What are the main factors that influence a Research and Development Associate III's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Research and Development Associate 's salary?

A Research and Development Associate 's salary grows with experience: a Research and Development Associate I (0-2 years)earns $78,411, a Research and Development Associate II (2-4 years)earns $91,207, a Research and Development Associate III (4-7 years)earns $110,381, a Research and Development Associate IV (7+ years)earns $145,471, a Research and Development Associate V (7-10 years)earns $177,650,

What are the highest paying states for a Research and Development Associate III?

Research and Development Associate III salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Research and Development Associate III roles are District of Columbia $110,381, California $109,962, Massachusetts $108,497. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Research and Development Associate roles make?

Salaries for Research and Development Associate level roles vary by specialization: Research and Development Associate VI: $214,564; Research and Development Associate V: $160,450; Research and Development Associate IV: $131,386; Pathology Research Associate III: $127,200; Assay Development Research Associate: $102,059.

Click or scroll to view upper level job

Research and Development Associate III Salary in District of Columbia

How much does a Research and Development Associate III make in District of Columbia?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research and Development Associate III in District of Columbia is $110,381 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $53.

However, a Research and Development Associate III's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,310
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $102,053 to $119,766
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $94,470

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI-Powered Talent

Smart Recruiting

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Research and Development Associate III Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$119,766	$9,980	$2,303	$58
Average	$110,381	$9,198	$2,123	$53
25th Percentile	$102,053	$8,504	$1,963	$49

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Research and Development Associate III Job Openings in District of Columbia

Associate Director Research Product Development&amp Commercial Enablement

EAB - Washington, DC

Specialized Tax Services

PwC (US) - Washington, DC

Associate Dentist

Premier Dentist Partners - RED WING, MN

Associate Pediatric Dentist

Tooth Haven Pediatric Dentistry - ANKENY, IA

Search More Research and Development Associate III Jobs in District of Columbia

Key Factors That Influence Research and Development Associate III Salaries

A Research and Development Associate III's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Research and Development Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research and Development Associate III's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

Research and Development Associate I (0-2 years): $78,411
Research and Development Associate II (2-4 years): $91,207
Research and Development Associate III (4-7 years): $110,381
Research and Development Associate IV (7+ years): $145,471
Research and Development Associate V (7-10 years): $177,650

Job Role	Years of Experience	Average Salary
Research and Development Associate I	0-2 years	$78,411
Research and Development Associate II	2-4 years	$91,207
Research and Development Associate III	4-7 years	$110,381
Research and Development Associate IV	7+ years	$145,471
Research and Development Associate V	7-10 years	$177,650

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Research and Development Associate III 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 Research and Development Associate IIIs. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $110,381.
California: $109,962.
Massachusetts: $108,497.

District of Columbia $110,381 California $109,962 Massachusetts $108,497 Washington $108,098 New Jersey $108,058 Alaska $107,919 Connecticut $106,543 New York $105,985

Hawaii $104,200 Rhode Island $103,363 Maryland $102,794 Minnesota $102,017 Colorado $101,718 Illinois $101,618 Oregon $101,239 Delaware $100,960

New Hampshire $100,785 Virginia $100,392 Pennsylvania $99,245 Nevada $98,667 North Dakota $98,478 Michigan $98,179 Wisconsin $98,069 Vermont $97,850

Texas $97,242 Maine $97,202 Arizona $97,142 Ohio $97,072 Georgia $96,155 Indiana $95,696 Wyoming $95,607 Utah $95,467

Iowa $95,407 Kansas $94,929 Louisiana $94,789 North Carolina $94,739 Missouri $94,719 Florida $94,330 Montana $94,121 Nebraska $93,922

Kentucky $93,812 South Carolina $93,413 Tennessee $93,164 Idaho $93,064 New Mexico $92,337 Oklahoma $92,177 Alabama $91,589 South Dakota $90,602

Arkansas $90,064 West Virginia $89,774 Mississippi $88,907

Top Paying Cities for Research and Development Associate IIIs

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:

Parcel Return Service: $110,381
Washington: $110,381
Naval Anacost Annex: $110,381

Parcel Return Service, DC $110,381 Washington, DC $110,381 Naval Anacost Annex, DC $110,381 Washington Navy Yard, DC $110,381

Research and Development Associate III Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research and Development Associate III'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 April 01, 2026

$102,053

Average $110,381/year

$119,766

$8,504

Average $9,198/month

$9,980

$1,963

Average $2,123/week

$2,303

$49

Average $53/hour

$58

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$119,766	$9,980	$2,303	$58
Average	$110,381	$9,198	$2,123	$53
25th Percentile	$102,053	$8,504	$1,963	$49

Research and Development Associate III Salary Growth & Career Path

Research and Development Associate III

Human Factors Researcher IV

Research and Development Associate IV

Human Factors Researcher V

SVP of Research & Development

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Research and Development Associate III, 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.

Research and Development Associate III Salary Growth and Career Path
Next Step Role	Estimate Salary	Projected Raise
Human Factors Researcher IV	$149,068	35%
Research and Development Associate IV	$145,471	32%

Salaries of jobs related to Research and Development Associate III

Find Your Next Research and Development Associate III Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Research and Development Associate III job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

Cost of Living In District of Columbia

Cost of Living in District of Columbia is

10.7% Higher

than the National Average

Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.

Explore Cost of Living Calculator

Empower Your Team

Salary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.

Find Salary.com Comp Consulting

See Salary Trends in 2025

Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.

Price Your Company Jobs and Make Pay Fair

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about

Click or scroll to view lower level job