Research Scientist I Salary in the United States

How much does a Research Scientist I make in the United States?

As of July 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Scientist I in the United States is $104,114 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $50.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $128,984
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $98,488 to $117,132
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $93,366
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View as table View as graph 25% $98,488 10% $93,366 90% $128,984 75% $117,132 $104,114 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Research Scientist I Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $117,132 $9,761 $2,253 $56
Average $104,114 $8,676 $2,002 $50
25th Percentile $98,488 $8,207 $1,894 $47
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Key Factors That Influence Research Scientist I Salaries

A Research Scientist I'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.

Top Paying Cities for Research Scientist Is

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: $131,319
  • San Francisco: $129,881
  • Oakland: $127,144

What Skills Can Increase a Research Scientist I's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 13.75% 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 3.11% 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.
  • Oncology (Mentioned in 2.2% Job Postings): Designing, constructing, and repairing dental prosthetics and restorative and orthodontic devices to help patients correct dental conditions.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 13.75%
Data Analysis 3.11%
Oncology 2.2%
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 Scientist I's salary.
  • Cell Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Biotechnology: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
  • Machine Learning: Can increase your salary by up to 6%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Cell Biology
$111,402
7%
Biotechnology
$111,402
7%
Machine Learning
$110,361
6%
Bioinformatics
$110,361
6%
Cell Culture
$110,361
6%
Molecular Biology
$109,320
5%
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Research Scientist I Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research Scientist I roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 40% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Biotechnology and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 20% above the average. In contrast, Research Scientist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research Scientist I as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Research Scientist I

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Biotechnology$124,937$60.020%
Energy & Utilities$119,731$58.015%
Chemicals$114,525$55.010%
Healthcare$109,320$53.05%

How Education impacts a Research Scientist I's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Scientist Is enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent 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 Scientist I with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $109,154 and $115,729).

Research Scientist I Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Scientist I
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.2%
High School 0.2%
Associates 0.6%
Bachelors 20.9%
Masters 16.0%
Doctorate 62.4%
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Research Scientist I Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research Scientist I'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 Scientist I

Salaries for a Research Scientist I can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $77,236 in 2023 to around $72,607 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Research Scientist I salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Research Scientist I Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$77,236
2024
$74,611
2025
$72,607
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $77,236
2024 $74,611
2025 $72,607
2026
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2027
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Most common benefits for Research Scientist I

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

Here are companies hiring for Research Scientist I and their salaries, click below for more details.

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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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