Salary AI Book a Demo

Research Fellow Salary in the United States

How much does a Research Fellow make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Fellow in the United States is $196,999 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $95.

However, a Research Fellow's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $231,756
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $189,268 to $215,192
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $182,229
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Research Fellow Salaries

A Research Fellow'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Research Fellow Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research Fellow'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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $193,884
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $194,460
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $195,037
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $195,845
  • Expert (over 8 years): $198,357
Levels Salary
Entry Level Research Fellow$193,884
Intermediate Level Research Fellow$194,460
Senior Level Research Fellow$195,037
Specialist Level Research Fellow$195,845
Expert Level Research Fellow$198,357
View as Graph

How Do Research Fellows 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 Fellows. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $218,117.
  • California: $217,290.
  • Massachusetts: $214,394.

Top Paying Cities for Research Fellow

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: $248,475
  • San Francisco: $245,754
  • Oakland: $240,575

What Skills Can Increase a Research Fellow's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 9.71% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Bioinformatics (Mentioned in 2.78% Job Postings): Bioinformatics is also known as computational biology, and is the study of large amounts of biological information like DNA, often with computer help.
  • Computer Science (Mentioned in 2.15% Job Postings): Computer science is the study of computation, automation, and information. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, information theory, and automation) to practical disciplines.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 9.71%
Bioinformatics 2.78%
Computer Science 2.15%
See More Skills

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 a Research Fellow's salary.

  • Oncology: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Talent Acquisition: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Oncology $218,669
11%
Insight $212,759
8%
Talent Acquisition $212,759
8%
Get Latest Data

Research Fellow Salary by Company Size: Startups vs. Enterprise

Research Fellow salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $222,427. While startup companies pay approximate $188,611.

Research Fellow Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $188,611
Growth Stage 51~500 $199,341
Established 501~5000 $214,904
Enterprise 5000+ $222,427

Research Fellow Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research Fellow roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Research Fellow positions in Pharmaceuticals or Chemicals typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research Fellow as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Research Fellow

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$256,099$123.030%
Biotechnology$236,399$114.020%

How Education impacts an Research Fellow's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Fellow enter the field with a Bachelor's 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 Research Fellow with a Bachelor's Degree is between $0 and $0.

Research Fellow Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Fellow
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 8.0%
High School 12.1%
Associates 79.9%
Bachelors 8.0%
Masters 12.1%
Doctorate 79.9%
View as Graph

Research Fellow Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research Fellow'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 August 01, 2026
$189,268
Average $196,999/year
$215,192
$15,772
Average $16,417/month
$17,933
$3,640
Average $3,788/week
$4,138
$91
Average $95/hour
$103
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $215,192 $17,933 $4,138 $103
Average $196,999 $16,417 $3,788 $95
25th Percentile $189,268 $15,772 $3,640 $91

Research Fellow Salary Growth & Career Path

Research Fellow

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Research Fellow, 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.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
VP of Pharmacokinetics $293,712 49%
VP of Biopharma Process Development $244,617 24%
VP of Pharmacology $244,534 24%

Most common benefits for Research Fellow

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

Common company salaries for Research Fellow

Here are companies hiring for Research Fellow and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Research Fellow Job

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

For Employees

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

Get a Salary Increase

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

Search Job Openings

For Employers

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

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

FAQ about Research Fellow

1. Where can a Research Fellow earn the most?

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 $248,475.

2. What is the highest pay for Research Fellow?

The highest pay for Research Fellow is $231,756.

3. What is the lowest pay for Research Fellow?

The lowest pay for Research Fellow is $182,229.

4. What are the responsibilities of 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. Also responsible for planning and budgeting. Requires a PhD in their field of specialty. Typically reports to a top management. 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. Typically requires 5+ years of managerial experience. Deep knowledge of the managed sub-function and solid knowledge of the overall departmental function.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Research Fellow?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Research Fellow roles, with salaries approximately 30% above the market median.

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.

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 CompAnalyst