Post Doctoral Research Associate Salary in the United States
How much does a Post Doctoral Research Associate make in the United States?
As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Post Doctoral Research Associate in the United States is $60,068 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.
However, a Post Doctoral Research Associate's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Top Earners (90th percentile): $76,455
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $50,876 to $68,646
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $42,508
10%$42,508
50% (Median)$60,068
90%$76,455
Post Doctoral Research Associate Salaries by Percentile
Key Factors That Influence Post Doctoral Research Associate Salaries
A Post Doctoral 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 Experience Level Affects Post Doctoral Research Associate Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Post Doctoral Research Associate'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): $93,803
Early Career (1-2 years): $60,706
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $70,240
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $99,764
Expert (over 8 years): $107,762
Levels
Salary
Staff Nur... Level Post Doctoral Research Associate
$93,803
Post Doct... Level Post Doctoral Research Associate
$60,706
Clinical ... Level Post Doctoral Research Associate
$70,240
Scientist... Level Post Doctoral Research Associate
$99,764
Clinical ... Level Post Doctoral Research Associate
How Do Post Doctoral 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 Post Doctoral Research Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
District of Columbia: $66,507.
California: $66,255.
Massachusetts: $65,372.
District of Columbia$66,507
California$66,255
Massachusetts$65,372
Washington$65,131
New Jersey$65,107
Alaska$65,023
Connecticut$64,194
New York$63,858
Hawaii$62,783
Rhode Island$62,278
Maryland$61,936
Minnesota$61,467
Colorado$61,287
Illinois$61,227
Oregon$60,999
Delaware$60,831
New Hampshire$60,725
Virginia$60,488
Pennsylvania$59,797
Nevada$59,449
North Dakota$59,335
Michigan$59,155
Wisconsin$59,089
Vermont$58,956
Texas$58,590
Maine$58,566
Arizona$58,530
Ohio$58,488
Georgia$57,935
Indiana$57,659
Wyoming$57,605
Utah$57,521
Iowa$57,485
Kansas$57,196
Louisiana$57,112
North Carolina$57,082
Missouri$57,070
Florida$56,836
Montana$56,710
Nebraska$56,590
Kentucky$56,524
South Carolina$56,283
Tennessee$56,133
Idaho$56,073
New Mexico$55,635
Oklahoma$55,539
Alabama$55,184
South Dakota$54,590
Arkansas$54,265
West Virginia$54,091
Mississippi$53,568
Top Paying Cities for Post Doctoral 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: $75,763
San Francisco: $74,934
Oakland: $73,355
San Jose, CA$75,763
San Francisco, CA$74,934
Oakland, CA$73,355
New York, NY$69,161
Paramus, NJ$68,320
Queens Village, NY$68,317
Passaic, NJ$68,260
Bergenfield, NJ$68,255
Stamford, CT$68,123
Huntington, NY$68,098
Newark, NJ$67,654
Bridgeport, CT$67,528
Vallejo, CA$67,408
New Brunswick, NJ$67,384
Petaluma, CA$67,348
Middlesex, NJ$67,234
Somerset, NJ$67,192
Santa Cruz, CA$67,114
Boston, MA$66,747
Monterey, CA$66,536
Seattle, WA$66,399
Santa Rosa, CA$66,387
Los Angeles, CA$66,369
Juneau, AK$66,213
Washington, DC$66,147
Orange, CA$65,933
Santa Ana, CA$65,774
Long Beach, CA$65,714
Anaheim, CA$65,702
Anchorage, AK$65,672
Santa Maria, CA$65,492
Everett, WA$65,480
Danbury, CT$65,268
Bremerton, WA$65,185
Tacoma, WA$64,969
New Suffolk, NY$64,968
Sacramento, CA$64,951
Santa Barbara, CA$64,885
Trenton, NJ$64,819
San Diego, CA$64,819
Brockton, MA$64,753
Fairbanks, AK$64,606
Lompoc, CA$64,453
Lowell, MA$64,404
