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National Institutes of Health salaries
National Institutes of Health salary estimate
$54,547yearly
Understanding NIH Salaries
The National Institutes of Health provides a diverse range of job opportunities across various departments, with salaries reflecting the organization's commitment to attracting top talent. The average salary at NIH is approximately $54,547 per year. However, this figure can vary significantly depending on the specific role, location, and experience level.
For instance, positions in research and development often command higher salaries, particularly in locations with a higher cost of living. NIH's salary structure is designed to ensure competitive compensation, aligning with industry standards. Moreover, employees can expect comprehensive benefits that enhance overall job satisfaction. Understanding these dynamics enables prospective employees to make informed decisions regarding their career paths within the NIH.
Highest paying jobs at National Institutes of Health
The highest paying jobs at National Institutes of Health are senior software engineer, program manager, clinician, and staff scientist. Senior software engineer jobs at National Institutes of Health earn an average yearly salary of $110,037, National Institutes of Health program manager jobs average $88,761, and National Institutes of Health clinician jobs average $87,889.
The lowest paying National Institutes of Health roles include laboratory animal caretaker and office automation clerk. National Institutes of Health laboratory animal caretaker average salary is $28,960 per year. So while the average National Institutes of Health salary is $54,547 there is a big variation in pay depending on the role.
Highest paying jobs at National Institutes of Health
| Rank | Job title | Average National Institutes of Health salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Senior Software Engineer | $110,037 | $52.90 |
| 2 | Program Manager | $88,761 | $42.67 |
| 3 | Clinician | $87,889 | $42.25 |
| 4 | Staff Scientist | $87,046 | $41.85 |
| 5 | Project Manager | $81,928 | $39.39 |
| 6 | Systems Engineer | $80,248 | $38.58 |
| 7 | Information Technology Specialist | $79,207 | $38.08 |
| 8 | Staff Nurse | $77,961 | $37.48 |
| 9 | Investigator | $77,930 | $37.47 |
| 10 | Consultant | $75,572 | $36.33 |
| 11 | Writer And Editor | $74,441 | $35.79 |
| 12 | Registered Nurse | $74,433 | $35.79 |
| 13 | Program Analyst | $74,041 | $35.60 |
| 14 | Biologist | $70,945 | $34.11 |
| 15 | Programming Specialist | $68,457 | $32.91 |
| 16 | Management Analyst | $67,875 | $32.63 |
| 17 | Cancer Researcher | $67,661 | $32.53 |
| 18 | Microbiologist | $64,565 | $31.04 |
| 19 | Secretary | $60,508 | $29.09 |
| 20 | Research Fellow | $60,505 | $29.09 |
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How much does National Institutes of Health pay by location?
Highest paying National Institutes of Health locations
| Rank | Location | Average National Institutes of Health salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego, CA | $64,575 | $31.05 |
| 2 | Bethesda, MD | $60,158 | $28.92 |
| 3 | Everett, WA | $58,176 | $27.97 |
| 4 | Parkton, NC | $53,776 | $25.85 |
| 5 | Hamilton, MT | $53,666 | $25.80 |
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National Institutes of Health salaries by department
Salaries at National Institutes of Health vary depending on the department you work in. National Institutes of Health salaries in the engineering department are the highest with an average salary of $79,461. Employees in the finance department at National Institutes of Health receive relatively high salaries as well, with an average salary of $73,620 per year. Departments that don't pay as well at National Institutes of Health include the administrative and the non profit/government organizational functions, with employees earning average salaries of $43,138 and $56,580, respectively.
Average National Institutes of Health salary by department
| Rank | Department | Average National Institutes of Health salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Engineering | $79,461 | $38.20 |
| 2 | Finance | $73,620 | $35.39 |
| 3 | IT | $64,365 | $30.94 |
| 4 | Research & Development | $57,212 | $27.51 |
| 5 | Healthcare | $56,920 | $27.37 |
| 6 | Non Profit/Government | $56,581 | $27.20 |
| 7 | Administrative | $43,138 | $20.74 |
How much does National Institutes of Health pay by department?
