Postdoctoral Scholar Salary in the United States

How much does a Postdoctoral Scholar make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Postdoctoral Scholar in the United States is $49,127 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $24.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $58,997
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $44,505 to $54,293
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $40,297
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View as table View as graph 25% $44,505 10% $40,297 90% $58,997 75% $54,293 $49,127 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Postdoctoral Scholar Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $54,293 $4,524 $1,044 $26
Average $49,127 $4,094 $945 $24
25th Percentile $44,505 $3,709 $856 $21
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Key Factors That Influence Postdoctoral Scholar Salaries

A Postdoctoral Scholar'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 Postdoctoral Scholar Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Postdoctoral Scholar'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): $46,661
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $47,009
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $48,260
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $50,646
  • Expert (over 8 years): $51,634
Levels Salary
Entry Level Postdoctoral Scholar$46,661
Intermediate Level Postdoctoral Scholar$47,009
Senior Level Postdoctoral Scholar$48,260
Specialist Level Postdoctoral Scholar$50,646
Expert Level Postdoctoral Scholar$51,634
$46,661 0 yr
$47,009 < 2 yrs
$48,260 2-4 yrs
$50,646 5-8 yrs
$51,634 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Postdoctoral Scholar 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 Postdoctoral Scholars. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $54,393.
  • California: $54,187.
  • Massachusetts: $53,465.

Top Paying Cities for Postdoctoral Scholars

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: $61,964
  • San Francisco: $61,354
  • Oakland: $59,994

What Skills Can Increase a Postdoctoral Scholar's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Customer Service (Mentioned in 9.81% Job Postings): Customer service is the provision of service to customers before, during and after a purchase. The perception of success of such interactions is dependent on employees "who can adjust themselves to the personality of the guest". Customer service concerns the priority an organization assigns to customer service relative to components such as product innovation and pricing. In this sense, an organization that values good customer service may spend more money in training employees than the average organization or may proactively interview customers for feedback. From the point of view of an overall sales process engineering effort, customer service plays an important role in an organization's ability to generate income and revenue. From that perspective, customer service should be included as part of an overall approach to systematic improvement. One good customer service experience can change the entire perception a customer holds towards the organization.
  • Packaging (Mentioned in 2.69% Job Postings): Preparing products through wrapping or bottling to protect the goods from damages during transportation and storage.
  • Leadership Development (Mentioned in 1.95% Job Postings): Leadership development expands the capacity of individuals to perform in leadership roles within organizations. Leadership roles are those that facilitate execution of a company’s strategy through building alignment, winning mindshare and growing the capabilities of others. Leadership roles may be formal, with the corresponding authority to make decisions and take responsibility, or they may be informal roles with little official authority (e.g., a member of a team who influences team engagement, purpose and direction; a lateral peer who must listen and negotiate through influence). Leadership development is thought to be key to business success. A study by the Center for Creative Leadership holds that 65 percent of companies with mature leadership development programs drove improved business results as compared to 6 percent of companies without such a program. Similarly, 86% of companies with leadership development programs responded rapidly to changing market conditions whereas only 52% of companies with immature programs were able to do so.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Customer Service 9.81%
Packaging 2.69%
Leadership Development 1.95%
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 Postdoctoral Scholar's salary.
  • Communicates Effectively: Can increase your salary by up to 37%.
  • Problem Solving: Can increase your salary by up to 19%.
  • Product Quality: Can increase your salary by up to 14%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Communicates Effectively
$67,304
37%
Problem Solving
$58,461
19%
Product Quality
$56,005
14%
Flexibility
$52,074
6%
Packaging
$50,109
2%
Logistics
$49,618
1%
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Postdoctoral Scholar Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Postdoctoral Scholar'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Postdoctoral Scholar

Salaries for a Postdoctoral Scholar can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $40,031 in 2023 to around $39,974 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Postdoctoral Scholar salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Postdoctoral Scholar Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$40,031
2024
$40,157
2025
$39,974
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $40,031
2024 $40,157
2025 $39,974
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Postdoctoral Scholar

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