Research Associate I Salary in the United States

How much does a Research Associate I make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Associate I in the United States is $57,978 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $71,377
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $49,119 to $64,992
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $41,054
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View as table View as graph 25% $49,119 10% $41,054 90% $71,377 75% $64,992 $57,978 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Research Associate I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $64,992 $5,416 $1,250 $31
Average $57,978 $4,832 $1,115 $28
25th Percentile $49,119 $4,093 $945 $24
Check out Research Associate I Job Openings in the United States
Research Associate

Nationwide Childrens Hospital - Columbus, OH

Clinical Research Associate

Medpace - Columbus, OH

Complex Care Associate Division Chief Research

Nationwide Childrens Hospital - Columbus, OH

Associate Dean Research&amp Education

The Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Research Associate I Salaries

A Research Associate I'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.

Top Paying Cities for Research Associate Is

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: $73,128
  • San Francisco: $72,327
  • Oakland: $70,803

What Skills Can Increase a Research Associate I'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.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 12.21%
Data Analysis 2.9%
Financial Services 1.78%
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 Associate I'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
$72,473
25%
Cell Culture
$71,893
24%
Immunology
$70,153
21%
Process Development
$68,414
18%
Troubleshooting
$68,414
18%
Biochemistry
$67,834
17%
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Research Associate I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

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

The top paying industries for a Research Associate I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$72,472$35.025%
Internet$72,472$35.025%
Software & Networking$72,472$35.025%
Biotechnology$69,574$33.020%
Healthcare$66,675$32.015%

How Education impacts a Research Associate I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Associate Is enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree 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 Associate I with a Bachelor's Degree is between $59,152 and $63,325).

Research Associate I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Associate I
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%
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Research Associate I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research Associate I'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

Salary Trends for Research Associate I

Salaries for a Research Associate I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $53,745 in 2023 to around $52,307 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Research Associate I salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Research Associate I Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$53,745
2024
$53,138
2025
$52,307
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $53,745
2024 $53,138
2025 $52,307
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Research Associate I

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Research Associate I

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

Find Your Next Research Associate I Job

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

United States
  • Legacy Healthcare Services, Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    Legacy Healthcare Services, Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Make an impact. Change lives. Live a Legacy. Experience a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant career that's full of joy, purpose, and opportunities to... more

    2 Days Ago

  • Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    RN

    Ohio State Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Travel Rn Stepdown (Pcu) Shift. Night shift - 12 hours. Start date: 09/21/2026. End date: 12/21/2026. Duration: 13 weeks. City: Columbus. State: OH more

    13 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Associate Vice President, Internal Communications. About the Company. National consulting & advisory services firm focused on the healthcare industry. Indu... more

    16 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. \n. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full ... more

    21 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Vice President, Payments Engineering. About the Company. Globally-recognized provider of corporate payment solutions. Industry. Financial Services. Type. P... more

    23 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Senior Vice President of Project Delivery. About the Company. A multi-billion-dollar construction organization with collaborative, servant-minded leadershi... more

    23 Days Ago

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FAQ about Research Associate I

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Research Associate I?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Research Associate I 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.)

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