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Biology research assistant salary
Average biology research assistant salary
$50,800
Average Biology Research Assistant Salary
The average salary for a Biology Research Assistant is $50,800 annually, equating to approximately $24 per hour. Salaries can fluctuate based on factors such as geographic location, industry, and years of experience.
Salary by State
In states like California and Massachusetts, salaries tend to be higher than the national average, with many positions offering between $55,000 to $65,000 annually. This reflects the demand for skilled research assistants in these regions.
Industry Insights
Biology research assistants are employed in various sectors, including academia, healthcare, and biotechnology. Positions in biotech companies generally offer higher salaries compared to academic settings. Furthermore, research assistants working in government or private laboratories may also see salary benefits.
Opportunities for Advancement
With additional experience or education, biology research assistants can advance to roles such as laboratory managers or research scientists, often leading to significant salary increases.
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Where can a Biology Research Assistant earn more?
Biology research assistant salary estimates from across the web
Average biology research assistant salary by state
The average biology research assistant salary in New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average biology research assistant salary states are Ohio, Vermont, and Michigan.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for biology research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $71,227 | $34.24 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $72,297 | $34.76 |
| 3 | Rhode Island | $58,312 | $28.03 |
| 4 | Delaware | $60,817 | $29.24 |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | $56,236 | $27.04 |
| 6 | New Hampshire | $57,039 | $27.42 |
| 7 | Washington | $63,317 | $30.44 |
| 8 | Illinois | $57,571 | $27.68 |
| 9 | West Virginia | $54,282 | $26.10 |
| 10 | Alaska | $59,873 | $28.79 |
| 11 | North Carolina | $58,763 | $28.25 |
| 12 | Minnesota | $55,652 | $26.76 |
| 13 | District of Columbia | $59,786 | $28.74 |
| 14 | Arizona | $56,254 | $27.05 |
| 15 | Maryland | $55,461 | $26.66 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $54,111 | $26.01 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $50,898 | $24.47 |
| 18 | Idaho | $54,538 | $26.22 |
| 19 | California | $59,490 | $28.60 |
| 20 | Nevada | $54,769 | $26.33 |
| 21 | New York | $50,762 | $24.40 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $52,432 | $25.21 |
| 23 | Kansas | $51,682 | $24.85 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $52,576 | $25.28 |
| 25 | Florida | $51,162 | $24.60 |
| 26 | Utah | $49,677 | $23.88 |
| 27 | Missouri | $51,936 | $24.97 |
| 28 | Maine | $50,087 | $24.08 |
| 29 | Georgia | $51,963 | $24.98 |
| 30 | Oregon | $49,070 | $23.59 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $52,168 | $25.08 |
| 32 | Iowa | $50,449 | $24.25 |
| 33 | Wisconsin | $49,734 | $23.91 |
| 34 | Mississippi | $50,632 | $24.34 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $47,725 | $22.94 |
| 36 | Montana | $49,296 | $23.70 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $49,526 | $23.81 |
| 38 | Indiana | $49,831 | $23.96 |
| 39 | Colorado | $47,316 | $22.75 |
| 40 | Tennessee | $47,323 | $22.75 |
| 41 | Virginia | $48,666 | $23.40 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $46,376 | $22.30 |
| 43 | Nebraska | $46,799 | $22.50 |
| 44 | Vermont | $43,122 | $20.73 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $43,522 | $20.92 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $48,232 | $23.19 |
| 47 | Ohio | $43,228 | $20.78 |
| 48 | Michigan | $38,257 | $18.39 |
| 49 | Texas | $35,792 | $17.21 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $36,287 | $17.45 |
| 51 | Alabama | $38,153 | $18.34 |
Highest paying cities for biology research assistants
The highest-paying cities for biology research assistants are New Brunswick, NJ, Amherst, MA, and Redwood City, CA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Brunswick, NJ | $72,357 | $34.79 |
| 2 | Amherst, MA | $71,314 | $34.29 |
| 3 | Redwood City, CA | $61,728 | $29.68 |
| 4 | Washington, DC | $59,773 | $28.74 |
| 5 | Charlotte, NC | $57,665 | $27.72 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $56,547 | $27.19 |
