Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Research writer salary
Average research writer salary
$50,741
Average Research Writer Salary
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Research Writer stands at $50,741 annually. This translates to about $24 per hour. Salaries can vary significantly based on experience, location, and the industry in which one is employed. For instance, entry-level positions may offer lower compensation compared to experienced roles, where seasoned writers can earn upwards of $70,000 per year.
Where Can Research Writers Earn More?
Research Writers in states like California and New York tend to earn higher salaries due to the cost of living and demand for skilled writers. Exploring opportunities in technical writing or medical writing can also lead to significantly higher pay. Additionally, freelance options allow writers to set competitive rates based on their expertise and client needs.
Let Zippi find your next research writer job
Let Zippi find your next research writer job
Where can a Research Writer earn more?
Research writer salaries by experience level
| Experience level | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level research writer | $34,400 | $16.55 |
| Mid-level research writer | $54,900 | $26.38 |
| Senior-level research writer | $75,300 | $36.21 |
Research writer salary estimates from across the web
Average research writer salary by state
The average research writer salary in Virginia, Maryland, and Massachusetts are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average research writer salary states are South Carolina, Indiana, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for research writers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | $87,715 | $42.17 |
| 2 | Virginia | $73,215 | $35.20 |
| 3 | Vermont | $61,856 | $29.74 |
| 4 | Pennsylvania | $60,196 | $28.94 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $62,211 | $29.91 |
| 6 | Michigan | $62,600 | $30.10 |
| 7 | New Jersey | $63,788 | $30.67 |
| 8 | Connecticut | $64,804 | $31.16 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $57,244 | $27.52 |
| 10 | California | $60,043 | $28.87 |
| 11 | Arizona | $59,709 | $28.71 |
| 12 | Maryland | $70,555 | $33.92 |
| 13 | Wyoming | $53,561 | $25.75 |
| 14 | North Dakota | $59,819 | $28.76 |
| 15 | Oregon | $54,000 | $25.96 |
| 16 | Massachusetts | $65,375 | $31.43 |
| 17 | Delaware | $57,004 | $27.41 |
| 18 | Illinois | $56,073 | $26.96 |
| 19 | Minnesota | $53,331 | $25.64 |
| 20 | North Carolina | $56,291 | $27.06 |
| 21 | Ohio | $54,037 | $25.98 |
| 22 | New York | $59,023 | $28.38 |
| 23 | Montana | $50,829 | $24.44 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $52,287 | $25.14 |
| 25 | Colorado | $51,462 | $24.74 |
| 26 | Missouri | $48,413 | $23.28 |
| 27 | Washington | $54,920 | $26.40 |
| 28 | Georgia | $50,205 | $24.14 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $45,690 | $21.97 |
| 30 | Maine | $48,578 | $23.35 |
| 31 | West Virginia | $46,875 | $22.54 |
| 32 | Texas | $48,125 | $23.14 |
| 33 | Utah | $45,815 | $22.03 |
| 34 | Nevada | $48,248 | $23.20 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $45,362 | $21.81 |
| 36 | Nebraska | $44,331 | $21.31 |
| 37 | Alaska | $49,759 | $23.92 |
| 38 | Kansas | $45,905 | $22.07 |
| 39 | Florida | $44,862 | $21.57 |
| 40 | Iowa | $44,599 | $21.44 |
| 41 | Hawaii | $42,743 | $20.55 |
| 42 | New Mexico | $42,389 | $20.38 |
| 43 | Idaho | $43,519 | $20.92 |
| 44 | Indiana | $42,974 | $20.66 |
| 45 | Kentucky | $43,738 | $21.03 |
| 46 | Arkansas | $43,199 | $20.77 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $43,877 | $21.09 |
| 48 | Alabama | $43,014 | $20.68 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $42,979 | $20.66 |
| 50 | Oklahoma | $41,547 | $19.97 |
| 51 | Mississippi | $39,866 | $19.17 |
Highest paying cities for research writers
The highest-paying cities for research writers are Brookline, MA, Redwood City, CA, and New York, NY.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brookline, MA | $65,300 | $31.39 |
| 2 | Redwood City, CA | $64,335 | $30.93 |
| 3 | New York, NY | $59,251 | $28.49 |
| 4 | Chapel Hill, NC | $57,618 | $27.70 |
| 5 | Madison, WI | $51,719 | $24.86 |
| 6 | Cincinnati, OH | $50,835 | $24.44 |
| 7 | Dallas, TX | $48,576 | $23.35 |
| 8 | Kansas City, MO | $48,192 | $23.17 |
| 9 | Memphis, TN | $44,979 | $21.62 |
Research writer salary details
