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Chemistry research assistant salary
Average chemistry research assistant salary
$55,140
Average Chemistry Research Assistant Salary
As of October 2025, a Chemistry Research Assistant earns an average salary of $55,140 annually. This salary reflects the essential role these professionals play in supporting scientific research across various industries. Factors influencing salary include geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment.
Salary Variation by State
In states like California and New York, chemistry research assistants may earn significantly higher salaries than the national average due to the higher cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. For instance, the salary in California can exceed $65,000.
Opportunities in Major Cities
Cities such as San Francisco and Boston offer some of the highest-paying positions for chemistry research assistants, ranging from $60,000 to $70,000. These urban centers are home to leading research institutions and biotechnology firms, providing ample opportunities for career advancement.
Overall, pursuing a career as a chemistry research assistant can be rewarding, both intellectually and financially. With ongoing advancements in science, the demand for qualified professionals in this field continues to grow.
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Where can a Chemistry Research Assistant earn more?
Average chemistry research assistant salary by state
The average chemistry research assistant salary in Massachusetts, Delaware, and Washington are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average chemistry research assistant salary states are Ohio, Vermont, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chemistry research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $75,426 | $36.26 |
| 2 | Rhode Island | $62,195 | $29.90 |
| 3 | Delaware | $64,994 | $31.25 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $64,899 | $31.20 |
| 5 | North Carolina | $64,389 | $30.96 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | $58,607 | $28.18 |
| 7 | California | $64,405 | $30.96 |
| 8 | Illinois | $61,872 | $29.75 |
| 9 | New Hampshire | $59,708 | $28.71 |
| 10 | District of Columbia | $76,330 | $36.70 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $59,007 | $28.37 |
| 12 | Oregon | $58,822 | $28.28 |
| 13 | Arizona | $58,138 | $27.95 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $58,019 | $27.89 |
| 15 | Florida | $59,187 | $28.46 |
| 16 | Missouri | $57,411 | $27.60 |
| 17 | Washington | $64,959 | $31.23 |
| 18 | Kentucky | $58,092 | $27.93 |
| 19 | Arkansas | $58,682 | $28.21 |
| 20 | Alaska | $60,947 | $29.30 |
| 21 | Georgia | $58,005 | $27.89 |
| 22 | Kansas | $57,209 | $27.50 |
| 23 | Connecticut | $57,732 | $27.76 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $54,150 | $26.03 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $57,086 | $27.45 |
| 26 | Mississippi | $56,435 | $27.13 |
| 27 | Idaho | $56,705 | $27.26 |
| 28 | Indiana | $54,306 | $26.11 |
| 29 | Nevada | $56,700 | $27.26 |
| 30 | New York | $58,783 | $28.26 |
| 31 | Utah | $52,761 | $25.37 |
| 32 | New Mexico | $51,772 | $24.89 |
| 33 | Colorado | $51,338 | $24.68 |
| 34 | Virginia | $54,458 | $26.18 |
| 35 | Iowa | $54,081 | $26.00 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $52,899 | $25.43 |
| 37 | Maine | $50,848 | $24.45 |
| 38 | Tennessee | $49,726 | $23.91 |
| 39 | Nebraska | $50,440 | $24.25 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $48,711 | $23.42 |
| 41 | Montana | $50,420 | $24.24 |
| 42 | North Dakota | $50,111 | $24.09 |
| 43 | Vermont | $44,186 | $21.24 |
| 44 | Maryland | $54,808 | $26.35 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $53,252 | $25.60 |
| 46 | Michigan | $40,763 | $19.60 |
| 47 | Texas | $49,429 | $23.76 |
| 48 | Ohio | $46,726 | $22.46 |
| 49 | Hawaii | $30,642 | $14.73 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $37,767 | $18.16 |
| 51 | Alabama | $42,612 | $20.49 |
Highest paying cities for chemistry research assistants
The highest-paying cities for chemistry research assistants are Shrewsbury, MA, San Francisco, CA, and North Brunswick, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shrewsbury, MA | $75,769 | $36.43 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $67,810 | $32.60 |
| 3 | North Brunswick, NJ | $64,992 | $31.25 |
| 4 | Idaho Falls, ID | $55,633 | $26.75 |
