Post Doc Research Fellow Salary in the United States

How much does a Post Doc Research Fellow make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Post Doc Research Fellow in the United States is $57,279 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $28.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $68,720
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,055 to $63,268
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $43,478
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View as table View as graph 25% $50,055 10% $43,478 90% $68,720 75% $63,268 $57,279 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Post Doc Research Fellow Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $63,268 $5,272 $1,217 $30
Average $57,279 $4,773 $1,102 $28
25th Percentile $50,055 $4,171 $963 $24
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Key Factors That Influence Post Doc Research Fellow Salaries

A Post Doc Research Fellow'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 Post Doc Research Fellow Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Post Doc Research Fellow'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): $43,856
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $49,020
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $57,780
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $59,492
  • Expert (over 8 years): $73,963
Levels Salary
Product I... Level Post Doc Research Fellow$43,856
Product I... Level Post Doc Research Fellow$49,020
Post Doc ... Level Post Doc Research Fellow$57,780
Product I... Level Post Doc Research Fellow$59,492
Product Q... Level Post Doc Research Fellow$73,963
$43,856 0 yr
$49,020 < 2 yrs
$57,780 2-4 yrs
$59,492 5-8 yrs
$73,963 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Post Doc Research Fellow 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 Post Doc Research Fellows. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $63,419.
  • California: $63,178.
  • Massachusetts: $62,336.

Top Paying Cities for Post Doc Research Fellows

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: $72,245
  • San Francisco: $71,454
  • Oakland: $69,949

What Skills Can Increase a Post Doc Research Fellow's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 4.08% 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.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 2.78% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
  • Process Manufacturing (Mentioned in 2.12% Job Postings): Process manufacturing is a branch of manufacturing that is associated with formulas and manufacturing recipes, and can be contrasted with discrete manufacturing, which is concerned with discrete units, bills of materials and the assembly of components. Process manufacturing is common in the food, beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, consumer packaged goods, cannabis, and biotechnology industries. In process manufacturing, the relevant factors are ingredients, not parts; formulas, not bills of materials; and bulk materials rather than individual units. Although there is invariably cross-over between the two branches of manufacturing, the major contents of the finished product and the majority of the resource intensity of the production process generally allow manufacturing systems to be classified as one or the other. For example, a bottle of juice is a discrete item, but juice is process manufactured. The plastic used in injection moulding is process manufactured, but the components it is shaped into are generally discrete, and subject to further assembly.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 4.08%
Packaging 2.78%
Process Manufacturing 2.12%
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 Post Doc Research Fellow's salary.
  • Time Management: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Commitment: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Quality Control: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Time Management
$65,870
15%
Commitment
$64,725
13%
Quality Control
$63,579
11%
Verbal Communication
$63,006
10%
Troubleshooting
$61,288
7%
Communication Skills
$60,143
5%
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Post Doc Research Fellow Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Post Doc Research Fellow roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 43% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Post Doc Research Fellow positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Post Doc Research Fellow as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Post Doc Research Fellow

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$68,734$33.020%
Pharmaceuticals$67,589$32.018%
Insurance$65,870$32.015%
Healthcare$64,152$31.012%
Internet$63,579$31.011%

How Education impacts a Post Doc Research Fellow's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Post Doc Research Fellows enter the field with a Associate'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 Post Doc Research Fellow with a Associate's Degree is between $56,562 and $60,468).

Post Doc Research Fellow Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Post Doc Research Fellow
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 60.0%
High School 60.0%
Associates 40.0%
Bachelors 0.0%
Masters 0.0%
Doctorate 0.0%
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Post Doc Research Fellow Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Post Doc Research Fellow'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 Post Doc Research Fellow

Salaries for a Post Doc Research Fellow can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $48,885 in 2023 to around $47,917 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Post Doc Research Fellow salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Post Doc Research Fellow Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$48,885
2024
$48,437
2025
$47,917
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $48,885
2024 $48,437
2025 $47,917
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Post Doc Research Fellow

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Post Doc Research Fellow

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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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