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Junior research scientist salary
Average junior research scientist salary
$67,062
Understanding Junior Research Scientist Salaries
The average salary for a Junior Research Scientist is approximately $67,062 per year. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including geographic location, industry, and individual experience. For instance, research scientists in high-demand regions or specialized sectors, such as biotechnology or pharmaceuticals, may earn significantly more.
State-by-State Salary Breakdown
Junior Research Scientists working in states like California and New York often report higher salaries compared to their counterparts in less populated areas. The cost of living in these states also influences salary levels. By analyzing salary data by state, professionals can better identify lucrative opportunities.
Industries with High Salary Potential
Industries that typically offer competitive salaries for Junior Research Scientists include biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and academic research. Each industry presents unique challenges and rewards, allowing scientists to align their career choices with personal interests and professional goals. Exploring these options can lead to a fulfilling career with ample growth potential.
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Where can a Junior Research Scientist earn more?
Junior research scientist salary estimates from across the web
Average junior research scientist salary by state
The highest-paying states for junior research scientists are California, Delaware, and New Jersey. The lowest average junior research scientist salary states are Louisiana, South Carolina, and Texas.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for junior research scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Delaware | $85,593 | $41.15 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $80,835 | $38.86 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $83,163 | $39.98 |
| 4 | California | $87,217 | $41.93 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $81,340 | $39.11 |
| 6 | Montana | $76,611 | $36.83 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $69,614 | $33.47 |
| 8 | Maine | $77,100 | $37.07 |
| 9 | Tennessee | $75,531 | $36.31 |
| 10 | Rhode Island | $65,834 | $31.65 |
| 11 | Maryland | $69,525 | $33.43 |
| 12 | Indiana | $74,256 | $35.70 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $68,933 | $33.14 |
| 14 | North Carolina | $65,437 | $31.46 |
| 15 | Virginia | $65,156 | $31.32 |
| 16 | Vermont | $63,938 | $30.74 |
| 17 | Michigan | $66,665 | $32.05 |
| 18 | Oregon | $63,611 | $30.58 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $68,307 | $32.84 |
| 20 | Alaska | $68,597 | $32.98 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $60,971 | $29.31 |
| 22 | Ohio | $63,173 | $30.37 |
| 23 | New York | $64,249 | $30.89 |
| 24 | Colorado | $63,600 | $30.58 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $60,691 | $29.18 |
| 26 | South Dakota | $58,945 | $28.34 |
| 27 | Illinois | $61,766 | $29.70 |
| 28 | Nevada | $62,454 | $30.03 |
| 29 | Washington | $61,937 | $29.78 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $61,646 | $29.64 |
| 31 | Hawaii | $65,205 | $31.35 |
| 32 | Oklahoma | $61,049 | $29.35 |
| 33 | Arizona | $60,700 | $29.18 |
| 34 | Missouri | $58,998 | $28.36 |
| 35 | Iowa | $60,410 | $29.04 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $57,247 | $27.52 |
| 37 | Alabama | $58,522 | $28.14 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $53,762 | $25.85 |
| 39 | Florida | $57,442 | $27.62 |
| 40 | Kentucky | $57,269 | $27.53 |
| 41 | North Dakota | $53,129 | $25.54 |
| 42 | Kansas | $56,155 | $27.00 |
| 43 | Wisconsin | $55,942 | $26.90 |
| 44 | Idaho | $52,620 | $25.30 |
| 45 | Utah | $43,308 | $20.82 |
| 46 | Nebraska | $50,429 | $24.24 |
| 47 | Texas | $48,016 | $23.08 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $48,976 | $23.55 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $48,664 | $23.40 |
| 50 | Georgia | $46,468 | $22.34 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $47,991 | $23.07 |
Highest paying cities for junior research scientists
The highest-paying cities for junior research scientists are South San Francisco, CA, Boston, MA, and Annapolis, MD.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South San Francisco, CA | $92,809 | $44.62 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $80,902 | $38.90 |
| 3 | Annapolis, MD | $69,640 | $33.48 |
| 4 | Hilo, HI | $65,261 | $31.38 |
| 5 | New York, NY | $64,353 | $30.94 |
| 6 | Seattle, WA | $62,330 | $29.97 |
| 7 | Las Vegas, NV | $61,870 | $29.75 |
Junior research scientist salary details
A junior research scientist's salary ranges from $48,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $92,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a junior research scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $92,000 | $7,667 | $44 |
| 75th Percentile | $79,000 | $6,583 | $38 |
| Average | $67,062 | $5,589 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $48,000 | $4,000 | $23 |
Highest paying junior research scientist jobs
The highest paying types of junior research scientists are senior scientist, scientist, and staff scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microbiologist | $54,620 | $4,552 | $26.26 | 11,444 |
| Research Laboratory Technician | $38,308 | $3,192 | $18.42 | 86,476 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
| Research Technician | $43,034 | $3,586 | $20.69 | 64,786 |
| Staff Scientist | $93,941 | $7,828 | $45.16 | 121,054 |
Top companies hiring junior research scientists now:
Which companies pay junior research scientists the most?
