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Associate research scientist salary
Average associate research scientist salary
$72,409
Average Salary Insights
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Associate Research Scientist is approximately $72,409 per year. This figure can vary based on factors such as geographical location, years of experience, and the specific industry. For instance, states with a higher cost of living tend to offer greater salaries. The demand for research scientists is growing, particularly in sectors like biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, where innovative research is essential.
Job Opportunities
In addition to a competitive salary, Associate Research Scientists can find opportunities across various industries. High-paying positions can be found in research institutions, universities, and private sector companies. The growth of technology and healthcare sectors has opened numerous doors for those in this profession. Prospective job seekers should consider both their educational background and experience when applying for positions, as these factors can significantly influence salary expectations.
Where to Find Higher Salaries
To maximize earning potential, Research Scientists may explore higher-paying states such as California, New York, and Massachusetts. Networking within the industry and seeking additional certifications can also enhance career prospects and salary potential.
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Where can an Associate Research Scientist earn more?
Associate research scientist salary estimates from across the web
Average associate research scientist salary by state
The average associate research scientist salary in California, New Jersey, and Maine are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average associate research scientist salary states are New Mexico, Missouri, and Utah.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for associate research scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $95,052 | $45.70 |
| 2 | California | $100,080 | $48.12 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $82,013 | $39.43 |
| 4 | Delaware | $82,543 | $39.68 |
| 5 | Tennessee | $93,695 | $45.05 |
| 6 | Maryland | $85,701 | $41.20 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $77,471 | $37.25 |
| 8 | Maine | $94,140 | $45.26 |
| 9 | Massachusetts | $76,128 | $36.60 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $79,292 | $38.12 |
| 11 | Virginia | $75,430 | $36.26 |
| 12 | Indiana | $85,085 | $40.91 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $75,534 | $36.31 |
| 14 | Montana | $74,626 | $35.88 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $75,844 | $36.46 |
| 16 | Vermont | $68,142 | $32.76 |
| 17 | Oregon | $68,807 | $33.08 |
| 18 | Michigan | $72,828 | $35.01 |
| 19 | Illinois | $69,961 | $33.64 |
| 20 | Arizona | $72,380 | $34.80 |
| 21 | New York | $70,385 | $33.84 |
| 22 | Alaska | $75,083 | $36.10 |
| 23 | Hawaii | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $63,639 | $30.60 |
| 25 | Washington | $69,879 | $33.60 |
| 26 | New Hampshire | $64,055 | $30.80 |
| 27 | Ohio | $66,558 | $32.00 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $61,476 | $29.56 |
| 29 | Nevada | $66,616 | $32.03 |
| 30 | Colorado | $61,173 | $29.41 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $65,438 | $31.46 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $59,967 | $28.83 |
| 33 | South Dakota | $53,058 | $25.51 |
| 34 | Iowa | $59,755 | $28.73 |
| 35 | Nebraska | $57,728 | $27.75 |
| 36 | Arkansas | $59,019 | $28.37 |
| 37 | West Virginia | $56,489 | $27.16 |
| 38 | Idaho | $55,907 | $26.88 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $58,293 | $28.03 |
| 40 | Georgia | $57,635 | $27.71 |
| 41 | New Mexico | $52,033 | $25.02 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $53,531 | $25.74 |
| 43 | Kansas | $56,144 | $26.99 |
| 44 | Florida | $56,525 | $27.18 |
| 45 | Utah | $50,364 | $24.21 |
| 46 | Texas | $54,675 | $26.29 |
| 47 | Alabama | $56,332 | $27.08 |
| 48 | Missouri | $50,543 | $24.30 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $44,464 | $21.38 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $45,837 | $22.04 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $41,375 | $19.89 |
Highest paying cities for associate research scientists
The highest-paying cities for associate research scientists are South San Francisco, CA, New Brunswick, NJ, and Baltimore, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South San Francisco, CA | $107,331 | $51.60 |
| 2 | New Brunswick, NJ | $94,974 | $45.66 |
| 3 | Baltimore, MD | $85,869 | $41.28 |
| 4 | West Lafayette, IN | $84,906 | $40.82 |
