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Graduate fellow salary
Average graduate fellow salary
$60,507
Understanding Graduate Fellow Salaries
As of October 2025, a Graduate Fellow earns an average salary of $60,507 per year or approximately $29 per hour. The salary can vary significantly based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment. For instance, graduate fellows in research institutions or healthcare may command higher salaries compared to those in educational settings.
Salary Variations by State
The highest-paying states for graduate fellows include California, New York, and Massachusetts, where salaries can exceed the national average. Exploring each state's average salary can help prospective fellows make informed decisions about where to apply.
Career Advancement Opportunities
Graduate fellows often have the chance to progress into higher-paying roles, such as project managers or senior researchers, depending on their field and experience. Engaging in networking and professional development can further enhance salary prospects in this competitive landscape.
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Where can a Graduate Fellow earn more?
Graduate fellow salary estimates from across the web
Average graduate fellow salary by state
The highest-paying states for graduate fellows are Washington, Maine, and New Mexico. The lowest average graduate fellow salary states are Colorado, Iowa, and Missouri.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for graduate fellows
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $67,977 | $32.68 |
| 2 | Maryland | $67,323 | $32.37 |
| 3 | Oregon | $65,499 | $31.49 |
| 4 | Idaho | $67,052 | $32.24 |
| 5 | Alaska | $64,078 | $30.81 |
| 6 | Maine | $67,595 | $32.50 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $65,820 | $31.64 |
| 8 | Illinois | $66,799 | $32.11 |
| 9 | Indiana | $67,024 | $32.22 |
| 10 | New Mexico | $67,580 | $32.49 |
| 11 | New Jersey | $63,910 | $30.73 |
| 12 | Arizona | $57,565 | $27.68 |
| 13 | Michigan | $56,047 | $26.95 |
| 14 | District of Columbia | $59,806 | $28.75 |
| 15 | Alabama | $58,911 | $28.32 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $55,681 | $26.77 |
| 17 | Texas | $57,114 | $27.46 |
| 18 | Mississippi | $59,522 | $28.62 |
| 19 | New York | $56,578 | $27.20 |
| 20 | Wyoming | $54,335 | $26.12 |
| 21 | California | $58,152 | $27.96 |
| 22 | New Hampshire | $55,761 | $26.81 |
| 23 | South Dakota | $55,697 | $26.78 |
| 24 | Rhode Island | $53,922 | $25.92 |
| 25 | Louisiana | $55,964 | $26.91 |
| 26 | Utah | $55,655 | $26.76 |
| 27 | Connecticut | $56,599 | $27.21 |
| 28 | Minnesota | $53,554 | $25.75 |
| 29 | West Virginia | $50,615 | $24.33 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $56,316 | $27.07 |
| 31 | Vermont | $52,760 | $25.37 |
| 32 | Georgia | $51,305 | $24.67 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $52,060 | $25.03 |
| 34 | Oklahoma | $51,657 | $24.84 |
| 35 | Montana | $55,222 | $26.55 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $49,381 | $23.74 |
| 37 | Delaware | $52,591 | $25.28 |
| 38 | Ohio | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| 39 | Wisconsin | $49,303 | $23.70 |
| 40 | Virginia | $51,024 | $24.53 |
| 41 | Colorado | $48,804 | $23.46 |
| 42 | Nevada | $52,927 | $25.45 |
| 43 | South Carolina | $51,488 | $24.75 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $48,426 | $23.28 |
| 45 | Hawaii | $53,181 | $25.57 |
| 46 | Kansas | $48,384 | $23.26 |
| 47 | Florida | $49,733 | $23.91 |
| 48 | Arkansas | $48,063 | $23.11 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $49,230 | $23.67 |
| 50 | Iowa | $48,623 | $23.38 |
| 51 | Missouri | $48,587 | $23.36 |
Highest paying cities for graduate fellows
The highest-paying cities for graduate fellows are Germantown, MD, Portage, IN, and Chicago, IL.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germantown, MD | $67,168 | $32.29 |
| 2 | Portage, IN | $67,107 | $32.26 |
| 3 | Chicago, IL | $66,980 | $32.20 |
| 4 | Eugene, OR | $66,160 | $31.81 |
| 5 | Washington, DC | $59,856 | $28.78 |
| 6 | Temple, TX | $57,068 | $27.44 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $56,605 | $27.21 |
| 8 | Ann Arbor, MI | $55,966 | $26.91 |
| 9 | Bridgewater, MA | $55,941 | $26.89 |
| 10 | Columbia, SC | $51,702 | $24.86 |
| 11 | Cleveland, OH | $51,484 | $24.75 |
| 12 | Greenfield, WI | $49,509 | $23.80 |
Graduate fellow salary details
A graduate fellow's salary ranges from $44,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $82,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a graduate fellow's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $82,000 | $6,833 | $39 |
| 75th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| Average | $60,507 | $5,042 | $29 |
| 25th Percentile | $51,000 | $4,250 | $25 |
| 10th Percentile | $44,000 | $3,667 | $21 |
Highest paying graduate fellow jobs
The highest paying types of graduate fellows are fellow, faculty assistant, and graduate instruction assistant.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Instructor | $49,436 | $4,120 | $23.77 | 39,719 |
| Graduate Student Internship | $30,945 | $2,579 | $14.88 | 56,982 |
| Graduate Research Student | $34,658 | $2,888 | $16.66 | 58,921 |
| Teaching Fellow | $44,040 | $3,670 | $21.17 | 40,551 |
| Fellow | $66,364 | $5,530 | $31.91 | 7,459 |
| Graduate Researcher | $32,346 | $2,696 | $15.55 | 17,313 |
Top companies hiring graduate fellows now:
Which companies pay graduate fellows the most?
