Salary AI Book a Demo
upper level job

Researcher I - Academic Salary in the United States

How much does a Researcher I - Academic make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Researcher I - Academic in the United States is $58,761 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $71,956
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,632 to $65,668
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,231
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Researcher I - Academic Salaries

A Researcher I - Academic'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 Researcher I - Academic Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Researcher I - Academic'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:

  • Researcher I - Academic (0-2 years): $58,761
  • Researcher II - Academic (4-7 years): $76,637
  • Researcher III - Academic (7+ years): $90,477
  • Dean (7+ years): $160,849
Job Role Years of Experience Average Salary
Researcher I - Academic0-2 years$58,761
Researcher II - Academic4-7 years$76,637
Researcher III - Academic7+ years$90,477
Dean7+ years$160,849
View as Graph

How Do Researcher I - 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 Researcher I - Academics. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $65,060.
  • California: $64,813.
  • Massachusetts: $63,950.

Top Paying Cities for Researcher I - 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: $74,115
  • San Francisco: $73,304
  • Oakland: $71,759

What Skills Can Increase a Researcher I - 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%
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 Researcher I - 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 $73,451
25%
Cell Culture $72,864
24%
Immunology $71,101
21%
Get Latest Data

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

Researcher I - Academic salary potential scales significantly with company size. Data shows that Enterprise companies (5,000+ employees) pay the highest average salary at around $65,668. While startup companies pay approximate $55,548.

Researcher I - Academic Salary by Company Size

Company Size Employees Average Salary
Startup 1~50 $55,548
Growth Stage 51~500 $58,748
Established 501~5000 $63,411
Enterprise 5000+ $65,668

Researcher I - Academic Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Researcher I - 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, Researcher I - Academic positions in Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Researcher I - Academic as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Researcher I - Academic

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$73,451$35.025%
Internet$73,451$35.025%
Software & Networking$73,451$35.025%
Biotechnology$70,513$34.020%
Healthcare$67,575$32.015%

How Education impacts a Researcher I - Academic's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Researcher I - Academic 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 Researcher I - Academic with a Bachelor's Degree is between $59,152 and $63,325.

Researcher I - Academic Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Researcher I - 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%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a Researcher I - 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
$50,632
Average $58,761/year
$65,668
$4,219
Average $4,897/month
$5,472
$974
Average $1,130/week
$1,263
$24
Average $28/hour
$32
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $65,668 $5,472 $1,263 $32
Average $58,761 $4,897 $1,130 $28
25th Percentile $50,632 $4,219 $974 $24

Researcher I - Academic Salary Growth & Career Path

Researcher I - Academic

Next Role

Advancement

Promotions are the fastest way to increase your earnings. As a Researcher I - 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.

Next Step Role Estimate Salary Projected Raise
Instructional Designer II $66,716 14%
Associate Dean - Career Development $74,492 27%
Associate Dean - Computer and Information Systems $96,117 64%
Consultant - Education $114,972 96%

Most common benefits for Researcher I - Academic

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

Common company salaries for Researcher I - Academic

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

Find Your Next Researcher I - Academic Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Researcher I - Academic 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 Researcher I - Academic

1. Where can a Researcher I - Academic earn the most?

A Researcher I - Academic'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 Researcher I - Academic earns the most in San Jose, CA, where the annual salary of a Researcher I - Academic is $74,115.

2. What is the highest pay for Researcher I - Academic?

The highest pay for Researcher I - Academic is $71,956.

3. What is the lowest pay for Researcher I - Academic?

The lowest pay for Researcher I - Academic is $43,231.

4. What are the responsibilities of Researcher I - Academic?

Carries out research/development activities. Makes detailed observations, analyzes data, and interprets results. Compiles results and prepares technical reports and documentation of outcomes. Develops research or policy papers, studies, and reports by conducting research in specific areas. Requires a bachelor's degree. Typically reports to a supervisor or manager. Works on projects/matters of limited complexity in a support role. Work is closely managed. Typically requires 0-2 years of related experience.

5. What industry pays the highest salary for Researcher I - Academic?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Researcher I - Academic roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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