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Doctoral research assistant salary
Average doctoral research assistant salary
$56,458
Average Doctoral Research Assistant Salary
The average salary for a Doctoral Research Assistant in the United States is $56,458 per year or approximately $27 per hour. This figure reflects variations based on several factors, including geographic location, industry, and level of experience. For instance, research assistants in metropolitan areas typically earn higher wages compared to those in rural settings.
Salary by State
Understanding how salaries differ across states can provide valuable insights for job seekers. For instance, states like California and New York often offer higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for research talent. Below are the highest-paying states:
- California
- New York
- Massachusetts
Opportunities for Advancement
Doctoral Research Assistants often have opportunities to transition into higher-paying roles such as postdoctoral researchers or faculty positions as they gain experience and expertise. Continuous professional development and networking in academic circles can enhance earning potential.
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Where can a Doctoral Research Assistant earn more?
Average doctoral research assistant salary by state
The highest-paying states for doctoral research assistants are Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Illinois. The lowest average doctoral research assistant salary states are Texas, South Dakota, and Montana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for doctoral research assistants
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | $79,156 | $38.06 |
| 2 | New Mexico | $69,521 | $33.42 |
| 3 | Oregon | $66,828 | $32.13 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $65,169 | $31.33 |
| 5 | Illinois | $68,736 | $33.05 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $65,017 | $31.26 |
| 7 | Arizona | $68,174 | $32.78 |
| 8 | California | $66,402 | $31.92 |
| 9 | Utah | $61,834 | $29.73 |
| 10 | Alaska | $60,628 | $29.15 |
| 11 | Rhode Island | $56,275 | $27.06 |
| 12 | Idaho | $60,645 | $29.16 |
| 13 | Delaware | $60,764 | $29.21 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $62,432 | $30.02 |
| 15 | Georgia | $60,772 | $29.22 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $53,701 | $25.82 |
| 17 | Washington | $56,982 | $27.40 |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $54,910 | $26.40 |
| 19 | Nebraska | $54,152 | $26.03 |
| 20 | Colorado | $55,949 | $26.90 |
| 21 | Minnesota | $55,360 | $26.62 |
| 22 | Maryland | $60,451 | $29.06 |
| 23 | Florida | $56,801 | $27.31 |
| 24 | North Carolina | $54,314 | $26.11 |
| 25 | New York | $54,464 | $26.18 |
| 26 | Nevada | $56,717 | $27.27 |
| 27 | Virginia | $55,722 | $26.79 |
| 28 | Kentucky | $53,854 | $25.89 |
| 29 | Mississippi | $53,814 | $25.87 |
| 30 | Ohio | $51,718 | $24.86 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $54,166 | $26.04 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $51,548 | $24.78 |
| 33 | South Carolina | $54,420 | $26.16 |
| 34 | Kansas | $52,609 | $25.29 |
| 35 | Wyoming | $49,709 | $23.90 |
| 36 | Michigan | $48,815 | $23.47 |
| 37 | Indiana | $51,809 | $24.91 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $51,950 | $24.98 |
| 39 | Hawaii | $56,926 | $27.37 |
| 40 | Maine | $50,553 | $24.30 |
| 41 | Tennessee | $46,744 | $22.47 |
| 42 | Vermont | $46,842 | $22.52 |
| 43 | Missouri | $48,836 | $23.48 |
| 44 | South Dakota | $45,330 | $21.79 |
| 45 | Wisconsin | $48,122 | $23.14 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $48,242 | $23.19 |
| 47 | Texas | $45,986 | $22.11 |
| 48 | Montana | $44,158 | $21.23 |
| 49 | Iowa | $43,760 | $21.04 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $43,219 | $20.78 |
| 51 | Alabama | $42,679 | $20.52 |
Highest paying cities for doctoral research assistants
The highest-paying cities for doctoral research assistants are Boston, MA, Albuquerque, NM, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boston, MA | $79,142 | $38.05 |
| 2 | Albuquerque, NM | $69,718 | $33.52 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $68,801 | $33.08 |
| 4 | Tempe, AZ | $68,172 | $32.77 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $66,510 | $31.98 |
| 6 | Newark, NJ | $65,341 | $31.41 |
| 7 | Provo, UT | $61,773 | $29.70 |
| 8 | Newark, DE | $60,688 | $29.18 |
| 9 | Baltimore, MD | $60,639 | $29.15 |
| 10 | Miami, FL | $57,259 | $27.53 |
| 11 | Boulder, CO | $55,972 | $26.91 |
| 12 | Durham, NC | $54,732 | $26.31 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $54,620 | $26.26 |
| 14 | Lincoln, NE | $54,173 | $26.04 |
| 15 | Philadelphia, PA | $54,173 | $26.04 |
| 16 | Hattiesburg, MS | $53,768 | $25.85 |
| 17 | Akron, OH | $52,203 | $25.10 |
| 18 | Lafayette, IN | $51,719 | $24.86 |
| 19 | Kansas City, MO | $48,913 | $23.52 |
| 20 | Johnson City, TN | $47,010 | $22.60 |
Doctoral research assistant salary details
A doctoral research assistant's salary ranges from $41,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $77,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a doctoral research assistant's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 75th Percentile | $66,000 | $5,500 | $32 |
| Average | $56,458 | $4,705 | $27 |
| 25th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
| 10th Percentile | $41,000 | $3,417 | $20 |
Highest paying doctoral research assistant jobs
The highest paying types of doctoral research assistants are research scientist, research assistant professor, and senior research associate.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Doctoral Fellow | $53,366 | $4,447 | $25.66 | 22,661 |
| Graduate Researcher | $32,346 | $2,696 | $15.55 | 17,313 |
| PHD Researcher | $51,634 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 19,736 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for doctoral research assistants, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
David Simon
Professor, Stonehill College
In most cases, academic positions have significantly lower starting salaries than industry, since the standard academic salary is for nine or ten months of teaching rather than for 12 months. However, the tradeoff is that academic jobs allow a greater degree of freedom in how you spend your time and what type of research you pursue. Furthermore, academic salaries can be supplemented by extra teaching, consultant work, or grant-funded summer salaries, which, in many cases, can raise a professor's total income to levels close to what would be earned in the industry. So, although salary is certainly a consideration, ultimately, the deciding factor for what type of career to pursue should be based on what type of work would make you happiest in the long term.
