Research Accountant Salary in the United States

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

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Accountant in the United States is $61,426 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $30.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $70,759
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,274 to $66,311
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $51,583
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View as table View as graph 25% $56,274 10% $51,583 90% $70,759 75% $66,311 $61,426 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Research Accountant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $66,311 $5,526 $1,275 $32
Average $61,426 $5,119 $1,181 $30
25th Percentile $56,274 $4,689 $1,082 $27
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Key Factors That Influence Research Accountant Salaries

A Research Accountant'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 Accountant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research Accountant'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): $61,067
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $70,981
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $82,266
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $98,054
  • Expert (over 8 years): $138,227
Levels Salary
Research ... Level Research Accountant$61,067
Accountan... Level Research Accountant$70,981
Accountan... Level Research Accountant$82,266
Accountan... Level Research Accountant$98,054
Accountan... Level Research Accountant$138,227
$61,067 0 yr
$70,981 < 2 yrs
$82,266 2-4 yrs
$98,054 5-8 yrs
$138,227 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Research Accountant 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 Accountants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $68,011.
  • California: $67,753.
  • Massachusetts: $66,850.

Top Paying Cities for Research Accountants

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: $77,477
  • San Francisco: $76,628
  • Oakland: $75,014

What Skills Can Increase a Research Accountant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 5.06% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • CPA (Mentioned in 2.85% Job Postings): A CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a trusted financial advisor who helps individuals, businesses, and other organizations plan and reach their financial goals.
  • Bookkeeping (Mentioned in 1.48% Job Postings): Bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions, and is part of the process of accounting in business. Transactions include purchases, sales, receipts, and payments by an individual person or an organization/corporation. There are several standard methods of bookkeeping, including the single-entry and double-entry bookkeeping systems. While these may be viewed as "real" bookkeeping, any process for recording financial transactions is a bookkeeping process. Bookkeeping is the work of a bookkeeper (or book-keeper), who records the day-to-day financial transactions of a business. They usually write the daybooks (which contain records of sales, purchases, receipts, and payments), and document each financial transaction, whether cash or credit, into the correct daybook—that is, petty cash book, suppliers ledger, customer ledger, etc.—and the general ledger. Thereafter, an accountant can create financial reports from the information recorded by the bookkeeper.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 5.06%
CPA 2.85%
Bookkeeping 1.48%
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 Accountant's salary.
  • Coordination: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Leadership: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 4%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Coordination
$65,112
6%
Leadership
$65,112
6%
Collaboration
$63,883
4%
Initiative
$63,883
4%
Analysis
$63,883
4%
Finance and Accounting
$63,883
4%
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Research Accountant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research Accountant roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 110% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Research Accountant positions in Transportation or Telecom typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research Accountant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Research Accountant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$82,925$40.035%
Financial Services$79,854$38.030%
Biotechnology$76,783$37.025%
Pharmaceuticals$76,783$37.025%
Energy & Utilities$73,711$35.020%

How Education impacts a Research Accountant's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Accountants enter the field with a Associate'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 Accountant with a Associate's Degree is between $59,751 and $63,023).

Research Accountant Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Accountant
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 3.8%
High School 7.3%
Associates 10.9%
Bachelors 59.5%
Masters 17.7%
Doctorate 0.8%
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Research Accountant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research Accountant'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 July 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Research Accountant

Salaries for a Research Accountant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $54,393 in 2023 to around $54,099 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Research Accountant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Research Accountant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$54,393
2024
$54,307
2025
$54,099
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $54,393
2024 $54,307
2025 $54,099
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Research Accountant

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

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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.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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