| 5 | Farmington, CT | $79,450 | $38.20 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $77,687 | $37.35 |
| 7 | Boston, MA | $76,319 | $36.69 |
| 8 | Richmond, VA | $75,286 | $36.20 |
| 9 | Midland, MI | $73,140 | $35.16 |
| 10 | Tempe, AZ | $72,348 | $34.78 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $71,112 | $34.19 |
| 12 | New York, NY | $70,432 | $33.86 |
| 13 | Chicago, IL | $70,256 | $33.78 |
| 14 | Washington, DC | $65,468 | $31.48 |
| 15 | Laramie, WY | $61,345 | $29.49 |
| 16 | Boulder, CO | $61,195 | $29.42 |
| 17 | Iowa City, IA | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| 18 | Oklahoma City, OK | $58,278 | $28.02 |
| 19 | Atlanta, GA | $57,705 | $27.74 |
| 20 | San Antonio, TX | $56,017 | $26.93 |
Associate research scientist salary details
An associate research scientist's salary ranges from $49,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $104,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an associate research scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $104,000 | $8,667 | $50 |
| 75th Percentile | $88,000 | $7,333 | $42 |
| Average | $72,409 | $6,034 | $35 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
Highest paying associate research scientist jobs
The highest paying types of associate research scientists are medical science liaison, senior scientist, and scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $64,961 | $5,413 | $31.23 | 20,221 |
| Microbiologist | $54,620 | $4,552 | $26.26 | 11,444 |
| Medical Science Liaison | $145,718 | $12,143 | $70.06 | 57,208 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
Top companies hiring associate research scientists now:
Which companies pay associate research scientists the most?
Associate research scientist salaries at Yahoo and Zulily are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average associate research scientist salary at companies like Turner Broadcasting and Cargill are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yahoo | $127,579 | $61.34 |
| 2 | Zulily | $117,420 | $56.45 |
| 3 | Turner Broadcasting | $114,090 | $54.85 |
| 4 | Cargill | $101,953 | $49.02 |
| 5 | Goldman Sachs | $101,809 | $48.95 |
| 6 | Brookhaven National Laboratory | $100,915 | $48.52 |
| 7 | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | $100,456 | $48.30 |
| 8 | Autodesk | $98,155 | $47.19 |
| 9 | Conagra Brands | $97,718 | $46.98 |
| 10 | Gillette | $97,351 | $46.80 |
| 11 | Cytokinetics | $96,807 | $46.54 |
| 12 | Philip Morris International | $93,996 | $45.19 |
| 13 | Exelixis | $93,893 | $45.14 |
| 14 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $92,496 | $44.47 |
| 15 | P&G | $91,045 | $43.77 |
| 16 | The Dow Chemical Company | $90,952 | $43.73 |
| 17 | The Metropolitan Museum of Art | $90,402 | $43.46 |
| 18 | Northrop Grumman | $88,537 | $42.57 |
| 19 | NMC | $88,248 | $42.43 |
| 20 | Biogen | $87,584 | $42.11 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Associate Research Scientist salary by industry
The average associate research scientist salary varies across industries:
- The average associate research scientist salary in the manufacturing industry is $85,321, the highest of any industry.
- The average associate research scientist salary in the finance industry is $81,031.
- Associate research scientists in the education industry earn an average salary of $73,442, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for associate research scientists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $85,321 | $41.02 |
| 2 | Health Care | $81,031 | $38.96 |
| 3 | Pharmaceutical | $80,970 | $38.93 |
| 4 | Education | $73,442 | $35.31 |
High paying associate research scientist jobs
Associate research scientist salary trends
The average associate research scientist salary has risen by $12,169 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average associate research scientist earned $60,240 annually, but today, they earn $72,409 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for associate research scientists over the last decade.
Compare associate research scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average associate research scientist salary over time
Compare associate research scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Associate research scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $72,400 | $34.81 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $70,300 | $33.78 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $67,100 | $32.26 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $65,000 | $31.23 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $63,700 | $30.64 | -2.1% |
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