Top companies hiring doctoral research assistants now:
Which companies pay doctoral research assistants the most?
Doctoral research assistant salaries at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and New York University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average doctoral research assistant salary at companies like Lincoln University and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $75,573 | $36.33 |
| 2 | New York University | $66,354 | $31.90 |
| 3 | Lincoln University | $63,427 | $30.49 |
| 4 | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center | $63,068 | $30.32 |
| 5 | New Jersey Institute of Technology | $62,530 | $30.06 |
| 6 | Arizona State University | $62,492 | $30.04 |
| 7 | East Tennessee State University | $62,353 | $29.98 |
| 8 | National Medical Association | $62,192 | $29.90 |
| 9 | Stevens Institute of Technology | $61,005 | $29.33 |
| 10 | Northwestern University | $61,000 | $29.33 |
| 11 | Children's Hospital Los Angeles | $60,576 | $29.12 |
| 12 | Carnegie Mellon University | $60,442 | $29.06 |
| 13 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $59,955 | $28.82 |
| 14 | HSS | $59,310 | $28.51 |
| 15 | Portland State University | $59,221 | $28.47 |
| 16 | Salk Institute for Biological Studies | $59,027 | $28.38 |
| 17 | The Research Foundation for SUNY | $58,686 | $28.21 |
| 18 | New York Institute of Technology | $58,312 | $28.03 |
| 19 | UT Southwestern Medical Center | $57,185 | $27.49 |
| 20 | The University System of Maryland Foundation | $57,132 | $27.47 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Doctoral research assistant salary trends
The average doctoral research assistant salary has risen by $11,943 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average doctoral research assistant earned $44,515 annually, but today, they earn $56,458 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for doctoral research assistants over the last decade.
Compare doctoral research assistant salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average doctoral research assistant salary over time
Compare doctoral research assistant salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Doctoral research assistant salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $56,500 | $27.14 | +3.5% |
| 2025 | $54,500 | $26.21 | +1.8% |
| 2024 | $53,500 | $25.73 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $52,800 | $25.37 | +6.1% |
| 2022 | $49,600 | $23.82 | +1.6% |
Recently added doctoral research assistant salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Md Anderson | Postdoctoral Fellow-GI Radiation Oncology-DR. Koong Lab | Houston, TX | 06/16/2025 | $64,000 |
| Foundation for California Community Colleges | Research Assistant, California Medicine Scholars Program | Ione, CA | 06/14/2025 | $70,228 |
| Childrens Hospital Los Angeles | Fellow-Post Doc-Research/PI-DR. Dias/Tsri-Postdoctoral Affairs//Days | Los Angeles, CA | 06/12/2025 | $80,196 |
| Childrens Hospital Los Angeles | Fellow-Post Doc-Research/DR. Bluml/Tsri-Postdoctoral Affairs//Days | Los Angeles, CA | 05/21/2025 | $80,196 |
| University of Texas Rio Grande Valley | PHD-Research Assistant, Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship, New Admits To PHD Program | Edinburg, TX | 05/21/2025 | $26,000 |
| University of Toledo | Post Doctoral Research Assistant | Toledo, OH | 05/14/2025 | $48,806 |
| KUMC University of Kansas Medical Center | Post Doctoral Fellow-DR. Sufi Thomas Research Lab | Kansas City, KS | 05/05/2025 | $58,656 |
| The University of Kansas Health System | Post Doctoral Fellow-DR. Sufi Thomas Research Lab | Lane, KS | 05/03/2025 | $58,656 |
| The University of Alabama In Huntsville | Postdoctoral Research Assistant III, S3 | Huntsville, AL | 05/03/2025 | $58,600 |
| Hospital for Special Surgery | Post-Doctoral Fellow-DR. Franck Barrat Lab | New York, NY | 04/30/2025 | $68,812 |
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