What are the main factors that influence a Lab Research Associate's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Lab Research Associate's salary?

A Lab Research Associate's salary grows with experience: a Laboratory Assistant I (0-2 years)earns $57,674, a Laboratory Assistant II (2-4 years)earns $69,699, a Lab Research Associate (4-7 years)earns $87,323, a Laboratory Assistant IV (7+ years)earns $108,190,

What are the highest paying states for a Lab Research Associate?

Lab Research Associate salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Lab Research Associate roles are District of Columbia $96,046, California $95,682, Massachusetts $94,407. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Lab Research Associate roles make?

Salaries for Lab Research Associate level roles vary by specialization: Research Lab Manager: $118,805; Lab Research Support Technician IV: $84,310; Lab Research Support Technician III: $71,420; Research Lab Technician: $71,004; Research Lab Specialist: $67,187.

How do different companies affect a Lab Research Associate's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Lab Research Associate roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Lab Research Associate Salary in the United States

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

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lab Research Associate in the United States is $86,747 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $42.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $103,732
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $78,451 to $95,637
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,898

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Lab Research Associate Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$95,637	$7,970	$1,839	$46
Average	$86,747	$7,229	$1,668	$42
25th Percentile	$78,451	$6,538	$1,509	$38

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Check out Lab Research Associate Job Openings in the United States

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Associate Business Development Research Analyst

Precise Systems - LEXINGTON PARK, MD

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Key Factors That Influence Lab Research Associate Salaries

A Lab Research Associate'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 Do Lab Research Associate 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 Lab Research Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $96,046.
California: $95,682.
Massachusetts: $94,407.

District of Columbia $96,046

California $95,682

Massachusetts $94,407

Washington $94,060

New Jersey $94,025

Alaska $93,904

Connecticut $92,707

New York $92,221

Hawaii $90,668

Rhode Island $89,939

Maryland $89,445

Minnesota $88,768

Colorado $88,508

Illinois $88,421

Oregon $88,092

Delaware $87,849

New Hampshire $87,696

Virginia $87,354

Pennsylvania $86,357

Nevada $85,854

North Dakota $85,689

Michigan $85,428

Wisconsin $85,333

Vermont $85,142

Texas $84,613

Maine $84,578

Arizona $84,526

Ohio $84,466

Georgia $83,667

Indiana $83,268

Wyoming $83,190

Utah $83,069

Iowa $83,017

Kansas $82,600

Louisiana $82,479

North Carolina $82,436

Missouri $82,418

Florida $82,080

Montana $81,898

Nebraska $81,724

Kentucky $81,629

South Carolina $81,282

Tennessee $81,065

Idaho $80,978

New Mexico $80,345

Oklahoma $80,206

Alabama $79,694

South Dakota $78,836

Arkansas $78,367

West Virginia $78,116

Mississippi $77,361

Top Paying Cities for Lab Research Associates

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: $109,414
San Francisco: $108,338
Oakland: $105,935

