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Associate staff scientist salary
Average associate staff scientist salary
$88,792
Detailed Overview of Associate Staff Scientist Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for an Associate Staff Scientist in the United States is approximately $88,792 per year or $43 per hour. This salary varies significantly depending on the state and industry in which a scientist works. For instance, states such as California and Massachusetts are known for offering higher compensation due to the concentration of biotech and pharmaceutical companies.
Factors influencing salary include years of experience, with seasoned professionals commanding higher pay. Emerging technologies and specialized fields also impact earning potential, as they often demand advanced skills and expertise. In addition, job roles in metropolitan areas typically offer higher salaries compared to rural locations.
For those considering a career as an Associate Staff Scientist, understanding regional salary differences and industry trends is crucial. This role not only offers competitive compensation but also opportunities for professional development within various sectors, including healthcare, environmental science, and academia.
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Where can an Associate Staff Scientist earn more?
Average associate staff scientist salary by state
The highest-paying states for associate staff scientists are Rhode Island, Connecticut, and California. The lowest average associate staff scientist salary states are North Dakota, South Carolina, and Oklahoma.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for associate staff scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $104,096 | $50.05 |
| 2 | California | $102,743 | $49.40 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $97,043 | $46.66 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $102,750 | $49.40 |
| 5 | Maine | $92,176 | $44.32 |
| 6 | Massachusetts | $85,129 | $40.93 |
| 7 | Nevada | $90,735 | $43.62 |
| 8 | Delaware | $86,882 | $41.77 |
| 9 | New York | $82,700 | $39.76 |
| 10 | Illinois | $79,729 | $38.33 |
| 11 | Montana | $82,337 | $39.59 |
| 12 | Hawaii | $91,164 | $43.83 |
| 13 | Pennsylvania | $74,754 | $35.94 |
| 14 | Vermont | $77,209 | $37.12 |
| 15 | Oregon | $77,540 | $37.28 |
| 16 | Arizona | $81,778 | $39.32 |
| 17 | Maryland | $76,881 | $36.96 |
| 18 | Indiana | $79,307 | $38.13 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $73,446 | $35.31 |
| 20 | New Hampshire | $75,025 | $36.07 |
| 21 | Michigan | $78,087 | $37.54 |
| 22 | Washington | $71,671 | $34.46 |
| 23 | Ohio | $75,325 | $36.21 |
| 24 | Tennessee | $75,508 | $36.30 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $74,269 | $35.71 |
| 26 | Wisconsin | $70,174 | $33.74 |
| 27 | Virginia | $64,123 | $30.83 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $65,254 | $31.37 |
| 29 | Idaho | $67,790 | $32.59 |
| 30 | Missouri | $63,553 | $30.55 |
| 31 | New Mexico | $62,123 | $29.87 |
| 32 | District of Columbia | $70,246 | $33.77 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $62,445 | $30.02 |
| 34 | Kentucky | $62,408 | $30.00 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $57,521 | $27.65 |
| 36 | Alaska | $62,829 | $30.21 |
| 37 | Colorado | $59,070 | $28.40 |
| 38 | West Virginia | $59,095 | $28.41 |
| 39 | Kansas | $56,065 | $26.95 |
| 40 | Texas | $55,366 | $26.62 |
| 41 | Alabama | $55,888 | $26.87 |
| 42 | Georgia | $57,862 | $27.82 |
| 43 | Florida | $58,355 | $28.06 |
| 44 | Utah | $48,890 | $23.50 |
| 45 | Iowa | $56,182 | $27.01 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $55,624 | $26.74 |
| 47 | North Dakota | $54,493 | $26.20 |
| 48 | South Carolina | $52,658 | $25.32 |
| 49 | Louisiana | $46,584 | $22.40 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $52,326 | $25.16 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $49,867 | $23.97 |
Highest paying cities for associate staff scientists
The highest-paying cities for associate staff scientists are San Carlos, CA, Tucson, AZ, and Eugene, OR.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Carlos, CA | $110,050 | $52.91 |
| 2 | Tucson, AZ | $81,399 | $39.13 |
| 3 | Eugene, OR | $78,845 | $37.91 |
| 4 | Cleveland, OH | $77,289 | $37.16 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $77,210 | $37.12 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $75,519 | $36.31 |
| 7 | Cary, NC | $74,487 | $35.81 |
| 8 | Oklahoma City, OK | $52,453 | $25.22 |
Associate staff scientist salary details
An associate staff scientist's salary ranges from $62,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $126,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is an associate staff scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $126,000 | $10,500 | $61 |
| 75th Percentile | $106,000 | $8,833 | $51 |
| Average | $88,792 | $7,399 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $73,000 | $6,083 | $35 |
| 10th Percentile | $62,000 | $5,167 | $30 |
Highest paying associate staff scientist jobs
The highest paying types of associate staff scientists are medical science liaison, principal scientist, and senior scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fellow | $66,364 | $5,530 | $31.91 | 7,459 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| PHD Researcher | $51,634 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 19,736 |
| Researcher | $67,145 | $5,595 | $32.28 | 30,498 |
| Research Laboratory Manager | $64,333 | $5,361 | $30.93 | 89,981 |
| Doctoral Fellow | $53,366 | $4,447 | $25.66 | 22,661 |
Top companies hiring associate staff scientists now:
Which companies pay associate staff scientists the most?
