Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Research support specialist salary
Average research support specialist salary
$47,994
Understanding the Research Support Specialist Salary
The average salary for a Research Support Specialist in the United States stands at $47,994 per year. This salary can vary based on factors including experience, location, and the specific field of research. Entry-level positions typically offer lower salaries, while those with several years of experience can earn significantly more.
Salary by State and Experience
Research Support Specialists in California and New York often report the highest salaries due to the concentration of research institutions and funding. In these states, salaries can reach upwards of $60,000. As professionals gain experience, their earning potential increases; specialists with over five years of experience can expect salaries exceeding $50,000. Understanding these variations helps job seekers target their applications effectively.
Job Opportunities and Growth
The demand for Research Support Specialists is projected to grow as more organizations recognize the importance of research in various sectors. This growth translates into more job opportunities, making it a promising career path for those interested in supporting research initiatives. By staying informed about salary trends and job opportunities, individuals can better navigate their careers in research support.
Let Zippia find your next research support specialist job
Let Zippia find your next research support specialist job
Where can a Research Support Specialist earn more?
Research support specialist salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level research support specialist | $30,100 | $14.48 |
| Mid-level research support specialist | $50,900 | $24.45 |
| Senior-level research support specialist | $83,300 | $40.04 |
Research support specialist salary estimates from across the web
Average research support specialist salary by state
The highest-paying states for research support specialists are New Jersey, Delaware, and Alaska. The lowest average research support specialist salary states are Alabama, Florida, and Vermont.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research support specialists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $53,617 | $25.78 |
| 2 | New Jersey | $66,399 | $31.92 |
| 3 | Delaware | $61,773 | $29.70 |
| 4 | Minnesota | $51,700 | $24.86 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $49,210 | $23.66 |
| 6 | North Carolina | $54,918 | $26.40 |
| 7 | Arkansas | $45,413 | $21.83 |
| 8 | Maine | $46,375 | $22.30 |
| 9 | South Dakota | $43,400 | $20.87 |
| 10 | Michigan | $44,108 | $21.21 |
| 11 | Virginia | $50,612 | $24.33 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $49,704 | $23.90 |
| 13 | New York | $55,902 | $26.88 |
| 14 | Alaska | $57,513 | $27.65 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $46,508 | $22.36 |
| 16 | Maryland | $56,617 | $27.22 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $51,381 | $24.70 |
| 18 | Ohio | $48,984 | $23.55 |
| 19 | Montana | $44,714 | $21.50 |
| 20 | Wisconsin | $47,920 | $23.04 |
| 21 | Colorado | $46,590 | $22.40 |
| 22 | Illinois | $46,574 | $22.39 |
| 23 | California | $42,965 | $20.66 |
| 24 | Nevada | $40,728 | $19.58 |
| 25 | North Dakota | $43,067 | $20.71 |
| 26 | Connecticut | $47,534 | $22.85 |
| 27 | Idaho | $43,567 | $20.95 |
| 28 | Oregon | $41,468 | $19.94 |
| 29 | Pennsylvania | $40,843 | $19.64 |
| 30 | Missouri | $39,607 | $19.04 |
| 31 | Iowa | $42,047 | $20.21 |
| 32 | Arizona | $41,245 | $19.83 |
| 33 | Tennessee | $40,444 | $19.44 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $36,597 | $17.59 |
| 35 | Kentucky | $38,200 | $18.37 |
| 36 | New Mexico | $37,339 | $17.95 |
| 37 | South Carolina | $39,012 | $18.76 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $37,713 | $18.13 |
| 39 | Wyoming | $38,142 | $18.34 |
| 40 | Utah | $37,441 | $18.00 |
| 41 | West Virginia | $39,534 | $19.01 |
| 42 | Indiana | $39,941 | $19.20 |
| 43 | Hawaii | $36,741 | $17.66 |
| 44 | Texas | $39,181 | $18.84 |
| 45 | Kansas | $33,252 | $15.99 |
| 46 | Vermont | $33,673 | $16.19 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $33,015 | $15.87 |
| 48 | Mississippi | $28,479 | $13.69 |
| 49 | Georgia | $36,202 | $17.40 |
| 50 | Florida | $34,496 | $16.58 |
| 51 | Alabama | $34,609 | $16.64 |
Highest paying cities for research support specialists
The highest-paying cities for research support specialists are Baltimore, MD, New York, NY, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Baltimore, MD | $56,802 | $27.31 |
| 2 | New York, NY | $56,013 | $26.93 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $54,120 | $26.02 |
| 4 | Duluth, MN | $53,423 | $25.68 |
| 5 | West Haven, CT | $47,655 | $22.91 |
| 6 | Chicago, IL | $46,928 | $22.56 |
| 7 | Colorado Springs, CO | $46,250 | $22.24 |
| 8 | San Mateo, CA | $45,151 | $21.71 |
