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Postdoc fellow salary
Average postdoc fellow salary
$58,376
Understanding Postdoc Fellow Salaries
The average salary for a Postdoc Fellow in the United States is $58,376 annually, translating to about $28 per hour. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, field of study, and years of experience. For example, postdoc fellows in states like California and Massachusetts often see higher salaries compared to their counterparts in other regions.
To maximize earning potential, it is advisable to target cities known for their competitive salaries. Cities like San Francisco, Boston, and New York are among the highest-paying locations for postdoc fellows. In addition, specific fields such as biomedical research and engineering tend to offer more lucrative opportunities.
Factors Influencing Salary
Experience plays a critical role in salary determination. Entry-level postdoc fellows may earn around the average, while those with several years of experience or advanced skills can command higher wages. Additionally, industry-specific postdoc positions may provide different compensation packages compared to academic roles.
Finding Opportunities
Utilizing job boards like Zippia can significantly aid in finding postdoc positions that align with your career goals. Always research potential employers and consider negotiating your salary based on the above factors, ensuring you secure the best compensation for your expertise.
Let Zippi find your next postdoc fellow job
Let Zippi find your next postdoc fellow job
Where can a Postdoc Fellow earn more?
Average postdoc fellow salary by state
The highest-paying states for postdoc fellows are Hawaii, Tennessee, and California. The lowest average postdoc fellow salary states are Mississippi, Utah, and Louisiana.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for postdoc fellows
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | $73,434 | $35.30 |
| 2 | Montana | $68,590 | $32.98 |
| 3 | Maine | $66,875 | $32.15 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $61,307 | $29.47 |
| 5 | California | $69,089 | $33.22 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $62,551 | $30.07 |
| 7 | Arizona | $66,401 | $31.92 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $59,634 | $28.67 |
| 9 | Alaska | $65,032 | $31.27 |
| 10 | Colorado | $59,248 | $28.48 |
| 11 | Hawaii | $81,173 | $39.03 |
| 12 | Connecticut | $65,862 | $31.66 |
| 13 | Oregon | $58,270 | $28.01 |
| 14 | Indiana | $65,988 | $31.73 |
| 15 | Delaware | $58,093 | $27.93 |
| 16 | Vermont | $55,550 | $26.71 |
| 17 | Nevada | $64,321 | $30.92 |
| 18 | Wyoming | $54,813 | $26.35 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $56,262 | $27.05 |
| 20 | Rhode Island | $54,791 | $26.34 |
| 21 | North Carolina | $53,141 | $25.55 |
| 22 | West Virginia | $50,413 | $24.24 |
| 23 | Missouri | $52,216 | $25.10 |
| 24 | Illinois | $54,723 | $26.31 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $53,442 | $25.69 |
| 26 | Idaho | $52,248 | $25.12 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $52,995 | $25.48 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $50,292 | $24.18 |
| 29 | Maryland | $51,594 | $24.80 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $49,724 | $23.91 |
| 31 | Arkansas | $52,663 | $25.32 |
| 32 | New York | $49,787 | $23.94 |
| 33 | Washington | $50,758 | $24.40 |
| 34 | Pennsylvania | $50,362 | $24.21 |
| 35 | Georgia | $49,444 | $23.77 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $49,699 | $23.89 |
| 37 | Kansas | $47,577 | $22.87 |
| 38 | Ohio | $47,795 | $22.98 |
| 39 | Michigan | $48,103 | $23.13 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $47,834 | $23.00 |
| 41 | Alabama | $47,699 | $22.93 |
| 42 | Virginia | $44,586 | $21.44 |
| 43 | Louisiana | $42,194 | $20.29 |
| 44 | North Dakota | $44,369 | $21.33 |
| 45 | Florida | $45,604 | $21.93 |
| 46 | Utah | $43,825 | $21.07 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $44,174 | $21.24 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $45,853 | $22.04 |
| 49 | Texas | $40,511 | $19.48 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $39,426 | $18.95 |
| 51 | Iowa | $37,404 | $17.98 |
Highest paying cities for postdoc fellows
The highest-paying cities for postdoc fellows are Burlingame, CA, New Brunswick, NJ, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burlingame, CA | $70,698 | $33.99 |
| 2 | New Brunswick, NJ | $62,385 | $29.99 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $59,840 | $28.77 |
| 4 | Greensboro, NC | $53,365 | $25.66 |
| 5 | Baltimore, MD | $51,800 | $24.90 |
| 6 | Tampa, FL | $45,919 | $22.08 |
| 7 | Richmond, VA | $44,484 | $21.39 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $41,049 | $19.74 |
Postdoc fellow salary details
A postdoc fellow's salary ranges from $42,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a postdoc fellow's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| Average | $58,376 | $4,865 | $28 |
| 25th Percentile | $49,000 | $4,083 | $24 |
| 10th Percentile | $42,000 | $3,500 | $20 |
Highest paying postdoc fellow jobs
The highest paying types of postdoc fellows are medical science liaison, principal scientist, and senior scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Science Liaison | $145,718 | $12,143 | $70.06 | 57,208 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
| Research And Development Scientist | $90,278 | $7,523 | $43.40 | 129,803 |
| Staff Scientist | $93,941 | $7,828 | $45.16 | 121,054 |
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
| Principal Scientist | $119,982 | $9,998 | $57.68 | 80,899 |
Top companies hiring postdoc fellows now:
Which companies pay postdoc fellows the most?