Ventura, CA$64,393
Nashua, NH$64,381
Stockton, CA$64,375
Modesto, CA$63,936
Poughkeepsie, NY$63,804
Olympia, WA$63,690
Kennewick, WA$63,690
New Haven, CT$63,666
Lawrence, MA$63,450
Hartford, CT$63,389
Riverside, CA$63,377
New Bedford, MA$63,317
Richland, WA$63,317
Bakersfield, CA$63,233
San Bernardino, CA$63,209
New Britain, CT$63,203
Atlantic City, NJ$63,203
New London, CT$63,179
Norwich, CT$63,161
Portsmouth, NH$63,149
Boulder, CO$63,022
Portland, OR$62,939
Worcester, MA$62,933
Minneapolis, MN$62,747
Philadelphia, PA$62,663
Honolulu, HI$62,464
Saint Paul, MN$62,436
Vineland, NJ$62,422
Providence, RI$62,248
Chicago, IL$62,074
Bellingham, WA$62,002
Springfield, MA$61,954
Baltimore, MD$61,936
Chico, CA$61,786
Pittsfield, MA$61,623
Manchester, NH$61,509
Spokane, WA$61,245
Denver, CO$61,239
Albany, NY$60,957
Troy, NY$60,933
Nassau, NY$60,868
Schenectady, NY$60,807
Wilmington, DE$60,758
Burlington, VT$60,674
Salem, OR$60,650
Portland, ME$60,464
Yakima, WA$60,404
Rochester, MN$60,218
Reno, NV$60,188
Fresno, CA$60,188
Milwaukee, WI$60,134
Detroit, MI$60,074
Ann Arbor, MI$60,063
Allentown, PA$60,056
Colorado Springs, CO$59,954
Syracuse, NY$59,924
Carson City, NV$59,924
Houston, TX$59,839
Eugene, OR$59,809
Gary, IN$59,737
Springfield, OR$59,689
Bismarck, ND$59,677
Galveston, TX$59,635
Medford, OR$59,545
Fort Collins, CO$59,521
Concord, NH$59,491
Austin, TX$59,473
Mesa, AZ$59,347
Reading, PA$59,341
Phoenix, AZ$59,335
Dallas, TX$59,317
Saint Cloud, MN$59,259
Madison, WI$59,179
Utica, NY$59,017
Rochester, NY$58,920
Des Moines, IA$58,914
Raleigh, NC$58,908
Atlanta, GA$58,818
Battle Creek, MI$58,800
Salt Lake City, UT$58,782
Lancaster, PA$58,692
Harrisburg, PA$58,608
Kansas City, MO$58,548
Champaign, IL$58,536
Kansas City, KS$58,536
Fort Worth, TX$58,530
Columbus, OH$58,520
Boca Raton, FL$58,506
Pittsburgh, PA$58,482
Richmond, VA$58,458
Indianapolis, IN$58,446
Cleveland, OH$58,440
Las Vegas, NV$58,368
Cincinnati, OH$58,368
Petersburg, VA$58,278
Huntsville, AL$58,188
Lansing, MI$58,147
Lebanon, PA$58,140
Pueblo, CO$58,134
Appleton, WI$58,115
Buffalo, NY$58,091
Dayton, OH$58,073
Racine, WI$58,061
Charlotte, NC$58,055
Saint Louis, MO$58,037
York, PA$58,001
Elkhart, IN$58,001
Gastonia, NC$57,990
Billings, MT$57,976
Beaumont, TX$57,959
Lorain, OH$57,947
Benton Harbor, MI$57,935
Toledo, OH$57,923
Binghamton, NY$57,893
Rock Hill, SC$57,887
Rockford, IL$57,857
Springfield, IL$57,833
Elyria, OH$57,827
Fargo, ND$57,827
Flagstaff, AZ$57,785
Fort Lauderdale, FL$57,749
Duluth, MN$57,713
Miami, FL$57,713
Cheyenne, WY$57,671
Grand Forks, ND$57,671
Bangor, ME$57,539
Cedar Rapids, IA$57,473
Durham, NC$57,448
Louisville, KY$57,443
Grand Rapids, MI$57,431
Hialeah, FL$57,425
Casper, WY$57,341
Scranton, PA$57,269
New Orleans, LA$57,251
Virginia Beach, VA$57,245
Akron, OH$57,214
Peoria, IL$57,136
Sarasota, FL$57,124
Nashville, TN$57,082
Omaha, NE$57,082
Green Bay, WI$57,082
Baton Rouge, LA$57,052
Charleston, SC$57,040
Jamestown, NY$57,010
Davenport, IA$57,010
Tucson, AZ$56,980
Saint Petersburg, FL$56,944
Tampa, FL$56,932
Evansville, IN$56,896
Port Arthur, TX$56,896
Bradenton, FL$56,872
Santa Fe, NM$56,764
Orlando, FL$56,656
Clearwater, FL$56,638
Canton, OH$56,512
La Crosse, WI$56,512
Albuquerque, NM$56,476
Newport News, VA$56,470
High Point, NC$56,452
Ogden, UT$56,428
Corpus Christi, TX$56,380
Norfolk, VA$56,344
Laramie, WY$56,344
Rock Island, IL$56,307
Saginaw, MI$56,295
Jacksonville, FL$56,289
Salisbury, NC$56,277
Boise, ID$56,265
Moline, IL$56,235
Fort Myers, FL$56,217
Memphis, TN$56,205
Tulsa, OK$56,175
Waterloo, IA$56,139
Spartanburg, SC$56,079
Lincoln, NE$56,049
Fort Wayne, IN$56,037
Provo, UT$56,031
