How much does a Research Fellow/Research Fellow make?

The average salary for a Research Fellow/Research Fellow is $87,287 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 233 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Research Fellow/Research Fellow employees in United States.

The highest salary for a Research Fellow/Research Fellow in United States is $106,182 per year.

The lowest salary for a Research Fellow/Research Fellow in United States is $72,521 per year.

If you are thinking of becoming a Research Fellow/Research Fellow or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Research Fellow/Research Fellow.

Working as a research fellow allows one to perform intellectually stimulating and impactful work while maintaining relative independence. The job stability and pay of a research fellow generally lags that of tenured professors, because funding is dependent on grant renewal, but opportunities are more plentiful and therefore more accessible to earlier career researchers. Since grants are typically most plentiful in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) occupations, research fellows with expertise in subjects such as biology, physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering and statistics can typically expect the highest pay.

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70% of current research fellows say they are happy with their pay, according to data collected by Glassdoor. Research fellows have the opportunity for an average of $5,766.39 in additional pay each year, potentially qualifying the role as a high-paying one.

Research fellows are responsible for conducting research, pursuing funding sources, and publishing findings. The average salary rate of a research fellow is usually around $76,654.47, but can range between $60,806.12 and $112,810.46. You may receive additional stipends from sponsored or institutional funding sources, bringing total pay to a mean of around $82,420.86. Your pay may also increase as you advance along your career path.

As you gain more experience as a research fellow, you will publish more of your own findings in addition to running your own research lab or overseeing and mentoring undergraduate researchers. Naturally, publishing can have a direct impact on your ability to secure funding.

Most research fellows eventually become colleagues at the institutions where they do their research or look for similar positions elsewhere. If you are already working as a research fellow, this is likely your career trajectory — but other professional opportunities exist. In addition to advanced knowledge in your field, you'll already have management, writing, presentation and data analysis skills in-hand, all of which are in high demand.

Leveraging management, data analysis skills, or successful grant proposals can help you negotiate a higher salary. Naturally, you'll want to list these on your resume and familiarize yourself with some of the more common interview questions research fellows are asked.

Most research fellows receive a faculty benefits package similar to that of other faculty. Research national salary surveys and job postings as well as the cost of living in the area where you want to work. You should also be clear on teaching load you'll be expected to handle along with any additional work or expenses that may come with the fellowship, such as moving costs and even parking expenses.