Key Factors That Influence Research Analyst Salaries
A Research Analyst'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 Research Analyst Salaries?
Experience is a primary driver of a Research Analyst'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:
How Do Research Analyst 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 Research Analysts. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
Research Analyst Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors
For Research Analyst roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential
by as much as 94% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries).
Data shows that the Biotechnology and Software & Networking
sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average.
In contrast, Research Analyst positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay,
as these industries often view Research Analyst as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
The top paying industries for a Research Analyst
Industry Sector
Average Annual Salary
Average Hourly Rate
Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology
$95,719
$46.0
35%
Software & Networking
$92,174
$44.0
30%
Financial Services
$88,629
$43.0
25%
Internet
$85,084
$41.0
20%
Aerospace & Defense
$79,412
$38.0
12%
Research Analyst Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay
Understanding how a Research Analyst'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.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Research Analyst job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
For Employees
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Get a Salary Increase
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Search Job Openings
For Employers
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Adjust Employee Salary
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Price My Industry Jobs
Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources.
We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right.
With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine 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.