Cedar Falls, IA$55,959
San Antonio, TX$55,935
Greensboro, NC$55,911
South Bend, IN$55,905
Savannah, GA$55,839
Muskegon, MI$55,815
Birmingham, AL$55,809
Winston Salem, NC$55,779
Lake Charles, LA$55,635
Anderson, IN$55,623
Lexington, KY$55,605
Augusta, GA$55,587
Greenville, SC$55,587
Lima, OH$55,539
Wichita, KS$55,533
Tuscaloosa, AL$55,533
Columbia, SC$55,479
Springfield, OH$55,467
Asheville, NC$55,370
Bloomington, IN$55,328
Knoxville, TN$55,112
Shreveport, LA$55,106
Wilmington, NC$55,028
Roanoke, VA$55,028
Topeka, KS$54,920
Frankfort, KY$54,913
Oklahoma City, OK$54,872
Chillicothe, OH$54,848
Longview, TX$54,842
Melbourne, FL$54,836
Sioux Falls, SD$54,740
Mobile, AL$54,734
Terre Haute, IN$54,710
Altoona, PA$54,674
Amarillo, TX$54,632
Killeen, TX$54,614
Fayetteville, AR$54,565
Chattanooga, TN$54,547
Sioux City, IA$54,493
Idaho Falls, ID$54,481
Lynchburg, VA$54,433
Gainesville, FL$54,355
Portsmouth, OH$54,325
Little Rock, AR$54,313
Lafayette, LA$54,289
Youngstown, OH$54,289
Daytona Beach, FL$54,253
Clarksville, TN$54,247
Pensacola, FL$54,241
Temple, TX$54,237
Hopkinsville, KY$54,061
Erie, PA$54,049
Florence, SC$54,025
Charleston, WV$53,929
Great Falls, MT$53,899
Macon, GA$53,815
Tallahassee, FL$53,809
Fayetteville, NC$53,797
Waco, TX$53,785
Helena, MT$53,743
Pine Bluff, AR$53,720
Vincennes, IN$53,646
Lubbock, TX$53,622
Alamogordo, NM$53,586
Twin Falls, ID$53,532
Rapid City, SD$53,514
Jackson, MS$53,406
Huntington, WV$53,402
Greenville, MS$53,400
Parkersburg, WV$53,339
Montgomery, AL$53,328
Wichita Falls, TX$53,268
Springfield, MO$53,268
Biloxi, MS$53,238
Monroe, LA$53,178
Johnstown, PA$53,136
Sumter, SC$53,112
Columbus, GA$53,106
Pascagoula, MS$52,992
Abilene, TX$52,992
Kingsport, TN$52,836
Albany, GA$52,836
Gulfport, MS$52,818
Alexandria, LA$52,619
Fort Smith, AR$52,469
El Paso, TX$52,307
Las Cruces, NM$52,037
Harlingen, TX$51,884
Pocatello, ID$51,874
Florence, AL$51,796
Brownsville, TX$51,784
Mcallen, TX$51,658
Dothan, AL$51,574
Columbus, MS$51,217
Altus, OK$50,937
Lawton, OK$50,823
Pierre, SD$50,607
What Skills Can Increase a Post Doctoral Research Associate's Salary?
Demanded Skills for the Role:
Integrity (Mentioned in 5.09% Job Postings): Is about having strong principles and values, which you demonstrate through your conduct in the work environment. A common integrity definition states that people with integrity do the right thing even when nobody is watching.
Oncology (Mentioned in 2.46% Job Postings): Designing, constructing, and repairing dental prosthetics and restorative and orthodontic devices to help patients correct dental conditions.
Data Collection (Mentioned in 1.46% Job Postings): Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established system, which then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. Data collection is a component of research in all fields of study including physical and social sciences, humanities, and business. While methods vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same. The goal for all data collection is to capture quality evidence that allows analysis to lead to the formulation of convincing and credible answers to the questions that have been posed.
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 Doctoral Research Associate's salary.
Line Management: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Patient Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Post Doctoral Research Associate Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Post Doctoral Research Associate roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Healthcare and Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average.