Best paying National Institutes of Health research & development salaries
| Rank | Position | Average National Institutes of Health salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Staff Scientist | $87,046 | $41.85 |
| 2 | Biologist | $70,945 | $34.11 |
| 3 | Chemist | $67,875 | $32.63 |
| 4 | Cancer Researcher | $67,661 | $32.53 |
| 5 | Microbiologist | $64,565 | $31.04 |
| 6 | Research Fellow | $60,505 | $29.09 |
| 7 | Doctoral Fellow | $56,051 | $26.95 |
| 8 | Research Assistant | $42,343 | $20.36 |
| 9 | Laboratory Internship | $41,314 | $19.86 |
| 10 | Laboratory Technician | $37,071 | $17.82 |
Best paying National Institutes of Health administrative salaries
| Rank | Position | Average National Institutes of Health salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Secretary | $60,508 | $29.09 |
| 2 | Medical Records Technician | $48,418 | $23.28 |
| 3 | Data Entry Specialist | $46,664 | $22.43 |
| 4 | Program Support Assistant | $46,539 | $22.37 |
| 5 | Administrative Assistant | $44,553 | $21.42 |
| 6 | Record Management Specialist | $44,415 | $21.35 |
| 7 | Administrative Technician | $38,418 | $18.47 |
| 8 | Student Internship | $34,487 | $16.58 |
| 9 | Programming Internship | $33,703 | $16.20 |
| 10 | Office Clerk | $32,572 | $15.66 |
| 11 | Receptionist | $31,992 | $15.38 |
| 12 | Office Automation Clerk | $31,688 | $15.23 |
Best paying National Institutes of Health healthcare salaries
| Rank | Position | Average National Institutes of Health salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Administrator | $96,435 | $46.36 |
| 2 | MD | $93,295 | $44.85 |
| 3 | Pharmacy Internship | $89,812 | $43.18 |
| 4 | Clinician | $87,889 | $42.25 |
| 5 | Staff Nurse | $77,961 | $37.48 |
| 6 | Clinical Fellow | $75,350 | $36.23 |
| 7 | Respiratory Therapist | $69,755 | $33.54 |
| 8 | Clinical Research Nurse | $57,708 | $27.74 |
| 9 | Medical Technologist | $53,753 | $25.84 |
| 10 | Medical Laboratory Technologist Internship | $50,500 | $24.28 |
| 11 | Health Technician | $48,947 | $23.53 |
| 12 | Certified Nursing Assistant | $38,933 | $18.72 |
| 13 | Phlebotomist | $38,479 | $18.50 |
| 14 | Pharmacist Technician | $37,247 | $17.91 |
| 15 | Patient Escort | $37,145 | $17.86 |
| 16 | Laboratory Animal Caretaker | $28,961 | $13.92 |
| 17 | Student Volunteer | $28,931 | $13.91 |
National Institutes of Health competitors’ average salaries
Average salaries at National Institutes of Health competitors, like Fred Hutch, Centers For Disease Control And Prevention, and NIH Research & Consulting, vary. Fred Hutch employees earn the highest salaries, with an average yearly salary of $61,451. The average salary at Centers For Disease Control And Prevention is $58,979 per year, and the average salary at NIH Research & Consulting is $56,956 per year.
Highest paying National Institutes of Health competitors
| Rank | Company name | Zippia score | Average salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fred Hutch | 4.5 | $61,451 |
| 2 | Centers For Disease Control And Prevention | 4.3 | $58,979 |
| 3 | NIH Research & Consulting | 4.5 | $56,956 |
| 4 | National Science Foundation | 4.5 | $56,854 |
| 5 | IMEC | 4.3 | $55,664 |
| 6 | Boyce Thompson Institute | 3.7 | $53,624 |
| 7 | The Washington Institute for Near East Policy | 4.6 | $53,250 |
| 8 | National Cancer Institute | 4.5 | $51,905 |
| 9 | Texas Heart Institute | 3.9 | $51,497 |
| 10 | Biomedical Research Foundation of Northwest Louisiana | 3.7 | $51,452 |
| 11 | Wilson Center | 4.2 | $50,901 |
| 12 | Earthwatch | 3.9 | $39,898 |
| 13 | Virginia Institute of Marine Science | 3.9 | $35,280 |
Recently added National Institutes of Health salaries
| Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research Fellow | Bethesda, MD | 03/24/2025 | $102,591 |
| Research Fellow | Bethesda, MD | 03/18/2025 | $88,726 |
| Research Fellow | Bethesda, MD | 03/13/2025 | $98,729 |
| Staff Scientist | Bethesda, MD | 03/11/2025 | $120,579 |
| Staff Scientist | Bethesda, MD | 03/03/2025 | $117,962 |
Frequently asked questions about National Institutes of Health salaries
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Zippia gives an in-depth look into the details of National Institutes of Health, including salaries, political affiliations, employee data, and more, in order to inform job seekers about National Institutes of Health. The employee data is based on information from people who have self-reported their past or current employments at National Institutes of Health. The data on this page is also based on data sources collected from public and open data sources on the Internet and other locations, as well as proprietary data we licensed from other companies. Sources of data may include, but are not limited to, the BLS, company filings, estimates based on those filings, H1B filings, and other public and private datasets. While we have made attempts to ensure that the information displayed are correct, Zippia is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for the results obtained from the use of this information. None of the information on this page has been provided or approved by National Institutes of Health. The data presented on this page does not represent the view of National Institutes of Health and its employees or that of Zippia.
National Institutes of Health may also be known as or be related to National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health, The National Institute On Drug Abuse (nida) and The National Institute on Drug Abuse.