As of August 01, 2026, the average annual salary for Graduate Research Assistant in the US is $54,057, equivalent to $26 per hour, $1,040 weekly, or $4,505 monthly. These figures, sourced from Salary.com’s real-time job posting scans, highlight competitive earning potential for Graduate Research Assistant in cities like San Jose, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.

Annually Salaries for Graduate Research Assistant in the US vary widely, spanning from $39,509 to $69,657. Most professionals fall between the 25th percentile ($46,442) and 75th percentile ($62,223), while top earners (90th percentile) make $69,657 per year. This $15,781 pay gap underscores opportunities for salary growth through certifications, specialized skills like Integrity or Oncology, or targeting high-paying regions like District of Columbia or California.

Location and experience significantly influence earnings. For example, District of Columbia Graduate Research Assistant often earn 10.7% above national averages due to demand from Fortune 48 companies and industry startups. Professionals are advised to focus on high-growth sectors like to offset market challenges.

Based on HR-reported data: a national average with a geographic differential
Graduate Research Assistant Salaries by Percentile
Percentile Salary Location Last Updated
10th Percentile Graduate Research Assistant Salary $39,509 US August 01, 2026
25th Percentile Graduate Research Assistant Salary $46,442 US August 01, 2026
50th Percentile Graduate Research Assistant Salary $54,057 US August 01, 2026
75th Percentile Graduate Research Assistant Salary $62,223 US August 01, 2026
90th Percentile Graduate Research Assistant Salary $69,657 US August 01, 2026
25% $46,442 10% $39,509 90% $69,657 75% $62,223 $54,057 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click
Change Search Criteria
Check out Graduate Research Assistant jobs in Columbus, Ohio

BPC Redaction Clinical Research Assistant

Nationwide Childrens Hospital - Columbus, OH

Mail Room Graduate Assistant

Ohio Dominican University - Columbus, OH

Graduate Assistant Sports Information

Ohio Dominican University - Columbus, OH

Search More Graduate Research Assistant Jobs in Columbus, Ohio

What is a Graduate Research Assistant ?

A research assistant is a researcher employed, often on a temporary contract, by a university or a research institute, for the purpose of assisting in academic research. Research assistants are not independent and not directly responsible for the outcome of the research and are responsible to a supervisor or principal investigator. Research assistants are often educated to degree level and might be enrolled in a postgraduate degree program and simultaneously teach....

Source: Wikipedia (as of 04/18/2019). Read more from Wikipedia

See user submitted job responsibilities for Graduate Research Assistant.

Job Openings for Graduate Research Assistant

Career Path for this job

  1. Down a level:

    Staff Nurse - RN - Research


    Bachelor's Degree

  2. This Job:

    Graduate Research Assistant

    0 - 2 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

  3. Up a level:

    Clinical Research Associate II

    2 - 4 years experience
    Bachelor's Degree

Understand the total compensation opportunity for a Graduate Research Assistant, base salary plus other pay elements

Average Base Salary

Core compensation

 
 
 
46442
62223
54057

Average Total Cash Compensation

Includes base and annual incentives

 
 
 
53870
69617
61773
These charts show the average base salary (core compensation), as well as the average total cash compensation for the job of Graduate Research Assistant in the United States. The base salary for Graduate Research Assistant ranges from $46,442 to $62,223 with the average base salary of $54,057. The total cash compensation, which includes base, and annual incentives, can vary anywhere from $53,870 to $69,617 with the average total cash compensation of $61,773.

Discover how your pay is adjusted for skills, experience, and other factors

How much should you be paid?

For a real-time salary target, tell us more about your role in the four categories below.

46442
62223

 

Jobs with a similar salary range to Graduate Research Assistant : Water Resource Consultant, Research Clinician, Research Regulatory Coordinator