research methodologist salaries at Microsoft and Parsons are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research methodologist salary at companies like Bluehawk Consulting and Celestar are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft | $136,405 | $65.58 |
| 2 | Parsons | $124,837 | $60.02 |
| 3 | Bluehawk Consulting | $95,263 | $45.80 |
| 4 | Celestar | $86,788 | $41.73 |
| 5 | Nielsen Holdings | $84,995 | $40.86 |
| 6 | Prescient Edge | $84,970 | $40.85 |
| 7 | West Virginia University | $83,830 | $40.30 |
| 8 | Stanford University | $83,663 | $40.22 |
| 9 | NORC at the University of Chicago | $83,577 | $40.18 |
| 10 | BAE Systems | $80,954 | $38.92 |
| 11 | The International | $78,211 | $37.60 |
| 12 | The American Academy | $68,611 | $32.99 |
| 13 | University of North Carolina | $66,787 | $32.11 |
| 14 | University of Pennsylvania | $61,879 | $29.75 |
| 15 | American University | $60,137 | $28.91 |
The average research methodologist salary has risen by $27,488 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research methodologist earned $55,965 annually, but today, they earn $83,453 a year. That works out to a 10% change in pay for research methodologists over the last decade.
Compare research methodologist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare research methodologist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $83,500 | $40.12 | +1.2% |
| 2024 | $82,500 | $39.65 | +2.5% |
| 2023 | $80,400 | $38.67 | +5.9% |
| 2022 | $75,600 | $36.37 | -0.4% |
| 2021 | $75,900 | $36.50 | +1.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NORC at The University of Chicago | Research Methodologist II | Chicago, IL | 09/22/2024 | $108,000 |
| NORC | Research Methodologist II | Chicago, IL | 09/19/2024 | $108,000 |
| Leidos | Research Methodologist/Psychologist Within Behavioral Analysis Research | Bethesda, MD | 07/04/2024 | $122,200 |
| Leidos | Research Methodologist/Psychologist Within Behavioral Analysis Research | Bethesda, MD | 07/04/2024 | $122,200 |
| Leidos | Research Methodologist/Psychologist Within Behavioral Analysis Research | Washington, DC | 07/01/2024 | $122,200 |
| Leidos | Research Methodologist/Psychologist Within Behavioral Analysis Research | Arlington, VA | 07/01/2024 | $122,200 |
| U of C NORC | Research Methodologist I | Bethesda, MD | 05/29/2024 | $91,000 |
| U of C NORC | Research Methodologist I | Chicago, IL | 05/29/2024 | $91,000 |
| U of C NORC | Research Methodologist I | Bethesda, MD | 05/20/2024 | $91,000 |
| U of C NORC | Research Methodologist I | Chicago, IL | 05/20/2024 | $91,000 |
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