San Jose, CA $109,414

San Francisco, CA $108,338

Oakland, CA $105,935

New York, NY $100,531

Queens Village, NY $99,880

Paramus, NJ $99,187

Passaic, NJ $99,100

Bergenfield, NJ $99,013

Stamford, CT $98,883

Huntington, NY $98,796

Newark, NJ $98,232

Bridgeport, CT $98,059

New Brunswick, NJ $97,773

Vallejo, CA $97,590

Middlesex, NJ $97,538

Somerset, NJ $97,460

Petaluma, CA $97,261

Santa Cruz, CA $96,922

Boston, MA $96,749

Monterey, CA $96,315

Fairbanks, AK $96,254

Los Angeles, CA $96,090

Washington, DC $96,046

Seattle, WA $95,890

Santa Rosa, CA $95,873

Juneau, AK $95,621

Orange, CA $95,335

Anchorage, AK $95,179

Anaheim, CA $95,118

Santa Ana, CA $94,988

Nassau, NY $94,936

Long Beach, CA $94,901

Danbury, CT $94,875

Santa Maria, CA $94,580

Everett, WA $94,563

Bremerton, WA $94,138

Trenton, NJ $93,973

Sacramento, CA $93,938

San Diego, CA $93,895

Brockton, MA $93,860

Tacoma, WA $93,826

Santa Barbara, CA $93,704

Lowell, MA $93,357

New Suffolk, NY $93,322

Nashua, NH $93,218

Lompoc, CA $93,080

Ventura, CA $92,993

Stockton, CA $92,967

New Haven, CT $92,793

Atlantic City, NJ $92,568

Hartford, CT $92,377

Modesto, CA $92,334

Poughkeepsie, NY $92,143

New Britain, CT $92,099

Olympia, WA $91,978

Kennewick, WA $91,978

New London, CT $91,960

Norwich, CT $91,934

Lawrence, MA $91,891

Bakersfield, CA $91,648

Riverside, CA $91,527

New Bedford, MA $91,527

Richland, WA $91,440

Portsmouth, NH $91,371

Vineland, NJ $91,353

San Bernardino, CA $91,284

Boulder, CO $91,041

Worcester, MA $90,972

Portland, OR $90,894

Saint Paul, MN $90,789

Minneapolis, MN $90,789

Philadelphia, PA $90,668

Honolulu, HI $90,208

Springfield, MA $89,905

Providence, RI $89,896

Chicago, IL $89,644

Bellingham, WA $89,540

Baltimore, MD $89,445

Chico, CA $89,228

Wilmington, DE $89,080

Pittsfield, MA $88,994

Manchester, NH $88,829

Spokane, WA $88,447

Denver, CO $88,439

Albany, NY $88,031

Troy, NY $87,996

Schenectady, NY $87,814

Burlington, VT $87,623

Portland, ME $87,320

Salem, OR $87,250

Yakima, WA $87,233

Ann Arbor, MI $87,207

Rochester, MN $86,964

Fresno, CA $86,920

Reno, NV $86,920

Milwaukee, WI $86,842

Detroit, MI $86,756

Allentown, PA $86,730

Carson City, NV $86,721

Houston, TX $86,591

Colorado Springs, CO $86,582

Syracuse, NY $86,539

Eugene, OR $86,374

Bismarck, ND $86,270

Gary, IN $86,270

Galveston, TX $86,270

Springfield, OR $86,200

Medford, OR $85,992

Fort Collins, CO $85,958

Austin, TX $85,888

Mesa, AZ $85,706

Phoenix, AZ $85,689

Dallas, TX $85,663

Reading, PA $85,611

Saint Cloud, MN $85,576

Concord, NH $85,498

Madison, WI $85,463

Utica, NY $85,229

Raleigh, NC $85,160

Las Vegas, NV $85,151

Rochester, NY $85,090

Des Moines, IA $85,081

Atlanta, GA $84,943

Battle Creek, MI $84,917

Salt Lake City, UT $84,891

Lancaster, PA $84,760

Champaign, IL $84,743

Harrisburg, PA $84,639

Durham, NC $84,561

Kansas City, MO $84,552

Kansas City, KS $84,535

Fort Worth, TX $84,526

Boca Raton, FL $84,492

Cleveland, OH $84,483

Columbus, OH $84,466

Pittsburgh, PA $84,457

Richmond, VA $84,422

Indianapolis, IN $84,405

Cincinnati, OH $84,292

Petersburg, VA $84,162

Billings, MT $83,971

Lansing, MI $83,971

Huntsville, AL $83,971

Lebanon, PA $83,962

Dayton, OH $83,954

Pueblo, CO $83,954

Appleton, WI $83,928

Buffalo, NY $83,893

Racine, WI $83,850

Charlotte, NC $83,841

Saint Louis, MO $83,815

Springfield, IL $83,780

Elkhart, IN $83,763

York, PA $83,763

Gastonia, NC $83,754

Benton Harbor, MI $83,754

Beaumont, TX $83,702

Lorain, OH $83,685

Toledo, OH $83,650

Binghamton, NY $83,607

Rock Hill, SC $83,598

Rockford, IL $83,555

Fargo, ND $83,511

Elyria, OH $83,511

Flagstaff, AZ $83,451

Fort Lauderdale, FL $83,399

Miami, FL $83,347

Duluth, MN $83,208

Bangor, ME $83,095

Cedar Rapids, IA $83,000

Louisville, KY $82,956

Grand Rapids, MI $82,939

Hialeah, FL $82,930

Casper, WY $82,809

Scranton, PA $82,705

New Orleans, LA $82,679

Virginia Beach, VA $82,670

Akron, OH $82,627

Peoria, IL $82,514

Sarasota, FL $82,496

Green Bay, WI $82,436

Baton Rouge, LA $82,392

Charleston, SC $82,375

Nashville, TN $82,349

Jamestown, NY $82,332

Davenport, IA $82,332

Tucson, AZ $82,288

Cheyenne, WY $82,262

Saint Petersburg, FL $82,236

Tampa, FL $82,219

Omaha, NE $82,201

Port Arthur, TX $82,167

Evansville, IN $82,167

Bradenton, FL $82,132

Santa Fe, NM $81,976

Orlando, FL $81,889

Clearwater, FL $81,794

Canton, OH $81,612

La Crosse, WI $81,612

Grand Forks, ND $81,586

Albuquerque, NM $81,560

Tulsa, OK $81,560

Newport News, VA $81,551

High Point, NC $81,525

Ogden, UT $81,490

Corpus Christi, TX $81,421

Laramie, WY $81,369

Norfolk, VA $81,369

Rock Island, IL $81,317

Saginaw, MI $81,299

Jacksonville, FL $81,291

Salisbury, NC $81,273

Memphis, TN $81,256

Moline, IL $81,213

Fort Myers, FL $81,187

Waterloo, IA $81,074

Spartanburg, SC $80,987

Lincoln, NE $80,944

Fort Wayne, IN $80,926

