The salary of a Research Fellow in the United States varies depending on several factors, including experience, location, education level, marketing trend and company sizes.
As of March 01, 2025, the average annual salary for a Research Fellow in the United States is $184,650. Salary.com reports that pay typically ranges from $164,838 to $212,980, with most professionals earning between $146,801 and $238,773.
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $212,980 | $17,748 | $4,096 | $102 |
| Average | $184,650 | $15,387 | $3,551 | $89 |
| 25th Percentile | $164,838 | $13,737 | $3,170 | $79 |
An entry-level Research Fellow with less than 1 year of experience earns about $174,994. With 1-2 years of experience, the average salary increases to $176,459. For 2-4 years of experience, the pay typically rises to $177,923. Senior-level professionals with 5-8 years of experience earn around $179,974, and those with over 8 years of experience can expect an average of $184,997.
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Entry Level Research Fellow | $174,994 |
| Intermediate Level Research Fellow | $176,459 |
| Senior Level Research Fellow | $177,923 |
| Specialist Level Research Fellow | $179,974 |
| Expert Level Research Fellow | $184,997 |
| Entry Level | 5% |
| Mid Level | 4% |
| Senior Level | 4% |
| Top Level | 3% |
| Experienced | 0% |
Salaries in the United States differ widely between states due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
What Am I Worth?
Salaries in the United States can vary greatly between cities due to factors like cost of living, local economies, and industry presence.
As of March 01, 2025, our research reveals a significant shift in Research Fellow compensation over the past six years. For example, the median salary increased from $186,185 in 2023 to approximately $181,461 in 2024. (For a detailed analysis of Research Fellow salary trends, click here.)
Key factors like location, experience, industry demand, and economic growth significantly influence salary variations, making them important to consider.
Salary.com job board provides millions of Research Fellow information for you to search for. Click on search button below to see Research Fellow job openings or enter a new job title here.
Here are companies hiring for Research Fellow and their salaries, click below for more details.
| Core Compensation | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Base Salary | $184,650 | 64.9% | ||
| Bonus | $25,691 | 9.0% | ||
| Value of Benefits | ||||
| Core Compensation | Median | % of Total | ||
| Social Security | $13,503 | 4.7% | ||
| 401K/403B | $8,414 | 3.0% | ||
| Disability | $4,207 | 1.5% | ||
| Healthcare | $6,374 | 2.2% | ||
| Pension | $11,569 | 4.1% | ||
| Time Off | $29,933 | 10.5% | ||
| Total Compensation | $284,340 | 100% | ||
| Degree Level | % of user with this level of education |
|---|---|
| Bachelors | 8.0% |
| Masters | 12.1% |
| Doctorate | 79.9% |
What Am I Worth?
The average annual salary of Research Fellow is $184,650. In case you are finding an easy salary calculator, the average hourly pay of Research Fellow is $89; the average weekly pay of Research Fellow is $3,551; the average monthly pay of Research Fellow is $15,387.
A Research Fellow's earning potential can vary widely depending on several factors, including location, industry, experience, education, and the specific employer. According to the latest salary data by Salary.com, a Research Fellow earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Research Fellow is $231,735.
The highest pay for Research Fellow is $238,773.
The lowest pay for Research Fellow is $146,801.
Research Fellow develops the strategy and vision to position a project from inception through completion; creates teams and collaborations that understand the project's direction. Communicates direction through words or actions to inspire team members to reach goals. Being a Research Fellow also responsible for planning and budgeting. Requires a PhD in their field of specialty. Additionally, Research Fellow typically reports to a top management. The Research Fellow manages a departmental sub-function within a broader departmental function. Creates functional strategies and specific objectives for the sub-function and develops budgets/policies/procedures to support the functional infrastructure. To be a Research Fellow typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.
Specify the abilities and skills that a person needs in order to carry out the specified job duties. Each competency has five to ten behavioral assertions that can be observed, each with a corresponding performance level (from one to five) that is required for a particular job.
Analysis: Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
Background Check: A background check or background investigation is a review of a potential employee's criminal, commercial and financial records. The goal of background checks is to ensure the safety and security of the employees in the organisation
Machine Learning: Using mathematical models, data, and algorithms to help a computer learn without direct instruction.
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.
