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Research technician salary
Average research technician salary
$43,034
Understanding Research Technician Salaries
Research Technicians play a vital role in advancing scientific knowledge and technological innovations. The average salary of $43,034 reflects the demand for skilled professionals in fields like healthcare, environmental science, and engineering. Salaries can vary significantly based on location, with states such as California and Massachusetts often providing higher compensation due to their robust job markets.
Experience also impacts earnings. Entry-level positions typically start around $35,000, while those with several years of experience can earn upwards of $50,000. Additionally, specialized roles in research facilities or clinical settings tend to offer higher pay compared to general laboratory positions.
To enhance your earning potential, consider seeking positions in high-demand areas or pursuing further education and certifications. For example, obtaining a certification in laboratory management can open doors to leadership roles with significantly higher salaries.
Research Technician Job Outlook
The job outlook for Research Technicians remains positive, driven by ongoing advancements in medical research and technology. As industries continue to evolve, the need for skilled technicians will only grow, making this a promising career path for those interested in science and research.
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Where can a Research Technician earn more?
Research technician salaries by experience level
Research technician salary estimates from across the web
Average research technician salary by state
The average research technician salary in Connecticut, New Jersey, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average research technician salary states are Delaware, Alabama, and Utah.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Jersey | $56,670 | $27.25 |
| 2 | Connecticut | $63,554 | $30.55 |
| 3 | New Hampshire | $47,761 | $22.96 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $44,969 | $21.62 |
| 5 | California | $55,365 | $26.62 |
| 6 | Illinois | $46,052 | $22.14 |
| 7 | Oregon | $43,677 | $21.00 |
| 8 | New Mexico | $46,032 | $22.13 |
| 9 | New York | $44,315 | $21.31 |
| 10 | Washington | $43,372 | $20.85 |
| 11 | Vermont | $40,943 | $19.68 |
| 12 | Arizona | $42,446 | $20.41 |
| 13 | Virginia | $44,357 | $21.33 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $39,607 | $19.04 |
| 15 | Wisconsin | $39,108 | $18.80 |
| 16 | Texas | $41,420 | $19.91 |
| 17 | Arkansas | $41,775 | $20.08 |
| 18 | Ohio | $39,883 | $19.17 |
| 19 | Florida | $41,553 | $19.98 |
| 20 | Colorado | $39,259 | $18.87 |
| 21 | South Carolina | $42,825 | $20.59 |
| 22 | Rhode Island | $38,147 | $18.34 |
| 23 | Wyoming | $38,441 | $18.48 |
| 24 | Nevada | $43,073 | $20.71 |
| 25 | Minnesota | $38,498 | $18.51 |
| 26 | District of Columbia | $41,388 | $19.90 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $36,928 | $17.75 |
| 28 | Maine | $35,542 | $17.09 |
| 29 | Michigan | $36,976 | $17.78 |
| 30 | West Virginia | $35,495 | $17.06 |
| 31 | Iowa | $37,699 | $18.12 |
| 32 | Mississippi | $38,128 | $18.33 |
| 33 | Maryland | $36,133 | $17.37 |
| 34 | Nebraska | $35,808 | $17.22 |
| 35 | Louisiana | $38,661 | $18.59 |
| 36 | Hawaii | $40,519 | $19.48 |
| 37 | Alaska | $34,716 | $16.69 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $36,958 | $17.77 |
| 39 | Missouri | $35,579 | $17.11 |
| 40 | Georgia | $36,090 | $17.35 |
| 41 | Idaho | $34,888 | $16.77 |
| 42 | Delaware | $31,506 | $15.15 |
| 43 | Indiana | $33,664 | $16.18 |
| 44 | North Carolina | $33,795 | $16.25 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $33,497 | $16.10 |
| 46 | Kansas | $33,245 | $15.98 |
| 47 | Utah | $29,895 | $14.37 |
| 48 | South Dakota | $29,061 | $13.97 |
| 49 | Alabama | $31,226 | $15.01 |
| 50 | Montana | $28,732 | $13.81 |
| 51 | North Dakota | $29,464 | $14.17 |
Highest paying cities for research technicians
The highest-paying cities for research technicians are Pasadena, CA, Chicago, IL, and Albuquerque, NM.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pasadena, CA | $54,951 | $26.42 |
| 2 | Chicago, IL | $46,208 | $22.22 |
| 3 | Albuquerque, NM | $46,196 | $22.21 |
| 4 | Ashburn, VA | $45,014 | $21.64 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $44,951 | $21.61 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $44,388 | $21.34 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $43,538 | $20.93 |
| 8 | Phoenix, AZ | $42,624 | $20.49 |
| 9 | Little Rock, AR | $41,951 | $20.17 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $41,464 | $19.93 |
| 11 | Houston, TX | $41,417 | $19.91 |
| 12 | Jacksonville, FL | $41,266 | $19.84 |
| 13 | Cleveland, OH | $40,653 | $19.54 |
| 14 | Philadelphia, PA | $39,842 | $19.15 |
| 15 | Milwaukee, WI | $39,179 | $18.84 |
| 16 | Minneapolis, MN | $38,590 | $18.55 |
| 17 | Oklahoma City, OK | $37,213 | $17.89 |
| 18 | Memphis, TN | $36,995 | $17.79 |
| 19 | Ann Arbor, MI | $36,836 | $17.71 |
| 20 | Baltimore, MD | $36,267 | $17.44 |
Research Technicians are the most in-demand in these five cities:
Research technician salary details
A research technician's salary ranges from $31,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $59,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research technician's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 75th Percentile | $50,000 | $4,167 | $24 |
| Average | $43,034 | $3,586 | $21 |
| 25th Percentile | $36,000 | $3,000 | $17 |
| 10th Percentile | $31,000 | $2,583 | $15 |
Highest paying research technician jobs
The highest paying types of research technicians are research scientist, research and development technician, and researcher.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Analyst | $44,024 | $3,669 | $21.17 | 44,074 |
| Microbiologist | $54,620 | $4,552 | $26.26 | 11,444 |
| Laboratory Internship | $35,305 | $2,942 | $16.97 | 90,970 |
| Biological Science Technician | $35,390 | $2,949 | $17.01 | 13,801 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Researcher | $67,145 | $5,595 | $32.28 | 30,498 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for research technicians, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Shailesh Lal
Professor, Oakland University
Top companies hiring research technicians now:
Which companies pay research technicians the most?
