Research Associate II Salary in the United States

How much does a Research Associate II make in the United States?

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Associate II in the United States is $81,150 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $39.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $96,791
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $75,344 to $89,337
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $70,057
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View as table View as graph 25% $75,344 10% $70,057 90% $96,791 75% $89,337 $81,150 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Research Associate II Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $89,337 $7,445 $1,718 $43
Average $81,150 $6,763 $1,561 $39
25th Percentile $75,344 $6,279 $1,449 $36
Check out Research Associate II Job Openings in the United States
Warehouse Associate II

REXEL INC - Columbus, OH

Warehouse Associate II

Core & Main - Columbus, OH

Personal Banker Associate II

Fifth Third Bancorp - Columbus, OH

Product Manager II Senior Associate

Chase - Columbus, OH

Search More Research Associate II Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Research Associate II Salaries

A Research Associate II'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 Associate II Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research Associate II'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): $69,257
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $80,548
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $97,462
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,508
  • Expert (over 8 years): $156,915
Levels Salary
Research ... Level Research Associate II$69,257
Research ... Level Research Associate II$80,548
Research ... Level Research Associate II$97,462
Research ... Level Research Associate II$128,508
Research ... Level Research Associate II$156,915
$69,257 0 yr
$80,548 < 2 yrs
$97,462 2-4 yrs
$128,508 5-8 yrs
$156,915 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

Top Paying Cities for Research Associate IIs

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: $102,355
  • San Francisco: $101,234
  • Oakland: $99,101

What Skills Can Increase a Research Associate II's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 11.6% 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 2.72% 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.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 1.65% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 11.6%
Data Analysis 2.72%
SOP 1.65%
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 Associate II's salary.
  • Team Development: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Insight: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Oncology: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Team Development
$88,454
9%
Insight
$86,831
7%
Oncology
$86,831
7%
Biotechnology
$86,019
6%
Process Development
$85,208
5%
Immunology
$85,208
5%
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Research Associate II Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research Associate II roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 60% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Financial Services and Internet sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 35% above the average. In contrast, Research Associate positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research Associate II as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Research Associate II

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$109,553$53.035%
Internet$97,380$47.020%
Aerospace & Defense$93,323$45.015%
Energy & Utilities$89,265$43.010%
Insurance$89,265$43.010%

How Education impacts a Research Associate II's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Associate IIs enter the field with a Bachelor'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 Associate II with a Bachelor's Degree is between $80,128 and $85,352).

Research Associate II Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Associate II
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.0%
High School 1.0%
Associates 1.0%
Bachelors 56.5%
Masters 34.6%
Doctorate 7.0%
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Research Associate II Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research Associate II'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 Research Associate II

Salaries for a Research Associate II can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $88,820 in 2023 to around $86,623 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Research Associate II salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Research Associate II Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$88,820
2024
$88,124
2025
$86,623
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $88,820
2024 $88,124
2025 $86,623
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Research Associate II

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

Here are companies hiring for Research Associate II and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Research Associate II Job

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

United States
  • The Ohio State University

    Columbus, OH

    The Ohio State University | Columbus, OH

    Screen reader users may encounter difficulty with this site. For assistance with applying, please contact hr-accessibleapplication@osu.edu. If you have que... more

    7 Days Ago

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Emergency Medicine Physician Needed near Columbus, Ohio. An excellent opportunity for a full-time EM Physician to join an Emergency Department team near Co... more

    5 Days Ago

  • eviCore healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    eviCore healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Provides timely expert medical review for requests to evaluate the medical necessity of services that do not meet utilization review criteria while located... more

    5 Days Ago

  • C.R. England

    Columbus, OH

    C.R. England | Columbus, OH

    Job Description. C.R. England is Now Urgently Hiring Local Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers. Dedicated Local Fleet - Home Daily - Competitive Pay* - Full Bene... more

    11 Days Ago

  • Maxim Healthcare

    Columbus, OH

    Maxim Healthcare | Columbus, OH

    Private duty nursing (PDN) allows medically fragile patients to receive quality, skilled nursing care in the comfort of their home: a setting preferred by ... more

    13 Days Ago

  • Schneider

    Columbus, OH

    Schneider | Columbus, OH

    CDL-A - Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Dedicated Reefer truck driver - Kroger. Average pay. $1,200-$1,450 weekly. Home time. Daily. Experience. Al... more

    14 Days Ago

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FAQ about Research Associate II

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Research Associate II?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Research Associate II roles, with salaries approximately 35% 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.)

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

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