| 9 | Iowa City, IA | $42,247 | $20.31 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | $41,084 | $19.75 |
| 11 | Fort Worth, TX | $38,102 | $18.32 |
| 12 | Huntington, WV | $38,089 | $18.31 |
| 13 | Urban Honolulu, HI | $36,759 | $17.67 |
| 14 | Lincoln, NE | $36,356 | $17.48 |
| 15 | Coral Gables, FL | $34,902 | $16.78 |
Research support specialist salary details
A research support specialist's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $70,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research support specialist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 75th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
| Average | $47,994 | $4,000 | $23 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying research support specialist jobs
The highest paying types of research support specialists are research leader, product specialist, and research manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marketing Internship | $30,260 | $2,522 | $14.55 | 122,135 |
| Marketing Coordinator | $48,326 | $4,027 | $23.23 | 91,281 |
| Marketing Representative | $47,377 | $3,948 | $22.78 | 217,886 |
| Marketing Consultant | $70,593 | $5,883 | $33.94 | 88,935 |
| Support | $36,227 | $3,019 | $17.42 | 136,788 |
| Research Internship | $39,573 | $3,298 | $19.03 | 95,123 |
Top companies hiring research support specialists now:
Which companies pay research support specialists the most?
Research support specialist salaries at Sandia National Labs and The Rockefeller University are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research support specialist salary at companies like Pfizer and Sharp Decisions are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandia National Labs | $73,306 | $35.24 |
| 2 | The Rockefeller University | $59,369 | $28.54 |
| 3 | Pfizer | $57,350 | $27.57 |
| 4 | Sharp Decisions | $56,310 | $27.07 |
| 5 | Yale University | $56,275 | $27.06 |
| 6 | Integrated Resources | $54,214 | $26.06 |
| 7 | Cornell University | $53,486 | $25.71 |
| 8 | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia | $53,194 | $25.57 |
| 9 | The Research Foundation for SUNY | $52,966 | $25.46 |
| 10 | US Tech Solutions | $52,316 | $25.15 |
| 11 | State University of New York College at Cortland | $52,226 | $25.11 |
| 12 | BNSF Railway | $51,408 | $24.72 |
| 13 | National Business Research Institute | $51,387 | $24.71 |
| 14 | Town of Bay Harbor | $50,422 | $24.24 |
| 15 | HUB International | $50,353 | $24.21 |
| 16 | Alliant Credit Union | $49,944 | $24.01 |
| 17 | PSEA | $47,907 | $23.03 |
| 18 | Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc. | $47,402 | $22.79 |
| 19 | Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University | $47,214 | $22.70 |
| 20 | Charles River Labs | $46,331 | $22.27 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research support specialist salary trends
The average research support specialist salary has risen by $4,054 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research support specialist earned $43,940 annually, but today, they earn $47,994 a year. That works out to a 5% change in pay for research support specialists over the last decade.
Compare research support specialist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research support specialist salary over time
Compare research support specialist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research support specialist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $48,000 | $23.07 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $46,500 | $22.37 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | $46,000 | $22.13 | -0.2% |
| 2022 | $46,100 | $22.17 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $45,600 | $21.93 | +0.7% |
Recently added research support specialist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Chicago | Research Support | Chicago, IL | 06/30/2025 | $40,133 |
| University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Il | Research Support Specialist | Urbana, IL | 06/30/2025 | $48,000 |
| Sbhu | Research Support Specialist | Stony Brook, NY | 06/29/2025 | $37,000 |
| Truveta | Partner Research Support Specialist | Seattle, WA | 06/29/2025 | $75,000 |
| Hub International | Research Support Specialist | Irving, TX | 06/28/2025 | $33,392 |
| Charles River Laboratories | Research Support Specialist I-Veterinary Technicians Encouraged To Apply | Poolesville, MD | 06/24/2025 | $58,436 |
| Kelly Services | Research and Surgical Support Specialist | Blue Ash, OH | 06/19/2025 | $45,914 |
| Suny Upstate Medical University | Research Support Specialist, Senior | Syracuse, NY | 06/18/2025 | $35,568 |
| Fort Lewis College | Sponsored Programs and Research Support Specialist | Durango, CO | 06/11/2025 | $56,500 |
| Charles River | Research Support Specialist I-Veterinary Technicians Encouraged To Apply | Maryland | 06/08/2025 | $58,436 |
Research support specialist salary FAQs
Search for research support specialist jobs