Postdoc fellow salaries at TRI-AD and Los Alamos National Security LLC are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average postdoc fellow salary at companies like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Stanford University are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TRI-AD | $77,510 | $37.26 |
| 2 | Los Alamos National Security LLC | $75,147 | $36.13 |
| 3 | Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory | $72,570 | $34.89 |
| 4 | Stanford University | $61,472 | $29.55 |
| 5 | Missouri S&T | $58,710 | $28.23 |
| 6 | Baylor Scott & White Health | $58,565 | $28.16 |
| 7 | Children's Health Corporation | $58,428 | $28.09 |
| 8 | The University System of Maryland Foundation | $56,030 | $26.94 |
| 9 | Stanford Health Care | $53,674 | $25.80 |
| 10 | Moffitt Cancer Center | $53,460 | $25.70 |
| 11 | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $52,712 | $25.34 |
| 12 | Rutgers University | $51,853 | $24.93 |
| 13 | University of Richmond | $51,581 | $24.80 |
| 14 | Tufts University | $50,427 | $24.24 |
| 15 | South Dakota State University | $50,272 | $24.17 |
| 16 | North Carolina A&T State University | $48,883 | $23.50 |
| 17 | UT Health San Antonio | $48,781 | $23.45 |
| 18 | Johns Hopkins University | $48,381 | $23.26 |
| 19 | Virginia Commonwealth University | $46,837 | $22.52 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Postdoc fellow salary trends
The average postdoc fellow salary has risen by $9,811 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average postdoc fellow earned $48,565 annually, but today, they earn $58,376 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for postdoc fellows over the last decade.
Compare postdoc fellow salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average postdoc fellow salary over time
Compare postdoc fellow salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Postdoc fellow salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $58,400 | $28.07 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $56,600 | $27.23 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $54,100 | $26.01 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $52,400 | $25.18 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $51,400 | $24.70 | -2.1% |
Recently added postdoc fellow salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dev | Postdoc Fellow-Smidt Heart Institute (Middle East Research) | Altadena, CA | 06/26/2025 | $64,500 |
| Northwestern University | Postdoc Fellow, The Ryan Institute On Complexity | Evanston, IL | 04/04/2025 | $61,008 |
| Md Anderson | Postdoc Fellow-Radiochemistry & Theranostics Approach | Houston, TX | 04/04/2025 | $64,000 |
| Md Anderson | Postdoc Fellow-Imaging Physics | Houston, TX | 03/29/2025 | $64,000 |
| The Gladstone Companies | Postdoc-Nomis-Gind Fellowship Program | San Francisco, CA | 03/28/2025 | $80,000 |
| McLean Hospital | Psychology Postdoc Fellow | Belmont, MA | 03/20/2025 | $68,536 |
| University of Maine | Umaine Flagship Postdoc Fellow | Orono, ME | 02/18/2025 | $50,000 |
| UMS Group | Umaine Flagship Postdoc Fellow | Orono, ME | 02/18/2025 | $50,000 |
| Bucknell University | Richard and Yvonne Smith Postdoc, Tenure Track Fellow In BIO | Lewisburg, PA | 02/13/2025 | $67,500 |
| Texas Christian University | Chancellor's Postdoc Fellow | Fort Worth, TX | 02/07/2025 | $50,000 |
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