| 7 | Rockville, MD | $55,119 | $26.50 |
| 8 | Rochester, MN | $55,041 | $26.46 |
| 9 | Saint Louis, MO | $52,096 | $25.05 |
| 10 | Saint Petersburg, FL | $51,385 | $24.70 |
| 11 | Missoula, MT | $49,958 | $24.02 |
| 12 | Arlington, VA | $49,880 | $23.98 |
| 13 | Milwaukee, WI | $49,656 | $23.87 |
| 14 | Fargo, ND | $49,540 | $23.82 |
| 15 | Corvallis, OR | $49,267 | $23.69 |
| 16 | Knoxville, TN | $48,208 | $23.18 |
| 17 | Wooster, OH | $43,942 | $21.13 |
| 18 | San Antonio, TX | $36,570 | $17.58 |
Biology research assistant salary details
A biology research assistant's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $78,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a biology research assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
| Average | $50,800 | $4,233 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $40,000 | $3,333 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying biology research assistant jobs
The highest paying types of biology research assistants are research scientist, research assistant professor, and senior research associate.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Internship | $35,305 | $2,942 | $16.97 | 90,970 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Research Technician | $43,034 | $3,586 | $20.69 | 64,786 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
Top companies hiring biology research assistants now:
Which companies pay biology research assistants the most?
Biology research assistant salaries at Battelle and Salk Institute for Biological Studies are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average biology research assistant salary at companies like Rutgers University and Tufts University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battelle | $76,397 | $36.73 |
| 2 | Salk Institute for Biological Studies | $70,590 | $33.94 |
| 3 | Rutgers University | $64,585 | $31.05 |
| 4 | Tufts University | $63,289 | $30.43 |
| 5 | Teva Pharmaceuticals | $63,246 | $30.41 |
| 6 | Amherst College | $62,631 | $30.11 |
| 7 | Florida International University | $61,110 | $29.38 |
| 8 | The Catholic University of America | $60,895 | $29.28 |
| 9 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $60,175 | $28.93 |
| 10 | Georgetown University | $59,207 | $28.46 |
| 11 | Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center | $58,138 | $27.95 |
| 12 | Sam Houston State University | $56,449 | $27.14 |
| 13 | Thomas Jefferson University | $56,441 | $27.14 |
| 14 | PSEA | $54,979 | $26.43 |
| 15 | Stefanini | $53,876 | $25.90 |
| 16 | ICONMA | $53,527 | $25.73 |
| 17 | Dartmouth | $52,210 | $25.10 |
| 18 | Alliance for Sustainable Energy | $51,319 | $24.67 |
| 19 | The Texas A&M University System | $50,766 | $24.41 |
| 20 | Northwestern State University | $50,589 | $24.32 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Biology Research Assistant salary by industry
The average biology research assistant salary varies across industries:
- The average biology research assistant salary in the manufacturing industry is $57,871, the highest of any industry.
- The average biology research assistant salary in the finance industry is $56,799.
- Biology research assistants in the government industry earn an average salary of $39,607, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for biology research assistants
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $57,871 | $27.82 |
| 2 | Health Care | $56,799 | $27.31 |
| 3 | Education | $53,742 | $25.84 |
| 4 | Government | $39,607 | $19.04 |
High paying biology research assistant jobs
Biology research assistant salary trends
The average biology research assistant salary has risen by $10,746 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average biology research assistant earned $40,054 annually, but today, they earn $50,800 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for biology research assistants over the last decade.
Compare biology research assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average biology research assistant salary over time
Compare biology research assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Biology research assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $50,800 | $24.42 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $49,000 | $23.58 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $48,100 | $23.15 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $47,500 | $22.83 | +6.1% |
| 2022 | $44,600 | $21.44 | +1.6% |
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