Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Assistant in New Mexico is $66,580 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $32.
However, a Research Assistant's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
Recruit with AI
AI Onboarding
Research Assistant Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $68,400 | $5,700 | $1,315 | $33 |
| Average | $66,580 | $5,548 | $1,280 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,594 | $5,216 | $1,204 | $30 |
Apex Focus Group Inc. - Las Cruces, NM
Apex Focus Group Inc. - Alamogordo, NM
Apex Focus Group Inc. - Clovis, NM
Apex Focus Group Inc. - Santa Fe, NM
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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.
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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Market Re... Level Research Assistant | $56,161 |
| Research ... Level Research Assistant | $66,857 |
| Market Re... Level Research Assistant | $93,465 |
| Market Re... Level Research Assistant | $123,482 |
| Market Re... Level Research Assistant | $99,017 |
What Am I Worth?
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:
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:
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.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | $89,883 | $43.0 | 35% |
| Software & Networking | $86,554 | $42.0 | 30% |
| Financial Services | $83,225 | $40.0 | 25% |
| Internet | $79,896 | $38.0 | 20% |
| Aerospace & Defense | $74,569 | $36.0 | 12% |
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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $68,400 | $5,700 | $1,315 | $33 |
| Average | $66,580 | $5,548 | $1,280 | $32 |
| 25th Percentile | $62,594 | $5,216 | $1,204 | $30 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Research Assistant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
Apex Focus Group Inc.
Farmington, NM
Apex Focus Group Inc. | Farmington, NM
Data Entry Clerk - Remote Work From Home Focus Group Panelist - Full Time / Part Time. Description. Our company is seeking individuals to participate in Na... more
27 Days Ago
Apex Focus Group Inc.
Rio Rancho, NM
Apex Focus Group Inc. | Rio Rancho, NM
Administrative Assistant - Remote Work From Home Focus Group Panelist - Full Time / Part Time. Description. Our company is seeking individuals to participa... more
27 Days Ago
Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute
Santa Fe, NM
Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute | Santa Fe, NM
OverviewA full time Research Coordinator position is currently available in Dr. Kent Kiehl's laboratory at The Mind Research Network. The research coordina... more
6 Days Ago
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM
University of New Mexico | Albuquerque, NM
Research ProfessorPosting Numberreq33379Employment TypeFacultyFaculty TypeResearchHiring DepartmentCtr for Micro Engineering Materials (740A)Academic Locat... more
6 Days Ago
Lovelace Biomedical
Albuquerque, NM
Lovelace Biomedical | Albuquerque, NM
Senior Research Technologist. Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute (LBRI) is seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as a Senior Research Technolo... more
5 Days Ago
Confidential
Las Cruces, NM
Confidential | Las Cruces, NM
Associate Vice President for Research. About the Company. Leading higher education institution. Industry. Higher Education. Type. Educational Institution. ... more
5 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
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.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