Birmingham, AL $80,831

Cedar Falls, IA $80,814

Provo, UT $80,805

Springfield, OH $80,796

San Antonio, TX $80,779

Greensboro, NC $80,744

South Bend, IN $80,735

Winston Salem, NC $80,727

Boise, ID $80,701

Savannah, GA $80,640

Muskegon, MI $80,484

Lima, OH $80,380

Lake Charles, LA $80,345

Anderson, IN $80,328

Lexington, KY $80,302

Augusta, GA $80,276

Greenville, SC $80,276

Wichita, KS $80,198

Tuscaloosa, AL $80,198

Columbia, SC $80,120

Bloomington, IN $79,903

Roanoke, VA $79,851

Asheville, NC $79,738

Knoxville, TN $79,590

Shreveport, LA $79,582

Wilmington, NC $79,469

Frankfort, KY $79,304

Oklahoma City, OK $79,243

Chillicothe, OH $79,209

Longview, TX $79,200

Topeka, KS $79,174

Mobile, AL $79,044

Terre Haute, IN $79,009

Erie, PA $79,000

Altoona, PA $78,957

Melbourne, FL $78,931

Amarillo, TX $78,896

Killeen, TX $78,870

Fayetteville, AR $78,801

Sioux Falls, SD $78,740

Chattanooga, TN $78,688

Idaho Falls, ID $78,680

Gainesville, FL $78,497

Portsmouth, OH $78,454

Little Rock, AR $78,437

Lynchburg, VA $78,437

Lafayette, LA $78,402

Youngstown, OH $78,402

Temple, TX $78,367

Daytona Beach, FL $78,350

Clarksville, TN $78,341

Pensacola, FL $78,333

Hopkinsville, KY $78,072

Charleston, WV $78,064

Florence, SC $78,020

Sioux City, IA $77,968

Macon, GA $77,717

Tallahassee, FL $77,708

Fayetteville, NC $77,691

Waco, TX $77,673

Wichita Falls, TX $77,673

Pine Bluff, AR $77,639

Vincennes, IN $77,474

Lubbock, TX $77,439

Great Falls, MT $77,387

Alamogordo, NM $77,378

Abilene, TX $77,309

Rapid City, SD $77,196

Monroe, LA $77,196

Albany, GA $77,144

Huntington, WV $77,135

Jackson, MS $77,127

Greenville, MS $77,118

Parkersburg, WV $77,031

Montgomery, AL $77,014

Johnstown, PA $76,997

Springfield, MO $76,927

Biloxi, MS $76,884

Sumter, SC $76,702

Columbus, GA $76,693

Twin Falls, ID $76,641

Pascagoula, MS $76,528

Kingsport, TN $76,303

Gulfport, MS $76,277

Alexandria, LA $75,990

Fort Smith, AR $75,774

El Paso, TX $75,539

Helena, MT $75,427

Las Cruces, NM $75,149

Harlingen, TX $74,906

Pocatello, ID $74,828

Florence, AL $74,802

Brownsville, TX $74,785

Dothan, AL $74,646

Mcallen, TX $74,602

Columbus, MS $73,960

Altus, OK $73,561

Lawton, OK $73,397

Pierre, SD $73,084

What Skills Can Increase a Lab Research Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Customer Service (Mentioned in 4.18% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
Pathology (Mentioned in 3.11% Job Postings): Analyzing and reviewing the cause, origin, and nature of diseases and illnesses to provide appropriate diagnosis and treatment plans.
Patient Care (Mentioned in 1.97% 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.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Customer Service	4.18%
Pathology	3.11%
Patient Care	1.97%

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 Lab Research Associate's salary.

CPT: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 5%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
CPT	$94,554	9%
Presentation	$92,819	7%
Problem Solving	$91,084	5%
Written Communication	$91,084	5%
Medical Laboratory	$91,084	5%
Organizational Skills	$91,084	5%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Lab Research Associate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Lab Research Associates 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 Lab Research Associate with a High School Diploma or Technical Certificate is between $84,992 and $93,948).

Lab Research Associate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Lab Research Associate

No Diploma 0.9%

High School 17.6%

Associates 16.7%

Bachelors 40.7%

Masters 22.2%

Doctorate 1.9%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	0.9%
High School	17.6%
Associates	16.7%
Bachelors	40.7%
Masters	22.2%
Doctorate	1.9%

view as graph

Lab Research Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lab Research Associate'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 January 01, 2026

$78,451

Average $86,747/year

$95,637

$6,538

Average $7,229/month

$7,970

$1,509

Average $1,668/week

$1,839

$38

Average $42/hour

$46

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$95,637	$7,970	$1,839	$46
Average	$86,747	$7,229	$1,668	$42
25th Percentile	$78,451	$6,538	$1,509	$38

Salaries of jobs related to Lab Research Associate

Salary Trends for Lab Research Associate

Salaries for a Lab Research Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $82,925 in 2023 to around $80,718 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Lab Research Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Lab Research Associate Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$82,925

2024

$81,873

2025

$80,718

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$82,925
2024	$81,873
2025	$80,718
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Lab Research Associate

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