In contrast, Post Doctoral Research Associate positions in Pharmaceuticals or Biotechnology typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Post Doctoral Research Associate as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Post Doctoral Research Associate
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare
$72,081
$35.0
20%
Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit
$66,074
$32.0
10%
How Education impacts a Post Doctoral Research Associate's Salary?
Your level of education can impact your salary potential.
While many Post Doctoral Research Associates 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 Post Doctoral Research Associate with a Bachelor's Degree is between
$64,284
and $68,801).
Post Doctoral Research Associate Salaries by Degree Level
$71,200
$70,300
$69,300
$68,300
$67,300
$66,300
$65,300
$64,300
No Diploma
High School
Associates
Bachelors
Masters
Doctorate
Typical Education for Post Doctoral Research Associate
Degree Level
% of user with this level of education
No Diploma
0.3%
High School
2.7%
Associates
1.9%
Bachelors
61.9%
Masters
26.5%
Doctorate
6.6%
Typical Education for Post Doctoral Research Associate
Post Doctoral Research Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Post Doctoral 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.
Hourly
Monthly
Weekly
Yearly
Table View
Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$50,876
Average$60,068/year
$68,646
$4,240
Average$5,006/month
$5,720
$978
Average$1,155/week
$1,320
$24
Average$29/hour
$33
Annual Salary
Monthly Pay
Weekly Pay
Hourly Wage
75th Percentile
$68,646
$5,720
$1,320
$33
Average
$60,068
$5,006
$1,155
$29
25th Percentile
$50,876
$4,240
$978
$24
Salaries of Jobs related to Post Doctoral Research Associate
Post Doc Research Associate$131,429
Post Doctoral Researcher$74,731
Adjunct Clinical Post Doctoral Associate$73,802
POST-DOCTORAL ASSOCIATE$62,886
Research Associate$60,814
Post Doctoral Fellow$58,114
Post Doc Research Fellow$57,288
Post Doctoral Research Fellow$53,469
Post Doctoral Counselor$50,137
Post Doc Associate$49,673
Doctoral Student$35,392
Salary Trends for Post Doctoral Research Associate
Salaries for a Post Doctoral Research Associate can change over time,
reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy.
The median salary increased from $56,123 in 2023
to around $56,134 in 2025,
reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy.
For a detailed analysis of Post Doctoral Research Associate salary trends,
.
Average Annual Salary of Post Doctoral Research Associate Over Time
$???
$56,123
$56,233
$56,134
$???
$???
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Year
Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023
$56,123
2024
$56,233
2025
$56,134
2026
View More
2027
View More
Most common benefits for Post Doctoral Research Associate
Social Security
401 (k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
Common company salaries for Post Doctoral Research Associate
Here are companies hiring for Post Doctoral Research Associate and their salaries, click below for more details.
C$128,509/per year
C R Bard IncBiotechnologythe United States
H$124,697/per year
Henry Schein CanadaBiotechnologythe United States
N$123,899/per year
Nordex IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$120,416/per year
Nipro CorpBiotechnologythe United States
E$115,870/per year
EnovisBiotechnologythe United States
A$114,553/per year
Advanced Research Projects Agency - EnergyBiotechnologythe United States
M$112,110/per year
MiniMed IncBiotechnologythe United States
L$111,500/per year
Labcorp Drug DevelopmentBiotechnologythe United States
L$110,229/per year
Life Technologies CorpBiotechnologythe United States
Z$106,224/per year
Zimmer BiometBiotechnologythe United States
P$103,077/per year
Promontory TherapeuticsBiotechnologythe United States
S$102,181/per year
Steris PLCBiotechnologythe United States
G$97,274/per year
Gavin Conferences Pty LtdBiotechnologythe United States
E$94,764/per year
Endeavor BioMedicinesBiotechnologythe United States
R$94,402/per year
Replay Holdings LLCBiotechnologythe United States
P$94,235/per year
Pleno IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$93,666/per year
Simulaids IncBiotechnologythe United States
N$88,880/per year
NOIRLab/CASBiotechnologythe United States
O$86,468/per year
Onward TechnologyBiotechnologythe United States
L$84,895/per year
LED Medical Diagnostics IncBiotechnologythe United States
E$84,682/per year
Eyeco LtdBiotechnologythe United States
P$84,523/per year
PaerosolBiotechnologythe United States
I$83,525/per year
IONIQ Sciences IncBiotechnologythe United States
S$82,815/per year
Stateside PPEBiotechnologythe United States
D$82,041/per year
Digi BioBiotechnologythe United States
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FAQ about Post Doctoral Research Associate
1. What industry pays the highest salary for Post Doctoral Research Associate?
The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Post Doctoral Research Associate roles,
with salaries approximately 20% 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.
