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Entry Researcher - Academic Salary in the United States

How much does an Entry Researcher - Academic make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for an Entry Researcher - Academic in the United States is $58,800 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

However, an Entry Researcher - Academic's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $71,982
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,700 to $65,700
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,325

Key Factors That Influence Entry Researcher - Academic Salaries

An Entry Researcher - Academic's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Entry Researcher - Academic Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Entry Researcher - Academics. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $65,100.
  • California: $64,900.
  • Massachusetts: $64,000.

Top Paying Cities for Entry Researcher - Academics

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $74,200
  • San Francisco: $73,400
  • Oakland: $71,800

What Skills Can Increase an Entry Researcher - Academic's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 12.21% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Analysis (Mentioned in 2.9% Job Postings): Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names, and is used in different business, science, and social science domains. In today's business world, data analysis plays a role in making decisions more scientific and helping businesses operate more effectively. Data mining is a particular data analysis technique that focuses on modeling and knowledge discovery for predictive rather than purely descriptive purposes, while business intelligence covers data analysis that relies heavily on aggregation, focusing mainly on business information. In statistical applications, data analysis can be divided into descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and confirmatory data analysis (CDA). EDA focuses on discovering new features in the data while CDA focuses on confirming or falsifying existing hypotheses. Predictive analytics focuses on application of statistical models for predictive forecasting or classification, while text analytics applies statistical, linguistic, and structural techniques to extract and classify information from textual sources, a species of unstructured data. All of the above are varieties of data analysis.
  • Financial Services (Mentioned in 1.78% Job Postings): A services provided by the finance industry, which encompasses a broad range of businesses that manage money. These services involve banking, brokerage, mortgages, credit cards, payment services, real estate, investment funds, taxes and accounting.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 12.21%
Data Analysis 2.9%
Financial Services 1.78%

What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on an Entry Researcher - Academic's salary.

  • Cell Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 25%.
  • Cell Culture: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Immunology: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Cell Biology $73,500
25%
Cell Culture $72,912
24%
Immunology $71,148
21%

Entry Researcher - Academic Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Entry Researcher - Academic salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $65,711. While startup companies pay approximate $55,585.

Entry Researcher - Academic Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $55,585
Growth Stage 51~500 $58,787
Established 501~5000 $63,453
Enterprise 5000+ $65,711

Entry Researcher - Academic Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Entry Researcher - Academic roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 55% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Entry Researcher - Academic positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Entry Researcher - Academic as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Entry Researcher - Academic

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$73,500$35.025%
Internet$73,500$35.025%
Software & Networking$73,500$35.025%
Biotechnology$70,560$34.020%
Healthcare$67,620$33.015%

How Education impacts an Entry Researcher - Academic's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Entry Researcher - Academics enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Entry Researcher - Academic with a Bachelor's Degree is between $58,969 and $63,100).

Entry Researcher - Academic Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Entry Researcher - Academic
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.3%
High School 0.9%
Associates 0.7%
Bachelors 41.3%
Masters 37.5%
Doctorate 19.4%

Entry Researcher - Academic Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Entry Researcher - Academic's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$50,700
Average $58,800/year
$65,700
$4,225
Average $4,900/month
$5,475
$975
Average $1,131/week
$1,263
$24
Average $28/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $65,700 $5,475 $1,263 $32
Average $58,800 $4,900 $1,131 $28
25th Percentile $50,700 $4,225 $975 $24

Entry Researcher - Academic Salary Growth & Career Path

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As an Entry Researcher - Academic, you have the following paths for advancement. The table below compares the salary raises for common next-step roles. By comparing these figures, you can choose the career path that best meets your financial goals.

Entry Researcher - Academic Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Curriculum and Instructional Designer II $66,800 14%
Associate Dean of Career Development $74,500 27%
Associate Dean of Computer and Information Systems $96,200 64%
Educational Consultant $115,001 96%

Most common benefits for Entry Researcher - Academic

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Entry Researcher - Academic

Here are companies hiring for Entry Researcher - Academic and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Entry Researcher - Academic

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Entry Researcher - Academic?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Entry Researcher - Academic roles, with salaries approximately 25% above the market median.

2. What is a good US salary in the USA?

A good salary for an Entry Researcher in the USA ranges from approximately USD 56,100 to USD 75,800, with a mid-point of around USD 62,300. This reflects a competitive compensation in the academic field, aligning with the broader average salary in the USA, which is about USD 59,640 in 2024.

3. Do researchers get a lot of money?

Researchers, particularly entry-level academic researchers, earn a salary ranging from $56,100 to $75,800, with a median salary of approximately $62,300. While this is lower than the national median for research scientists, which is $145,080, entry-level positions often provide valuable experience and opportunities for growth in the field.

4. Do research studies pay well?

Yes, research positions can offer competitive salaries. For an Entry Researcher in academia, salaries typically range from $56,100 to $75,800, with a mid-point around $62,300. While not all research studies pay participants, many clinical trials do offer compensation, which can vary widely based on the study's nature and requirements.

5. Is researcher a stressful job?

Being a researcher can be stressful due to tight deadlines, high expectations for quality work, and the competitive nature of securing funding. However, the level of stress varies by individual and work environment. Entry-level researchers can expect salaries ranging from $56,100 to $75,800, which may add to the pressure to perform well.

6. How much do researchers at Harvard make a year?

Entry-level researchers at Harvard typically earn between $56,100 and $75,800 annually, with a median salary around $62,300. This range reflects the competitive compensation for academic researchers, aligning with industry standards for similar positions.

7. How much do academic researchers make in the US?

As of now, the salary for an Entry Researcher in academia in the United States ranges from $56,100 to $75,800 annually, with a median salary of $62,300. This translates to approximately $27.00 to $36.45 per hour, or about $1,080 to $1,450 per week.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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