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Research Assistant Salary in the United States

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

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Assistant in the United States is $71,883 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $75,632
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,587 to $73,845
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,676
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Research Assistant Salaries

A 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 Research Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a 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): $60,631
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $72,181
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $100,918
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $133,324
  • Expert (over 8 years): $106,896
Levels Salary
Market Re... Level Research Assistant$60,631
Research ... Level Research Assistant$72,181
Market Re... Level Research Assistant$100,918
Market Re... Level Research Assistant$133,324
Market Re... Level Research Assistant$106,896
View as Graph

How Do 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 Research Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $79,588.
  • California: $79,286.
  • Massachusetts: $78,230.

Top Paying Cities for 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: $90,665
  • San Francisco: $89,673
  • Oakland: $87,783

What Skills Can Increase a Research Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 10.62% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Microsoft Office (Mentioned in 2.14% Job Postings): Microsoft Office is a suite of desktop productivity applications that is designed by Microsoft for business use. You can create documents containing text and images, work with data in spreadsheets and databases, create presentations and posters.
  • Qualitative Research (Mentioned in 1.22% Job Postings): Collecting and analyzing non-numerical data to understand the behavior and perception of customers and identify opportunities for new product development.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 10.62%
Microsoft Office 2.14%
Qualitative Research 1.22%
See More Skills

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 Research Assistant's salary.

  • Consultancy: Can increase your salary by up to 12%.
  • Market Risk: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Consultancy $80,508
12%
Market Risk $79,790
11%
Insight $76,914
7%
Get Latest Data

Research Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research Assistant 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 Assistant positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Research Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$97,041$47.035%
Software & Networking$93,447$45.030%
Financial Services$89,853$43.025%
Internet$86,259$41.020%
Aerospace & Defense$80,508$39.012%

How Education impacts a Research Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Assistants 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 Research Assistant with a Bachelor's Degree is between $76,432 and $81,426).

Research Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 1.3%
Associates 1.1%
Bachelors 47.7%
Masters 45.2%
Doctorate 4.5%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how a 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 September 01, 2026
$67,587
Average $71,883/year
$73,845
$5,632
Average $5,990/month
$6,154
$1,300
Average $1,382/week
$1,420
$32
Average $35/hour
$36
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $73,845 $6,154 $1,420 $36
Average $71,883 $5,990 $1,382 $35
25th Percentile $67,587 $5,632 $1,300 $32

Most common benefits for Research Assistant

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

Common company salaries for Research Assistant

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

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FAQ about Research Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Research Assistant?

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Research Assistant roles, with salaries approximately 35% 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.

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.

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