Know your market value with insights across roles — from individual contributors to executive pay and overall company compensation trends.
Access a suite of powerful calculators to make data-driven career decisions.
Automate pay cycles, manage job architectures, and ensure pay equity with AI-powered compensation platforms.
Access validated salary benchmarks, labor market trends, and minimum wage data to stay competitive.
Participate in and purchase industry-specific salary surveys to obtain the most accurate, peer-reported pay data.
As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Data Specialist in Illinois is $101,158 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.
However, a Research Data Specialist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:
Compensation Planning
Develop a Job Description
Pay Equity
2026 Compensation Trend
AI Onboarding
Recruit with AI
Research Data Specialist Salaries by Percentile
| Annual Salary |
Monthly Pay |
Weekly Pay |
Hourly Wage |
|
| 75th Percentile | $109,829 | $9,152 | $2,112 | $53 |
| Average | $101,158 | $8,430 | $1,945 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $93,630 | $7,802 | $1,801 | $45 |
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science - North Chicago, IL
AbbVie - North Chicago, IL
The Aparecio Foundation, NFP - Chicago, IL
Huron Consulting Group - Chicago, IL
A Research Data Specialist'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.
Experience is a primary driver of a Research Data Specialist'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:
| Levels | Salary |
|---|---|
| Research ... Level Research Data Specialist | $71,431 |
| Research ... Level Research Data Specialist | $83,076 |
| Research ... Level Research Data Specialist | $100,521 |
| Research ... Level Research Data Specialist | $132,542 |
| Research ... Level Research Data Specialist | $161,841 |
What Am I Worth?
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 Data Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
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:
For Research Data Specialist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 20% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Aerospace & Defense and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 10% above the average. In contrast, Research Data Specialist positions in Transportation or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research Data Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.
| Industry Sector | Average Annual Salary | Average Hourly Rate | Pay vs.Avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aerospace & Defense | $111,274 | $53.0 | 10% |
| Biotechnology | $111,274 | $53.0 | 10% |
| Energy & Utilities | $111,274 | $53.0 | 10% |
| Financial Services | $111,274 | $53.0 | 10% |
| Healthcare | $111,274 | $53.0 | 10% |
Understanding how a Research Data Specialist'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.
| Annual Salary | Monthly Pay | Weekly Pay | Hourly Wage | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75th Percentile | $109,829 | $9,152 | $2,112 | $53 |
| Average | $101,158 | $8,430 | $1,945 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $93,630 | $7,802 | $1,801 | $45 |
Ready to take the next step in your career? Browse thousands of current Research Data Specialist job openings on our job board. Use the search bar below to find your perfect match.
The IMA Group
Chicago, IL
The IMA Group | Chicago, IL
Clinical Research Patient Recruiter. Chicago, IL | $23$25/hour | Full-Time. Are you confident on the phone and motivated by connecting with people. IMA Cli... more
7 Days Ago
TradeJobsWorkforce
Buffalo, IL
TradeJobsWorkforce | Buffalo, IL
As a Online Data Entry Specialist, you will be responsible for inputting and maintaining data accurately from home, including: input data accurately into c... more
8 Days Ago
Abacus
Chicago, IL
Abacus | Chicago, IL
POSITION SUMMARYData Entry Specialist:The Diversity Programs Department is responsible for working with various departments & agencies to document contract... more
9 Days Ago
FocusGroupPanel
Lisle, IL
FocusGroupPanel | Lisle, IL
Join our team as a Remote Data Collection Specialist. We are seeking motivated individuals to work from home on exciting research projects.As part of our d... more
9 Days Ago
Lexitas
Chicago, IL
Lexitas | Chicago, IL
POSITION TITLE: Data Entry SpecialistLOCATION: This is a full-time, on-site position based at our Chicago office located at 770 North LaSalle Street Ste 61... more
9 Days Ago
Marathon TS
O Fallon, IL
Marathon TS | O Fallon, IL
large government client of ours is seeking an experienced Data Collection Specialist to join their dynamic team.Primary Responsibilities: Monitor and repor... more
9 Days Ago
Get a Salary Increase
Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.
Search Job Openings
Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.
Adjust Employee Salary
Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.
Price My Industry Jobs
Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.
Use Salary.com's Cost of Living Calculator to find out what income you need to maintain your standard of living in a different city and how much more or less money you need to budget for basic expenses.
Explore Cost of Living CalculatorSalary.com experts will help you thrive your workplaces.
Salary.com provides salary survey data for thousands of industry Jobs.
Salary.com salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third-party data sources. We also provide multiple percentiles of salary information for your reference, click here to know Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial to Getting Pay Equity Right. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.
Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:
