Scientific Research Assistant Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Scientific Research Assistant in the United States is $106,831 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $51.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $130,137
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $101,072 to $119,030
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $95,829
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View as table View as graph 25% $101,072 10% $95,829 90% $130,137 75% $119,030 $106,831 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Scientific Research Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $119,030 $9,919 $2,289 $57
Average $106,831 $8,903 $2,054 $51
25th Percentile $101,072 $8,423 $1,944 $49
Check out Scientific Research Assistant Job Openings in the United States
Research Assistant

Evolution Research Group - Columbus, OH

Research Assistant

OhioHealth - Columbus, OH

Research Panel Assistant

Apex Focus Group Inc. - Columbus, OH

BPC Redaction Clinical Research Assistant

Nationwide Childrens Hospital - Columbus, OH

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Key Factors That Influence Scientific Research Assistant Salaries

A Scientific 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 Do Scientific 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 Scientific Research Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $118,283.
  • California: $117,835.
  • Massachusetts: $116,264.

Top Paying Cities for Scientific 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: $134,746
  • San Francisco: $133,271
  • Oakland: $130,462

What Skills Can Increase a Scientific Research Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 13.75% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • Data Analysis (Mentioned in 3.11% Job Postings): Data analysis is a process of inspecting, cleansing, transforming, and modeling data with the goal of discovering useful information, informing conclusions, and supporting decision-making. Data analysis has multiple facets and approaches, encompassing diverse techniques under a variety of names, and is used in different business, science, and social science domains. In today's business world, data analysis plays a role in making decisions more scientific and helping businesses operate more effectively. Data mining is a particular data analysis technique that focuses on modeling and knowledge discovery for predictive rather than purely descriptive purposes, while business intelligence covers data analysis that relies heavily on aggregation, focusing mainly on business information. In statistical applications, data analysis can be divided into descriptive statistics, exploratory data analysis (EDA), and confirmatory data analysis (CDA). EDA focuses on discovering new features in the data while CDA focuses on confirming or falsifying existing hypotheses. Predictive analytics focuses on application of statistical models for predictive forecasting or classification, while text analytics applies statistical, linguistic, and structural techniques to extract and classify information from textual sources, a species of unstructured data. All of the above are varieties of data analysis.
  • Oncology (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Designing, constructing, and repairing dental prosthetics and restorative and orthodontic devices to help patients correct dental conditions.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 13.75%
Data Analysis 3.11%
Oncology 2.2%
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 Scientific Research Assistant's salary.
  • Cell Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Biotechnology: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Machine Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Cell Biology
$114,309
7%
Biotechnology
$114,309
7%
Machine Learning
$113,241
6%
Bioinformatics
$113,241
6%
Cell Culture
$113,241
6%
Molecular Biology
$112,173
5%
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Scientific Research Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Scientific Research Assistant 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 Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Scientific Research Assistant positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Scientific Research Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Scientific Research Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$128,197$62.020%
Energy & Utilities$122,856$59.015%
Chemicals$117,514$56.010%
Healthcare$112,173$54.05%

How Education impacts a Scientific Research Assistant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Scientific Research Assistants enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 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 Scientific Research Assistant with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $109,154 and $115,729).

Scientific Research Assistant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Scientific Research Assistant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 0.2%
Associates 0.6%
Bachelors 20.9%
Masters 16.0%
Doctorate 62.4%
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Scientific Research Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Scientific 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 August 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Scientific Research Assistant

Salaries for a Scientific Research Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $80,264 in 2023 to around $75,454 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Scientific Research Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Scientific Research Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$80,264
2024
$77,536
2025
$75,454
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $80,264
2024 $77,536
2025 $75,454
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Scientific Research Assistant

Social Security
401(k)
Disability
Healthcare
Pension
Time Off (days)
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Common company salaries for Scientific Research Assistant

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

Find Your Next Scientific Research Assistant Job

Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Scientific Research Assistant job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.

United States
  • Occupons Quebec

    Columbus, OH

    Occupons Quebec | Columbus, OH

    Compensation: $45–$90 per completed task. The Consumer Insights Division of our organization is expanding its nationwide research team. We are seeking depe... more

    26 Days Ago

  • Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Clinical Research Coordinator - Oncology. The Clinical Research Coordinator performs daily clinical research activities in accordance with approved protoco... more

    5 Days Ago

  • Confidential

    Columbus, OH

    Confidential | Columbus, OH

    Head of GTM, Research Services. About the Company. International product research platform providing consumer insights & metrics. Industry. Design. Type. P... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Nationwide Children's Hospital

    Columbus, OH

    Nationwide Children's Hospital | Columbus, OH

    Financial Records ManagerManages financial records, prepares and analyzes financial statements, and ensures compliance with accounting standards and regula... more

    7 Days Ago

  • Cass Information Systems Inc.

    Columbus, OH

    Cass Information Systems Inc. | Columbus, OH

    Researches utility termination warnings, potential missing bills, and late fees.Analyzes payment history, negotiates and arranges payment with utility vend... more

    8 Days Ago

  • XPO Logistics

    Columbus, OH

    XPO Logistics | Columbus, OH

    Weights & Research Inspector. What you'll need to succeed as a Weights & Research Inspector at XPO Minimum qualifications: 4 years of work or military expe... more

    8 Days Ago

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FAQ about Scientific Research Assistant

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

The Biotechnology industry offers the highest average compensation for Scientific Research Assistant 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.

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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