| 5 | Charlottesville, VA | $53,992 | $25.96 |
| 6 | Terre Haute, IN | $53,498 | $25.72 |
| 7 | Milwaukee, WI | $52,915 | $25.44 |
| 8 | Fargo, ND | $50,516 | $24.29 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $48,950 | $23.53 |
Chemistry research assistant salary details
A chemistry research assistant's salary ranges from $33,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $91,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chemistry research assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $91,000 | $7,583 | $44 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| Average | $55,140 | $4,595 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
| 10th Percentile | $33,000 | $2,750 | $16 |
Highest paying chemistry research assistant jobs
The highest paying types of chemistry research assistants are research assistant member, research assistant professor, and research and development assistant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Scholar | $58,047 | $4,837 | $27.91 | 51,721 |
| Graduate Research Student | $34,658 | $2,888 | $16.66 | 58,921 |
Top companies hiring chemistry research assistants now:
Which companies pay chemistry research assistants the most?
Chemistry research assistant salaries at Genentech and Battelle are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chemistry research assistant salary at companies like Xerox and Stanford University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genentech | $99,200 | $47.69 |
| 2 | Battelle | $93,040 | $44.73 |
| 3 | Xerox | $89,148 | $42.86 |
| 4 | Stanford University | $79,000 | $37.98 |
| 5 | San Francisco University High School | $68,538 | $32.95 |
| 6 | Rutgers University | $67,542 | $32.47 |
| 7 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $66,837 | $32.13 |
| 8 | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute | $58,626 | $28.19 |
| 9 | Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings | $57,014 | $27.41 |
| 10 | North Dakota State University | $55,742 | $26.80 |
| 11 | Charles River Labs | $55,299 | $26.59 |
| 12 | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | $51,019 | $24.53 |
| 13 | Marquette University | $47,787 | $22.97 |
| 14 | Charles River Center | $46,678 | $22.44 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chemistry research assistant salary trends
The average chemistry research assistant salary has risen by $11,665 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chemistry research assistant earned $43,475 annually, but today, they earn $55,140 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for chemistry research assistants over the last decade.
Compare chemistry research assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chemistry research assistant salary over time
Compare chemistry research assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chemistry research assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $55,100 | $26.51 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $53,200 | $25.59 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $52,300 | $25.13 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $51,500 | $24.78 | +6.1% |
| 2022 | $48,400 | $23.27 | +1.6% |
Recently added chemistry research assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles River Laboratories | Research Assistant I-Analytical Chemistry | Horsham, PA | 04/22/2025 | $48,001 |
| Outlier | Academic Researcher-Chemistry | Saint Petersburg, FL | 03/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Outlier | Academic Researcher-Chemistry | Canton, OH | 03/29/2025 | $62,610 |
| Charles River Laboratories | Research Assistant I-Analytical Chemistry (226739) | Kane, PA | 03/22/2025 | $48,001 |
| Brookhaven National Laboratory | Research Staff 3 Chemistry | New York | 03/12/2025 | $125,000 |
| Weber State University | Research Assistant for Chemistry Laboratory | Ogden, UT | 02/17/2025 | $24,522 |
| Rockefeller University | Research Assistant | Laboratory of Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry | New York, NY | 02/12/2025 | $50,000 |
| Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC | Researcher IV-Chemistry | Golden, CO | 11/04/2024 | $108,514 |
| Weber State University | Research Assistant for Chemistry Laboratory | Ogden, UT | 10/24/2024 | $24,001 |
| Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC | Researcher III-Chemistry | Golden, CO | 10/16/2024 | $90,775 |
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