Scientific Assistant Salary in the United States

How much does a Scientific Assistant make in the United States?

As of January 01, 2026, the average salary for a Scientific Assistant in the United States is $72,827 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $35.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $86,147
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,700 to $79,799
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,031
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View as table View as graph 25% $67,700 10% $63,031 90% $86,147 75% $79,799 $72,827 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Scientific Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $79,799 $6,650 $1,535 $38
Average $72,827 $6,069 $1,401 $35
25th Percentile $67,700 $5,642 $1,302 $33
Check out Scientific Assistant Job Openings in the United States
Scientific Programmer Analyst

Tyto Athene, LLC - HERNDON, VA

Scientific Applications Programmer

Peraton - STENNIS SPACE CENTER, MS

Scientific Subject Matter Expert II

Koniag Government Services - SILVER SPRING, MD

Scientific Subject Matter Expert

Koniag Government Services - SILVER SPRING, MD

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Key Factors That Influence Scientific Assistant Salaries

A Scientific Assistant'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.

How Experience Level Affects Scientific Assistant Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Scientific Assistant'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): $71,936
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $72,520
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $74,058
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $74,365
  • Expert (over 8 years): $74,570
Levels Salary
Entry Level Scientific Assistant$71,936
Intermediate Level Scientific Assistant$72,520
Senior Level Scientific Assistant$74,058
Specialist Level Scientific Assistant$74,365
Expert Level Scientific Assistant$74,570
$71,936 0 yr
$72,520 < 2 yrs
$74,058 2-4 yrs
$74,365 5-8 yrs
$74,570 > 8 yrs
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What Am I Worth?

How Do Scientific Assistant 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 Scientific Assistants. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

  • District of Columbia: $80,634.
  • California: $80,328.
  • Massachusetts: $79,258.

Top Paying Cities for Scientific Assistants

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: $91,857
  • San Francisco: $90,954
  • Oakland: $88,936

What Skills Can Increase a Scientific Assistant's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 11.33% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • SQL (Mentioned in 3.32% Job Postings): Structured Query Language) is a domain-specific language used in programming and designed for managing data held in a relational database management system (RDBMS), or for stream processing in a relational data stream management system (RDSMS).
  • Economics (Mentioned in 1.42% Job Postings): Economics is a social science that focuses on the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services, and analyzes the choices that individuals, businesses, governments, and nations make to allocate resources.
See More Skills
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 11.33%
SQL 3.32%
Economics 1.42%
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 Scientific Assistant's salary.
  • Molecular Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 13%.
  • Biochemistry: Can increase your salary by up to 11%.
  • Inference: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Molecular Biology
$82,295
13%
Biochemistry
$80,838
11%
Inference
$78,653
8%
Chemistry
$78,653
8%
Predictive Analytics
$77,925
7%
Collaboration
$77,197
6%
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Scientific Assistant Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Scientific Assistant'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 January 01, 2026

Salary Trends for Scientific Assistant

Salaries for a Scientific Assistant can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary decreased from $66,172 in 2023 to around $65,533 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Scientific Assistant salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Scientific Assistant Over Time

2022
$???
2023
$66,172
2024
$65,883
2025
$65,533
2026
$???
2027
$???
Year Average Annual Salary
2022
View More
2023 $66,172
2024 $65,883
2025 $65,533
2026
View More
2027
View More

Most common benefits for Scientific Assistant

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

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

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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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