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Research Support Specialist Salary in the United States

How much does a Research Support Specialist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Support Specialist in the United States is $131,708 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $63.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $155,673
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $120,499 to $144,252
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $110,294
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Research Support Specialist Salaries

A Research Support 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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Research Support Specialist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research Support 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:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $81,969
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $99,176
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $130,785
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $159,689
  • Expert (over 8 years): $213,609
Levels Salary
Research ... Level Research Support Specialist$81,969
Research ... Level Research Support Specialist$99,176
Research ... Level Research Support Specialist$130,785
Research ... Level Research Support Specialist$159,689
Research ... Level Research Support Specialist$213,609
View as Graph

How Do Research Support Specialist 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 Support Specialists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $145,827.
  • California: $145,274.
  • Massachusetts: $143,338.

Top Paying Cities for Research Support Specialists

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: $166,123
  • San Francisco: $164,304
  • Oakland: $160,842

What Skills Can Increase a Research Support Specialist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Project Management (Mentioned in 4.21% Job Postings): Project management is the application of processes, methods, skills, knowledge and experience to achieve specific project objectives according to the project acceptance criteria within agreed parameters. Project management has final deliverables that are constrained to a finite timescale and budget.
  • Immunology (Mentioned in 3.16% Job Postings): Immunology is the study of the immune system and is a very important branch of the medical and biological sciences. The immune system protects us from infection through various lines of defence.
  • Data Management (Mentioned in 2.11% Job Postings): Data Management comprises all disciplines related to managing data as a valuable resource. The concept of data management arose in the 1980s as technology moved from sequential processing (first cards, then tape) to random access storage. Since it was now possible to store a discreet fact and quickly access it using random access disk technology, those suggesting that data management was more important than business process management used arguments such as "a customer's home address is stored in 75 (or some other large number) places in our computer systems." However, during this period, random access processing was not competitively fast, so those suggesting "process management" was more important than "data management" used batch processing time as their primary argument. As software applications evolved into real-time, interactive usage, it became obvious that both management processes were important. If the data was not well defined, the data would be mis-used in applications. If the process wasn't well defined, it was impossible to meet user needs.
Skills Demand Percentage
Project Management 4.21%
Immunology 3.16%
Data Management 2.11%
See More Skills

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 Support Specialist's salary.

  • Marketing Research: Can increase your salary by up to 18%.
  • Illustrator: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
  • Immunology: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Marketing Research $155,415
18%
Illustrator $143,562
9%
Immunology $140,928
7%
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Research Support Specialist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Research Support Specialist 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 Energy & Utilities and Software & Networking sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 25% above the average. In contrast, Research Support Specialist positions in Transportation or Hospitality & Leisure typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Research Support Specialist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Research Support Specialist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Energy & Utilities$164,635$79.025%
Software & Networking$158,050$76.020%
Healthcare$155,415$75.018%
Pharmaceuticals$151,464$73.015%
Aerospace & Defense$147,513$71.012%

How Education impacts a Research Support Specialist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Support Specialists enter the field with a Master's Degree or MBA 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 Support Specialist with a Master's Degree or MBA is between $125,346 and $134,511).

Research Support Specialist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Support Specialist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.1%
High School 22.2%
Associates 1.1%
Bachelors 22.2%
Masters 37.5%
Doctorate 39.2%
View as Graph

Research Support Specialist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research Support 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.

Last Updated on September 01, 2026
$120,499
Average $131,708/year
$144,252
$10,042
Average $10,976/month
$12,021
$2,317
Average $2,533/week
$2,774
$58
Average $63/hour
$69
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $144,252 $12,021 $2,774 $69
Average $131,708 $10,976 $2,533 $63
25th Percentile $120,499 $10,042 $2,317 $58

Most common benefits for Research Support Specialist

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

Common company salaries for Research Support Specialist

Here are companies hiring for Research Support Specialist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Research Support Specialist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Research Support Specialist?

The Energy & Utilities industry offers the highest average compensation for Research Support Specialist roles, with salaries approximately 25% 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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