Graduate fellow salaries at Pace University and Barclays are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average graduate fellow salary at companies like Morgan Stanley and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pace University | $92,847 | $44.64 |
| 2 | Barclays | $90,692 | $43.60 |
| 3 | Morgan Stanley | $87,113 | $41.88 |
| 4 | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | $79,993 | $38.46 |
| 5 | Merck | $77,575 | $37.30 |
| 6 | Capgemini | $74,835 | $35.98 |
| 7 | UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital | $72,429 | $34.82 |
| 8 | Mount Auburn Hospital | $72,298 | $34.76 |
| 9 | Mount Sinai Health System | $71,492 | $34.37 |
| 10 | BronxCare Health System | $69,230 | $33.28 |
| 11 | University of California | $67,206 | $32.31 |
| 12 | Cleveland Clinic | $65,367 | $31.43 |
| 13 | BCforward | $64,223 | $30.88 |
| 14 | University of Michigan | $63,290 | $30.43 |
| 15 | Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts | $63,238 | $30.40 |
| 16 | PSEA | $63,185 | $30.38 |
| 17 | Lincoln Medical Education | $63,081 | $30.33 |
| 18 | Medical University of South Carolina | $62,663 | $30.13 |
| 19 | Bridgewater State University | $61,598 | $29.61 |
| 20 | S&ME | $61,191 | $29.42 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Graduate Fellow salary by industry
The average graduate fellow salary varies across industries:
- The average graduate fellow salary in the technology industry is $78,033, the highest of any industry.
- The average graduate fellow salary in the finance industry is $72,486.
- Graduate fellows in the education industry earn an average salary of $61,906, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for graduate fellows
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Technology | $78,033 | $37.52 |
| 2 | Professional | $72,486 | $34.85 |
| 3 | Government | $63,724 | $30.64 |
| 4 | Non Profits | $63,280 | $30.42 |
| 5 | Education | $61,906 | $29.76 |
High paying graduate fellow jobs
Graduate fellow salary trends
The average graduate fellow salary has risen by $9,868 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average graduate fellow earned $50,639 annually, but today, they earn $60,507 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for graduate fellows over the last decade.
Compare graduate fellow salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average graduate fellow salary over time
Compare graduate fellow salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Graduate fellow salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $60,500 | $29.09 | +2.0% |
| 2025 | $59,300 | $28.50 | +7.8% |
| 2024 | $54,600 | $26.27 | +3.7% |
| 2023 | $52,600 | $25.30 | -5.5% |
| 2022 | $55,500 | $26.69 | +10.0% |
Recently added graduate fellow salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Washington | Post-Graduate Fellowships | Ione, WA | 06/17/2025 | $84,204 |
| The Rector & Visitors of The University of Virginia | Madison House Graduate Advising Fellow for Education and Youth Services (Federal Work Stud | Charlottesville, VA | 06/15/2025 | $35,479 |
| City of Minneapolis, Mn | Finance Graduate Fellowship | Minneapolis, MN | 05/22/2025 | $56,683 |
| City of Minneapolis | Finance Graduate Fellowship | Minneapolis, MN | 05/22/2025 | $56,683 |
| University of Texas-Austin | Texas Law Graduate Fellowship | Cove, UT | 04/28/2025 | $65,625 |
| Inl | 2025 Doe-Em Graduate Fellowship | Idaho Falls, ID | 04/28/2025 | $60,210 |
| Southern Methodist University | Cultural Studies Fellow (Supporting The Houston Arts Ecosystem) (HR Title: Post Graduate Fellow) | Dallas, TX | 04/24/2025 | $70,000 |
| University of Texas-Austin | Texas Law Graduate Fellowship | Cove, UT | 03/28/2025 | $65,625 |
| Inl | 2025 Doe-Em Graduate Fellowship | Idaho Falls, ID | 03/28/2025 | $60,210 |
| Bechtel | 2025 University Graduate (U.S.)-Quality & SIX Sigma | New Albany, OH | 03/16/2025 | $72,000 |
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