A research writer's salary ranges from $32,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $80,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a research writer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $80,000 | $6,667 | $38 |
| 75th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| Average | $50,741 | $4,228 | $24 |
| 25th Percentile | $39,000 | $3,250 | $19 |
| 10th Percentile | $32,000 | $2,667 | $15 |
Highest paying research writer jobs
The highest paying types of research writers are managing editor, senior technical writer, and proposal writer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Journalist | $60,828 | $5,069 | $29.24 | 11,488 |
| Editorial Internship | $32,356 | $2,696 | $15.56 | 51,667 |
| Editor | $52,107 | $4,342 | $25.05 | 15,115 |
| Managing Editor | $89,060 | $7,422 | $42.82 | 16,781 |
| Content Editor | $61,694 | $5,141 | $29.66 | 18,586 |
| Sports Editor | $50,996 | $4,250 | $24.52 | 5,845 |
Top companies hiring research writers now:
Which companies pay research writers the most?
Research writer salaries at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research writer salary at companies like Parkland Hospital and Columbia University in the City of New York are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | $71,581 | $34.41 |
| 2 | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | $59,024 | $28.38 |
| 3 | Parkland Hospital | $59,009 | $28.37 |
| 4 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $57,850 | $27.81 |
| 5 | Camargo | $55,819 | $26.84 |
| 6 | Clarivate | $54,845 | $26.37 |
| 7 | The University of Kansas | $34,627 | $16.65 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Research Writer salary by industry
The average research writer salary varies across industries:
- The average research writer salary in the non profits industry is $61,436, the highest of any industry.
- The average research writer salary in the finance industry is $51,984.
- Research writers in the internet industry earn an average salary of $43,267, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for research writers
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Non Profits | $61,436 | $29.54 |
| 2 | Government | $51,984 | $24.99 |
| 3 | Hospitality | $49,125 | $23.62 |
| 4 | Education | $46,640 | $22.42 |
| 5 | Media | $46,015 | $22.12 |
| 6 | Professional | $44,267 | $21.28 |
| 7 | Internet | $43,267 | $20.80 |
High paying research writer jobs
Research writer salary trends
The average research writer salary has risen by $6,825 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research writer earned $43,916 annually, but today, they earn $50,741 a year. That works out to a 7% change in pay for research writers over the last decade.
Compare research writer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average research writer salary over time
Compare research writer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Research writer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $50,700 | $24.39 | +2.4% |
| 2024 | $49,500 | $23.81 | +1.4% |
| 2023 | $48,800 | $23.48 | +1.3% |
| 2022 | $48,200 | $23.18 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | $47,500 | $22.83 | -0.6% |
Recently added research writer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Science Research Writer--Innate Immunity | Memphis, TN | 04/29/2025 | $70,720 |
| Axogen | Clinical Research Writer | Tampa, FL | 04/28/2025 | $110,585 |
| Emarketer | Research Writer/Analyst, Banking | New York, NY | 04/28/2025 | $85,000 |
| Force 10 Hoops | Seasonal Writer/Research | Seattle, WA | 04/23/2025 | $41,740 |
| St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Science Research Writer-Department of Developmental Neurobiology | Memphis, TN | 03/30/2025 | $70,720 |
| St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Science Research Writer | Memphis, TN | 03/05/2025 | $70,720 |
| American Museum of Natural History | Writer/Researcher | New York, NY | 02/09/2025 | $70,000 |
| Randstad Life Sciences Us | Health Economics and Outcomes Research Writer | Downe, NJ | 01/31/2025 | $115,975 |
| St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Science Research Writer-Department of Developmental Neurobiology | Memphis, TN | 01/26/2025 | $70,720 |
| Stjude | Science Research Writer-Department of Hematology | Memphis, TN | 12/11/2024 | $70,720 |
Research writer salary FAQs
Search for research writer jobs