Research Assistant Salaries
How much does a Research Assistant make?
Total pay range
$55K - $100K/yr
$73K/yrMedian total pay
Pay breakdown
$43K - $79K/yrBase pay
$11K - $21K/yrAdditional pay
About our data
Confident
The “Most Likely Range” reflects values within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role. Glassdoor salaries are powered by our proprietary machine learning model, which utilizes salaries collected from our users and the latest government data to make pay predictions.
How accurate is a total pay range of $55K-$100K/yr?
Your input helps Glassdoor refine our pay estimates over time.
Total pay trajectory
Research Assistant
$55K–$100K/yr
Summer Research Assistant
$60K–$110K/yr
Research Assistant IV
$68K–$108K/yr
Top paying industries
The top 5 paying industries for a Research Assistant in United States are Information Technology with a median total pay of $65,353, Legal with a median total pay of $62,420, Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $60,232, Financial Services with a median total pay of $59,814, and Human Resources & Staffing with a median total pay of $56,678.
Top paying companies in Information Technology for Research Assistant are Meta, Google, and Microsoft.
Top paying companies in Legal for Research Assistant are Jones Day, Duke Law, and Migration Policy Institute.
Top paying companies in Aerospace & Defense for Research Assistant are Leidos, Air Force Research Laboratory, and Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory.
Top paying companies in Financial Services for Research Assistant are Citadel, JPMorganChase, and Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Top paying companies in Human Resources & Staffing for Research Assistant are Adecco, Insight Global, and Kelly.
Information Technology
$65,353
Information Technology
Legal
$62,420
Information Technology
Aerospace & Defense
$60,232
Information Technology
Financial Services
$59,814
Information Technology
Human Resources & Staffing
$56,678
Recent salaries shared by Research Assistant
50 salaries
Job Title | Years of Experience
Total Pay
Location
Date submitted
Job Title | Years of Experience
Location
Date submitted
Total Pay
Base • Additional pay
Research Assistant
4-6 years
$41K/yr
$41K • $0
Durham, NC
submitted on Jun 3, 2026
$41K/yr
$41K • $0
Research Assistant
1-3 years
$35K - $40K/yr
Washington, DC
submitted on Jun 3, 2026
$35K - $40K/yr
Research Assistant
1-3 years
$33K/yr
$33K • $0
Pawtucket, RI
submitted on Jun 2, 2026
$33K/yr
$33K • $0
Research Assistant
4-6 years
$68K/yr
$68K • $0
New York, NY
submitted on Jun 2, 2026
$68K/yr
$68K • $0
Research Assistant
1-3 years
$65K/yr
$65K • $0
Los Angeles, CA
submitted on Jun 2, 2026
$65K/yr
$65K • $0
Anonymously share your salary to help the community.
Research Assistant
1-3 years
$29K/yr
$29K • $0
Champaign, IL
submitted on Jun 2, 2026
$29K/yr
$29K • $0
Research Assistant
1-3 years
$35K/yr
$35K • $0
Bloomington, IN
submitted on Jun 2, 2026
$35K/yr
$35K • $0
Research Assistant
4-6 years
$50K - $58K/yr
Cambridge, MA
submitted on Jun 2, 2026
$50K - $58K/yr
Research Assistant
1-3 years
$71K/yr
$71K • $0
New York, NY
submitted on Jun 2, 2026
$71K/yr
$71K • $0
Research Assistant
4-6 years
$49K/yr
$49K • $0
Davis, CA
submitted on Jun 2, 2026
$49K/yr
$49K • $0
Viewing 1 - 10 of 50
Glassdoor Economist Pay Overview
What is the pay outlook for Research & Science?
Research and science jobs offer pay well above the national average. Increased demand for STEM workers is increasing salaries in research and science. Jobs in these fields, however, often require higher education at the graduate level and/or specialized training. While domain-specific expertise gives workers in these fields access to very specialized jobs, there are also many employers who hire STEM workers for their general data and technology skills.Show more
Research Assistant salary in US
A Research Assistant salary range in US can vary based on important factors such as education, skills, certifications, and years of experience. A Research Assistant in US can expect to see an entry level salary range of $32,135 to $100,526 per year, based on 98 salary contributions. At the highest seniority level, an experienced Research Assistant in US can make a salary range of $112,474 to $185,762 with at least 8 years of experience, based on 135 salary contributions. The top 3 companies in US where a Research Assistant gets the highest compensation are Bloomberg L.P., Accenture Ltd and Altria Group, Inc.. Bigger companies typically pay 35.05% more than smaller companies for a Research Assistant.Show more
Frequently asked questions about Research Assistant salaries
How much does a Research Assistant in United States make?
The average salary for a Research Assistant is $73,286 per year or $35 per hour in United States, which is in line with the national average. Top earners have reported making up to $131,302 (90th percentile). However, the typical pay range in United States is between $54,965 (25th percentile) and $100,011 (75th percentile) annually. Salary estimates are based on 69495 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Research Assistant employees in United States as of June 2026.
What is the highest salary for a Research Assistant in United States?
The highest salary for a Research Assistant in United States is $100,011 per year, $8,334 per month or $48 per hour.
What is the lowest salary for a Research Assistant in United States?
The lowest salary for a Research Assistant in United States is $54,965 per year, $4,580 per month or $26 per hour.
What is the salary trajectory of a Research Assistant?
The salary trajectory of a Research Assistant ranges between locations and employers. The salary starts at $73,286 per year (estimate) and goes up to $263,906 per year (estimate) for the highest level of seniority.
What is the Salary Trend for Research Assistants?
Working as a research assistant allows one to perform intellectually stimulating and impactful work while gaining valuable experience. The job stability and pay of a research assistant generally lags that senior researchers and professors, and funding is often dependent on grant renewal, but opportunities are more accessible to earlier career researchers. Since grants are typically most plentiful in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations, research assistant with expertise in subjects such as biology, physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering and statistics can typically expect the highest pay.
Powered by Glassdoor Economic Research
Do Research Assistants Make Good Money in United States?
Anonymous Glassdoor data reveals that around 70% of research assistants are happy with the amount they make. If you want to make good money, a graduate degree and a few years of work experience will help provide a higher cap on your earning potential.
How Much Does a Research Assistant Make Over Time in United States?
Research assistant salaries vary, typically ranging between $42,506.03 and $131,301.80, with an average of $57,959.93. After bonuses, research assistants make about $73,286.25. However, your research assistant salary will depend on your skills, experience, and whether you follow a typical career path. With two to four years of experience as a research assistant, you may want to apply for senior research assistant roles.
How to Make More Money as a Research Assistant
If you want to make more money as a research assistant, there are a few things you can do to qualify for high-paying positions. Make sure that you have a bachelor's degree in a subject related to your chosen role, whether that's biology or history. Spend time on skills such as typing, academic writing, Microsoft Excel, and data collection and analysis. Soft skills that you should emphasize in your applications include the ability to work in teams, meet deadlines, and manage your schedule. Consider networking with academics or research assistants and tracking developments in your chosen field.
How to Negotiate a Higher Salary as a Research Assistant
Do you feel like you deserve a higher salary as a research assistant? Whether you're just applying for research assistant jobs or want a better salary in your current role, here's how to negotiate. Make a list of all the skills, experiences, and qualifications that you feel qualify you for a higher salary. In the negotiation, discuss your qualifications, and explain why you think you bring more to the role than the average candidate. In deciding what to ask for, research some job listings to determine what type of figure to ask for and stick to your chosen number when negotiating.