Research Affiliate Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Affiliate in the United States is $48,734 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $23.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $58,278
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,381 to $53,729
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,418

Key Factors That Influence Research Affiliate Salaries

A Research Affiliate'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 Affiliate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research Affiliate'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): $48,613
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $50,058
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $53,479
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $53,980
  • Expert (over 8 years): $54,230
Levels Salary
Entry Level Research Affiliate$48,613
Intermediate Level Research Affiliate$50,058
Senior Level Research Affiliate$53,479
Specialist Level Research Affiliate$53,980
Expert Level Research Affiliate$54,230

How Do Research Affiliate 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 Affiliates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $53,958.
  • California: $53,753.
  • Massachusetts: $53,037.

Top Paying Cities for Research Affiliates

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: $61,468
  • San Francisco: $60,795
  • Oakland: $59,513

What Skills Can Increase a Research Affiliate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Confidentiality (Mentioned in 6.72% Job Postings): The process of and obligation to apply and enforce rules and practices that ensure that specific types of information are accessible only to those authorized to use it.
  • Patient Care (Mentioned in 5.12% Job Postings): Patient care refers to the prevention, treatment, and management of illness and the preservation of physical and mental well-being through services offered by health professionals.
  • Data Entry (Mentioned in 2.31% Job Postings): Transcribing information into an electronic medium such as a computer or other electronic device.
Skills Demand Percentage
Confidentiality 6.72%
Patient Care 5.12%
Data Entry 2.31%

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 Affiliate's salary.

  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 34%.
  • Alignment: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 27%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Collaboration $65,303
34%
Alignment $64,816
33%
Problem Solving $61,892
27%

Research Affiliate Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research Affiliate roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Business Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Research Affiliate positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research Affiliate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Research Affiliate

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$73,100$35.050%
Business Services$58,480$28.020%

How Education impacts a Research Affiliate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Affiliates enter the field with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Research Affiliate with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $50,307 and $53,524).

Research Affiliate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Affiliate
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.9%
High School 59.2%
Associates 25.8%
Bachelors 12.4%
Masters 1.3%
Doctorate 0.4%

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

Understanding how a Research Affiliate'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
$44,381
Average $48,734/year
$53,729
$3,698
Average $4,061/month
$4,477
$853
Average $937/week
$1,033
$21
Average $23/hour
$26
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $53,729 $4,477 $1,033 $26
Average $48,734 $4,061 $937 $23
25th Percentile $44,381 $3,698 $853 $21

Most common benefits for Research Affiliate

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

Common company salaries for Research Affiliate

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

Find Your Next Research Affiliate Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Research Affiliate 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 Affiliate

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Research Affiliate?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Research Affiliate roles, with salaries approximately 50% 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