Junior Research Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Junior Research Assistant make in the United States?

As of May 01, 2026, the average salary for a Junior Research Assistant in the United States is $45,781 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $22.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $58,373
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $39,609 to $52,372
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $33,990
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2025 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
AI-Powered Talent
View as table View as graph 25% $39,609 10% $33,990 90% $58,373 75% $52,372 $45,781 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Junior Research Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $52,372 $4,364 $1,007 $25
Average $45,781 $3,815 $880 $22
25th Percentile $39,609 $3,301 $762 $19
Check out Junior Research Assistant Job Openings in the United States
Assistant Nurse Manager Cardiology Research

University Hospitals - Cleveland, OH

Research Assistant Hoxworth Blood Center Clinical Research

University of Cincinnati - Mt Auburn, OH

Research And Development Engineer

LayerZero Power Systems - Aurora, OH

Vice President Research And Development

Bellisio Foods - Columbus, OH

Search More Junior Research Assistant Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Junior Research Assistant Salaries

A Junior Research Assistant'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 Junior Research Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Junior Research Assistant'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): $40,426
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $46,209
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $65,032
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $72,434
  • Expert (over 8 years): $105,504
Levels Salary
Document ... Level Junior Research Assistant$40,426
Junior Re... Level Junior Research Assistant$46,209
Document ... Level Junior Research Assistant$65,032
Document ... Level Junior Research Assistant$72,434
Document ... Level Junior Research Assistant$105,504
$40,426 0 yr
$46,209 < 2 yrs
$65,032 2-4 yrs
$72,434 5-8 yrs
$105,504 > 8 yrs
View as Table
View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Junior Research Assistant 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 Junior Research Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $50,688.
  • California: $50,496.
  • Massachusetts: $49,823.

Top Paying Cities for Junior Research Assistants

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: $57,743
  • San Francisco: $57,111
  • Oakland: $55,907

What Skills Can Increase a Junior Research Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 8.19% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Accounting (Mentioned in 2.55% Job Postings): Creating financial statements and reports based on the summary of financial and business transactions.
  • Business Administration (Mentioned in 1.52% Job Postings): It is the management of all aspects of a business's performance, decisions, and organization. It includes the day to day operations, aspects including finances and human resources, and ensures the company stays aligned to the goal or mission.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 8.19%
Accounting 2.55%
Business Administration 1.52%
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 Junior Research Assistant's salary.
  • Food Security: Can increase your salary by up to 21%.
  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
  • Financial Management: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Food Security
$55,394
21%
Project Management
$52,190
14%
Financial Management
$51,274
12%
Team Management
$50,359
10%
Budgeting
$49,901
9%
Quality Management
$49,443
8%
Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Junior Research Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Junior Research Assistants 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 Junior Research Assistant with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $51,061 and $55,075).

Junior Research Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Junior Research Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 40.0%
High School 40.0%
Associates 40.0%
Bachelors 20.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
view as graph

Junior Research Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Junior Research Assistant'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 May 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Junior Research Assistant

Salaries for a Junior Research Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $43,573 in 2023 to around $43,281 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Junior Research Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Junior Research Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$43,573
2024
$43,470
2025
$43,281
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $43,573
2024 $43,470
2025 $43,281
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Junior Research Assistant

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

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Common company salaries for Junior Research Assistant

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

Find Your Next Junior Research Assistant Job

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

United States
For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

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

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

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

Price My Industry Jobs

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

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