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Research affiliate salary

Average research affiliate salary

$67,863

$32.63 hourly rate

Entry-level research affiliate salary
$49,000 yearly salary
Updated December 15, 2025

Average Research Affiliate Salary

The average salary for a Research Affiliate stands at approximately $67,863 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on factors such as geographic location, experience level, and the specific field of research. For instance, affiliates working in high-cost areas or specialized fields may command higher salaries.

Salary Distribution Across States

Research Affiliates in states like California and New York tend to earn more, reflecting the cost of living and demand for research professionals in those regions. In contrast, states with lower living costs may offer competitive salaries that align with local market conditions.

Job Growth and Opportunities

As research becomes increasingly vital across industries, the demand for Research Affiliates is expected to grow. This role not only provides a stable salary but also pathways to advancement in research management and academia. By understanding the salary landscape, potential job seekers can make informed decisions on their career paths.

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Where can a Research Affiliate earn more?

Compare salary by location
Vs
103k
83k
63k
43k
23k
Columbus, OH$75,815
Largo, FL$52,923
Compare salary by company
Vs
112k
92k
72k
52k
32k
VMware$87,402
USDA$62,453

Research affiliate salary estimates from across the web

Based on the latest salary information compiled by Zippia, Salary.com, Glassdoor, Ziprecruiter and Comparably, the average salary for a research affiliate typically falls between $40,133 and $101,841.
zippia
$67,863yearly
glassdoor[1]
$101,841yearly
comparably[2]
$65,263yearly
Salary.com[3]
$50,354yearly
ZipRecruiter[4]
$40,133yearly

Average research affiliate salary by state

The highest-paying states for research affiliates are New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Minnesota. The lowest average research affiliate salary states are Florida, North Dakota, and South Carolina.

  • State view
  • County view
Average salary:

Highest paying states for research affiliates

RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Rhode Island$85,140$40.93
2New Jersey$85,488$41.10
3Minnesota$78,959$37.96
4Connecticut$77,407$37.21
5Delaware$74,658$35.89
6Tennessee$74,181$35.66
7Pennsylvania$68,614$32.99
8Maine$71,684$34.46
9Montana$76,516$36.79
10Michigan$67,950$32.67
11Indiana$74,314$35.73
12Massachusetts$65,834$31.65
13Virginia$69,085$33.21
14Maryland$66,773$32.10
15Oregon$63,995$30.77
16West Virginia$64,968$31.23
17California$74,323$35.73
18Colorado$63,999$30.77
19Nevada$69,909$33.61
20Arizona$64,288$30.91
21Wyoming$62,089$29.85
22Alaska$73,754$35.46
23Vermont$60,600$29.13
24Ohio$61,548$29.59
25Oklahoma$62,883$30.23
26Illinois$61,739$29.68
27Arkansas$63,087$30.33
28Washington$61,200$29.42
29New Hampshire$59,668$28.69
30Wisconsin$61,123$29.39
31New York$59,401$28.56
32North Carolina$60,653$29.16
33South Dakota$55,433$26.65
34Hawaii$63,162$30.37
35District of Columbia$61,474$29.55
36Nebraska$54,576$26.24
37Kentucky$59,364$28.54
38New Mexico$55,369$26.62
39Idaho$57,838$27.81
40Texas$57,105$27.45
41Kansas$55,928$26.89
42Florida$52,823$25.40
43Utah$48,340$23.24
44Georgia$55,289$26.58
45Mississippi$53,365$25.66
46Alabama$54,108$26.01
47Iowa$53,801$25.87
48North Dakota$51,283$24.66
49Missouri$47,122$22.65
50South Carolina$50,715$24.38
51Louisiana$45,273$21.77

Highest paying cities for research affiliates

The highest-paying cities for research affiliates are Menlo Park, CA, Stanford, CA, and Palo Alto, CA.

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Menlo Park, CA$75,815$36.45
2Stanford, CA$75,804$36.44
3Palo Alto, CA$75,795$36.44
4Davis, CA$75,657$36.37
5Albany, NY$57,473$27.63
6Buffalo, NY$57,358$27.58
7Largo, FL$52,923$25.44

Research affiliate salary details

A research affiliate's salary ranges from $49,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $93,000 at the 90th percentile.

Average research affiliate salary graph
Average research affiliate salary graph, trends, and summary

What is a research affiliate's salary?

PercentileAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rate
90th Percentile$93,000$7,750$45
75th Percentile$80,000$6,667$38
Average$67,863$5,655$33
25th Percentile$57,000$4,750$27
10th Percentile$49,000$4,083$24

Highest paying research affiliate jobs

The highest paying types of research affiliates are medical science liaison, principal scientist, and senior scientist.

Job titleAnnual salaryMonthly salaryHourly rateJob openings
Doctoral Fellow$53,366$4,447$25.6622,661
Postdoctoral Scholar$57,587$4,799$27.6918,983
Principal Scientist$119,982$9,998$57.6880,899
Fellow$66,364$5,530$31.917,459
Scientist$97,344$8,112$46.8062,467
Medical Science Liaison$145,718$12,143$70.0657,208

Which companies pay research affiliates the most?

Research affiliate salaries at VMware and Roswell Park are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research affiliate salary at companies like Stanford University and Health Research, Inc. are highly competitive.

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rate
1VMware$87,402$42.02
2Roswell Park$77,434$37.23
3Stanford University$76,505$36.78
4Health Research, Inc.$69,403$33.37
5Belcher Corporation, Llc$66,066$31.76
6USDA$62,453$30.03

Wage gap by gender, race and education

$67,000$66,800$66,600$66,400$66,200$66,000
MaleFemale

Research affiliate salary trends

The average research affiliate salary has risen by $11,406 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research affiliate earned $56,457 annually, but today, they earn $67,863 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for research affiliates over the last decade.

Compare research affiliate salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average research affiliate salary over time

Compare research affiliate salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Research affiliate salary by year

YearAvg. salaryHourly rate% Change
2026$67,900$32.63+3.0%
2025$65,800$31.66+4.5%
2024$62,900$30.24+3.2%
2023$60,900$29.27+1.9%
2022$59,700$28.71-2.1%

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