Research technician salaries at GCP Applied Technologies and Evonik are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research technician salary at companies like Boehringer Ingelheim and Los Alamos National Laboratory are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GCP Applied Technologies | $80,997 | $38.94 |
| 2 | Evonik | $64,605 | $31.06 |
| 3 | Boehringer Ingelheim | $63,676 | $30.61 |
| 4 | Los Alamos National Laboratory | $62,325 | $29.96 |
| 5 | Los Alamos National Security LLC | $61,558 | $29.60 |
| 6 | Battelle | $61,446 | $29.54 |
| 7 | Birch | $61,313 | $29.48 |
| 8 | Universal Display | $58,854 | $28.30 |
| 9 | Novelis | $58,017 | $27.89 |
| 10 | Salesforce | $57,547 | $27.67 |
| 11 | Arizona State University | $56,122 | $26.98 |
| 12 | Institute for Energy Research | $55,782 | $26.82 |
| 13 | MediaTek | $55,089 | $26.49 |
| 14 | Point72 | $54,965 | $26.43 |
| 15 | Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets | $54,865 | $26.38 |
| 16 | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute | $54,346 | $26.13 |
| 17 | KANA Software | $53,990 | $25.96 |
| 18 | La Jolla Institute for Immunology | $53,954 | $25.94 |
| 19 | Versum Materials | $53,879 | $25.90 |
| 20 | Stanford University | $53,702 | $25.82 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research Technician salary by industry
The average research technician salary varies across industries:
- The average research technician salary in the manufacturing industry is $51,020, the highest of any industry.
- The average research technician salary in the finance industry is $48,354.
- Research technicians in the government industry earn an average salary of $39,586, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for research technicians
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manufacturing | $51,020 | $24.53 |
| 2 | Pharmaceutical | $48,354 | $23.25 |
| 3 | Professional | $47,424 | $22.80 |
| 4 | Insurance | $45,597 | $21.92 |
| 5 | Health Care | $45,288 | $21.77 |
| 6 | Education | $41,996 | $20.19 |
| 7 | Government | $39,586 | $19.03 |
High paying research technician jobs
Research technician salary trends
The average research technician salary has risen by $6,371 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research technician earned $36,663 annually, but today, they earn $43,034 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for research technicians over the last decade.
Compare research technician salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research technician salary over time
Compare research technician salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research technician salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $43,000 | $20.69 | +1.0% |
| 2024 | $42,600 | $20.48 | +3.0% |
| 2023 | $41,300 | $19.87 | +1.6% |
| 2022 | $40,700 | $19.56 | +2.9% |
| 2021 | $39,500 | $18.98 | +2.0% |
Recently added research technician salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles River Laboratories | Animal Research Technician | Mattawan, MI | 06/30/2025 | $41,740 |
| Charles River Laboratories | Research Technician I | Horsham, PA | 06/28/2025 | $45,288 |
| Columbia University In The City of New York | Research Assistant Technician | New York, NY | 06/28/2025 | $42,000 |
| University of Toledo | Research Technician | Toledo, OH | 06/28/2025 | $45,000 |
| Weill Cornell Medicine | Research Technician I | New York, NY | 06/28/2025 | $45,977 |
| Duke University | Research Technician II-Dlar Aquatics | Durham, NC | 06/27/2025 | $39,006 |
| The University of Oklahoma Human Resources | *Research Technician | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/27/2025 | $38,109 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Researcher Technician | University, MS | 06/27/2025 | $31,305 |
| Mayo Clinic Health System | Research Technologist-Electron Microscopy Core | Rochester, MN | 06/27/2025 | $57,267 |
| Johns Hopkins University | Research Technologist | Baltimore, MD | 06/27/2025 | $32,766 |
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