Associate staff scientist salaries at SAS Institute and Stanford University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average associate staff scientist salary at companies like Synthetic Genomics and QC Ware are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SAS Institute | $117,613 | $56.54 |
| 2 | Stanford University | $97,196 | $46.73 |
| 3 | Synthetic Genomics | $93,607 | $45.00 |
| 4 | QC Ware | $87,729 | $42.18 |
| 5 | Integrated Decision System Inc | $87,729 | $42.18 |
| 6 | The Wistar Institute | $83,286 | $40.04 |
| 7 | Cleveland Clinic | $72,663 | $34.93 |
| 8 | Carnegie Mellon University | $69,463 | $33.40 |
| 9 | University of Arizona Foundation | $63,151 | $30.36 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Associate Staff Scientist salary by industry
The average associate staff scientist salary varies across industries:
- The average associate staff scientist salary in the technology industry is $115,110, the highest of any industry.
- The average associate staff scientist salary in the finance industry is $97,172.
- Associate staff scientists in the non profits industry earn an average salary of $83,194, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for associate staff scientists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $115,110 | $55.34 |
| 2 | Education | $97,172 | $46.72 |
| 3 | Health Care | $91,074 | $43.79 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $83,194 | $40.00 |
High paying associate staff scientist jobs
Associate staff scientist salary trends
The average associate staff scientist salary has risen by $14,923 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average associate staff scientist earned $73,869 annually, but today, they earn $88,792 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for associate staff scientists over the last decade.
Compare associate staff scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average associate staff scientist salary over time
Compare associate staff scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Associate staff scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $88,800 | $42.69 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $86,200 | $41.42 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $82,300 | $39.56 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $79,700 | $38.29 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $78,100 | $37.57 | -2.1% |
Recently added associate staff scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Stem Cell Foundation | Associate Staff Scientist, Computational Biology & Image Analysis | New York, NY | 06/09/2025 | $80,000 |
| New York Stem Cell Foundation | Associate Staff Scientist, Computational Biology & Image Analysis | New York, NY | 04/28/2025 | $80,000 |
| New York Stem Cell Foundation | Associate Staff Scientist, Computational Biology & Image Analysis | New York, NY | 03/28/2025 | $80,000 |
| New York Stem Cell Foundation | Associate Staff Scientist, Computational Biology & Image Analysis | New York, NY | 02/18/2025 | $80,000 |
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | Associate Staff Scientist | Cincinnati, OH | 02/17/2025 | $64,896 |
| The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology | Associate Staff Scientist | Philadelphia, PA | 02/03/2025 | $71,000 |
| The New York Stem Cell Foundation | Associate Staff Scientist, Computational Biology & Image Analysis | New York, NY | 01/27/2025 | $80,000 |
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | Associate Staff Scientist | Cincinnati, OH | 01/10/2025 | $66,581 |
| Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | Associate Staff Scientist | Cincinnati, OH | 01/10/2025 | $65,000 |
| The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology | Associate Staff Scientist | Philadelphia, PA | 12/20/2024 | $70,000 |
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