Junior research scientist salaries at Zappos.com and Science and Technology are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average junior research scientist salary at companies like Raytheon Technologies and University of Hawaii Foundation are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zappos.com | $88,940 | $42.76 |
| 2 | Science and Technology | $69,484 | $33.41 |
| 3 | Raytheon Technologies | $68,364 | $32.87 |
| 4 | University of Hawaii Foundation | $68,094 | $32.74 |
| 5 | NMC | $67,366 | $32.39 |
| 6 | University of Washington | $66,622 | $32.03 |
| 7 | Odyssey Systems | $65,565 | $31.52 |
| 8 | New York University | $65,176 | $31.33 |
| 9 | Goodwin Recruiting | $63,294 | $30.43 |
| 10 | The Research Corporation of the University of Hawai'i | $63,230 | $30.40 |
| 11 | Alios BioPharma | $62,820 | $30.20 |
| 12 | BAE Systems | $62,063 | $29.84 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Junior Research Scientist salary by industry
The average junior research scientist salary varies across industries:
- The average junior research scientist salary in the education industry is $64,496, the highest of any industry.
- The average junior research scientist salary in the finance industry is $64,048.
- Junior research scientists in the pharmaceutical industry earn an average salary of $62,636, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for junior research scientists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Education | $64,496 | $31.01 |
| 2 | Technology | $64,048 | $30.79 |
| 3 | Health Care | $63,855 | $30.70 |
| 4 | Professional | $63,292 | $30.43 |
| 5 | Pharmaceutical | $62,636 | $30.11 |
High paying junior research scientist jobs
Junior research scientist salary trends
The average junior research scientist salary has risen by $11,271 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average junior research scientist earned $55,791 annually, but today, they earn $67,062 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for junior research scientists over the last decade.
Compare junior research scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average junior research scientist salary over time
Compare junior research scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Junior research scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $67,100 | $32.24 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $65,100 | $31.28 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $62,200 | $29.88 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $60,200 | $28.92 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $59,000 | $28.37 | -2.1% |
Recently added junior research scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filtration Group Corp | Junior Research Scientist | Louisville, CO | 05/13/2025 | $82,000 |
| Lancesoft, Inc. | Junior Research Scientist | Totowa, NJ | 03/26/2025 | $56,349 |
| New York University | Junior Research Scientist | New York, NY | 03/07/2025 | $70,000 |
| New York University | Junior Research Scientist (Pre-Doctoral Research Fellowship) | New York, NY | 02/24/2025 | $50,440 |
| Wadsworth | Research Scientist I JR | Albany, NY | 02/17/2025 | $63,887 |
| Coloradomtn | Research Scientist I JR | New York, NY | 02/17/2025 | $63,887 |
| New York University | Junior Research Scientist | New York, NY | 02/12/2025 | $50,000 |
| Solaris Pharma | JR Research Formulation Scientist | Somerset, NJ | 02/08/2025 | $60,000 |
| Wadsworth | Research Scientist I JR | Albany, NY | 12/09/2024 | $63,887 |
| New York University | Junior Research Scientist | New York, NY | 11/27/2024 | $47,500 |
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