Assistant Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does an Assistant Scientist make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for an Assistant Scientist in the United States is $72,712 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

However, an Assistant Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $84,817
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,214 to $79,048
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $62,207
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View as table View as graph 25% $67,214 10% $62,207 90% $84,817 75% $79,048 $72,712 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Assistant Scientist Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $79,048 $6,587 $1,520 $38
Average $72,712 $6,059 $1,398 $35
25th Percentile $67,214 $5,601 $1,293 $32
Check out Assistant Scientist Job Openings in the United States
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Key Factors That Influence Assistant Scientist Salaries

An Assistant Scientist'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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Assistant Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Assistant Scientist'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): $73,094
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $89,437
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $114,398
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $130,364
  • Expert (over 8 years): $174,796
Levels Salary
Assistant... Level Assistant Scientist$73,094
Data Scie... Level Assistant Scientist$89,437
Data Scie... Level Assistant Scientist$114,398
Data Scie... Level Assistant Scientist$130,364
Data Scie... Level Assistant Scientist$174,796
$73,094 0 yr
$89,437 < 2 yrs
$114,398 2-4 yrs
$130,364 5-8 yrs
$174,796 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Assistant Scientists

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: $91,712
  • San Francisco: $90,708
  • Oakland: $88,796

What Skills Can Increase an Assistant Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 11.33% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • SQL (Mentioned in 3.32% Job Postings): Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system (RDSMS).
  • Economics (Mentioned in 1.42% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 11.33%
SQL 3.32%
Economics 1.42%
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 an Assistant Scientist's salary.
  • Molecular Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Biochemistry: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Inference: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Molecular Biology
$82,165
13%
Biochemistry
$80,711
11%
Inference
$78,529
8%
Chemistry
$78,529
8%
Predictive Analytics
$77,802
7%
Collaboration
$77,075
6%
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Assistant Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Assistant Scientist 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 Financial Services and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Assistant Scientist positions in Telecom or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Assistant Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Assistant Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$94,526$45.030%
Pharmaceuticals$94,526$45.030%
Internet$90,890$44.025%
Insurance$87,255$42.020%
Energy & Utilities$83,619$40.015%

Assistant Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how an Assistant Scientist'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Assistant Scientist

Salaries for an Assistant Scientist can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $66,902 in 2023 to around $66,256 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Assistant Scientist salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Assistant Scientist Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$66,902
2024
$66,610
2025
$66,256
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $66,902
2024 $66,610
2025 $66,256
2026
View More
2027
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Most common benefits for Assistant Scientist

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Assistant Scientist

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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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