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Postdoctoral associate salary
Average postdoctoral associate salary
$54,350
Average Postdoctoral Associate Salary
The average salary for a Postdoctoral Associate stands at $54,350 annually. This figure can fluctuate based on various elements, including geographic location, specific research focus, and years of experience. For instance, states like California and Massachusetts often report higher salaries due to the concentration of research institutions and universities.
Where Can a Postdoctoral Associate Earn More?
Postdoctoral associates typically earn higher salaries in states such as California, Massachusetts, and New York. These regions not only have a high demand for research professionals but also offer better funding opportunities and resources at institutions.
Salary Estimates Over Time
Historically, postdoctoral salaries have seen gradual increases, reflecting the growing importance of research roles in academia and industry. Understanding these trends can guide job seekers in negotiating salaries and recognizing their worth in the job market.
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Where can a Postdoctoral Associate earn more?
Postdoctoral associate salary estimates from across the web
Average postdoctoral associate salary by state
The average postdoctoral associate salary in Maine, Tennessee, and Hawaii are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average postdoctoral associate salary states are North Dakota, West Virginia, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for postdoctoral associates
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $67,758 | $32.58 |
| 2 | Tennessee | $71,391 | $34.32 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $61,193 | $29.42 |
| 4 | Maine | $72,060 | $34.64 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $61,721 | $29.67 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $59,599 | $28.65 |
| 7 | Delaware | $58,495 | $28.12 |
| 8 | Massachusetts | $56,524 | $27.18 |
| 9 | Montana | $62,514 | $30.05 |
| 10 | Arizona | $61,905 | $29.76 |
| 11 | Washington | $54,909 | $26.40 |
| 12 | Maryland | $57,496 | $27.64 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $55,010 | $26.45 |
| 14 | Hawaii | $69,727 | $33.52 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $54,440 | $26.17 |
| 16 | Colorado | $54,889 | $26.39 |
| 17 | Wyoming | $55,056 | $26.47 |
| 18 | Indiana | $54,728 | $26.31 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $51,193 | $24.61 |
| 20 | Illinois | $52,744 | $25.36 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | $54,362 | $26.14 |
| 22 | District of Columbia | $53,391 | $25.67 |
| 23 | New York | $52,403 | $25.19 |
| 24 | Alaska | $52,693 | $25.33 |
| 25 | Vermont | $51,790 | $24.90 |
| 26 | Oregon | $50,869 | $24.46 |
| 27 | Nevada | $54,093 | $26.01 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $50,610 | $24.33 |
| 29 | North Carolina | $46,637 | $22.42 |
| 30 | Ohio | $47,427 | $22.80 |
| 31 | Michigan | $49,260 | $23.68 |
| 32 | Iowa | $46,295 | $22.26 |
| 33 | Nebraska | $46,576 | $22.39 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $44,932 | $21.60 |
| 35 | Idaho | $47,317 | $22.75 |
| 36 | Virginia | $45,985 | $22.11 |
| 37 | Arkansas | $47,052 | $22.62 |
| 38 | Utah | $46,688 | $22.45 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $44,555 | $21.42 |
| 40 | Missouri | $41,541 | $19.97 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $40,158 | $19.31 |
| 42 | Kansas | $45,489 | $21.87 |
| 43 | Texas | $43,141 | $20.74 |
| 44 | Florida | $44,159 | $21.23 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $41,085 | $19.75 |
| 46 | South Dakota | $42,406 | $20.39 |
| 47 | Alabama | $42,800 | $20.58 |
| 48 | Georgia | $37,481 | $18.02 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $39,392 | $18.94 |
| 50 | Louisiana | $32,551 | $15.65 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $38,313 | $18.42 |
Highest paying cities for postdoctoral associates
The highest-paying cities for postdoctoral associates are Berkeley, CA, Farmington, CT, and Newark, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Berkeley, CA | $69,360 | $33.35 |
| 2 | Farmington, CT | $61,844 | $29.73 |
| 3 | Newark, NJ | $59,869 | $28.78 |
| 4 | College Park, MD | $57,328 | $27.56 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $56,759 | $27.29 |
| 6 | Laramie, WY | $55,118 | $26.50 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $55,028 | $26.46 |
| 8 | Boulder, CO | $54,949 | $26.42 |
| 9 | Albany, NY | $54,351 | $26.13 |
| 10 | Burlington, VT | $51,775 | $24.89 |
| 11 | Philadelphia, PA | $51,356 | $24.69 |
| 12 | Fayetteville, AR | $47,585 | $22.88 |
| 13 | Athens, OH | $46,891 | $22.54 |
| 14 | Durham, NC | $46,713 | $22.46 |
| 15 | Richmond, VA | $45,878 | $22.06 |
| 16 | Tallahassee, FL | $44,665 | $21.47 |
| 17 | College Station, TX | $42,706 | $20.53 |
| 18 | Saint Louis, MO | $41,215 | $19.81 |
| 19 | Starkville, MS | $39,271 | $18.88 |
Postdoctoral associate salary details
A postdoctoral associate's salary ranges from $39,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $74,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a postdoctoral associate's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $54,350 | $4,529 | $26 |
| 25th Percentile | $45,000 | $3,750 | $22 |
| 10th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
Highest paying postdoctoral associate jobs
The highest paying types of postdoctoral associates are medical science liaison, senior scientist, and scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Research Scientist | $89,998 | $7,500 | $43.27 | 93,013 |
| Research Chemist | $75,843 | $6,320 | $36.46 | 53,769 |
| 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 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for postdoctoral associates, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Howard Whiteman
Professor of Biological Sciences, Director of the Watershed Studies Institute, Murray State University
Top companies hiring postdoctoral associates now:
Which companies pay postdoctoral associates the most?
Postdoctoral associate salaries at Argonne National Laboratory and Battelle are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average postdoctoral associate salary at companies like Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Sandia National Labs are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argonne National Laboratory | $75,716 | $36.40 |
| 2 | Battelle | $74,930 | $36.02 |
| 3 | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $74,476 | $35.81 |
| 4 | Sandia National Labs | $72,982 | $35.09 |
| 5 | Applied Materials | $66,626 | $32.03 |
| 6 | Arizona State University | $64,465 | $30.99 |
| 7 | East Tennessee State University | $63,907 | $30.72 |
| 8 | Tennessee Technological University | $63,165 | $30.37 |
| 9 | Brown University | $62,289 | $29.95 |
| 10 | Stanford University | $62,065 | $29.84 |
| 11 | Health Research, Inc. | $62,008 | $29.81 |
| 12 | Colorado College | $60,955 | $29.31 |
| 13 | NatureServe | $60,869 | $29.26 |
| 14 | M.I.T. International, Inc. | $60,181 | $28.93 |
| 15 | Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies | $60,080 | $28.88 |
| 16 | University of California | $59,798 | $28.75 |
| 17 | Cytec Industries | $59,579 | $28.64 |
| 18 | University of Nebraska System | $59,139 | $28.43 |
| 19 | Univ Of Colorado-Colorado Spgs | $58,873 | $28.30 |
| 20 | Carnegie Mellon University | $58,856 | $28.30 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Postdoctoral associate salary trends
The average postdoctoral associate salary has risen by $9,135 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average postdoctoral associate earned $45,215 annually, but today, they earn $54,350 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for postdoctoral associates over the last decade.
Compare postdoctoral associate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average postdoctoral associate salary over time
Compare postdoctoral associate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Postdoctoral associate salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $54,400 | $26.13 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $52,700 | $25.35 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $50,400 | $24.22 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $48,800 | $23.44 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $47,800 | $22.99 | -2.1% |
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