Scientific Assistant Salary in the United States

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

As of August 01, 2026, the average salary for a Scientific Assistant in the United States is $72,802 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): $85,995
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $67,683 to $79,707
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $63,022
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View as table View as graph 25% $67,683 10% $63,022 90% $85,995 75% $79,707 $72,802 50%(Median) Didn’t find job title? Click

Scientific Assistant Salaries by Percentile

Annual
Salary
Monthly
Pay
Weekly
Pay
Hourly
Wage
75th Percentile $79,707 $6,642 $1,533 $38
Average $72,802 $6,067 $1,400 $35
25th Percentile $67,683 $5,640 $1,302 $33
Check out Scientific Assistant Job Openings in the United States
Chief Scientific Officer

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Vice President Scientific Services

Confidential - Columbus, OH

Chief Scientific Officer

Travere Therapeutics - Columbus, OH

Search More Scientific Assistant Jobs in the United States

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): $72,294
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $88,455
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $113,151
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $128,941
  • Expert (over 8 years): $172,899
Levels Salary
Scientifi... Level Scientific Assistant$72,294
Data Scie... Level Scientific Assistant$88,455
Data Scie... Level Scientific Assistant$113,151
Data Scie... Level Scientific Assistant$128,941
Data Scie... Level Scientific Assistant$172,899
$72,294 0 yr
$88,455 < 2 yrs
$113,151 2-4 yrs
$128,941 5-8 yrs
$172,899 > 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: $80,606.
  • California: $80,300.
  • Massachusetts: $79,230.

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: $91,825
  • San Francisco: $90,819
  • Oakland: $88,905

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
$82,266
13%
Biochemistry
$80,810
11%
Inference
$78,626
8%
Chemistry
$78,626
8%
Predictive Analytics
$77,898
7%
Collaboration
$77,170
6%
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Scientific Assistant Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Scientific Assistant 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 Pharmaceuticals sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 30% above the average. In contrast, Scientific Assistant positions in Telecom or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Scientific Assistant as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Scientific Assistant

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Financial Services$94,642$46.030%
Pharmaceuticals$94,642$46.030%
Internet$91,002$44.025%
Insurance$87,362$42.020%
Energy & Utilities$83,722$40.015%

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 August 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

Here are companies hiring for Scientific Assistant and their salaries, click below for more details.

Find Your Next Scientific Assistant Job

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.

United States
  • 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

  • MD Staff, LLC

    Columbus, OH

    MD Staff, LLC | Columbus, OH

    Neurologist Locum Tenens Opportunity Near Columbus, OH. We are excited to offer a rewarding locum tenens opportunity for a Board Certified or Board Eligibl... 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

  • Family Dollar

    Columbus, OH

    Family Dollar | Columbus, OH

    Customer Service Associate. We're seeking a Customer Service Associate to join our team and deliver a great shopping experience for every customer. Duties ... more

    16 Days Ago

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FAQ about Scientific Assistant

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Scientific Assistant?

The Financial Services industry offers the highest average compensation for Scientific Assistant roles, with salaries approximately 30% 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.)

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