How much does a Research Assistant make?
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$39,284
/ yrThe estimated total pay for a Research Assistant is $39,284 per year in the United States area, with an average salary of $37,055 per year. These numbers represent the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated additional pay is $2,229 per year. Additional pay could include cash bonus, commission, tips, and profit sharing. The "Most Likely Range" represents values that exist within the 25th and 75th percentile of all pay data available for this role.
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For Research Assistant
Download as data table
What is the total pay trajectory for Research Assistant?
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Research Assistant | $39,284 /yr |
| Senior Research Assistant | $57,384 /yr |
| Research Assistant IV | $72,568 /yr |
Related Job Titles
For Research Assistant
Some related job titles are Research Associate Salaries with median pay of $67,660, Clinical Research Assistant Salaries with median pay of $54,882, Graduate Research Assistant Salaries with median pay of $40,456, Lab Assistant Salaries with median pay of $36,346.
Top Paying Companies
For a Research Assistant in United States
Below is the total pay for the top 10 highest paying companies for a Research Assistant in United States. Employers include Meta, Google and Microsoft.
Top Paying Companies
For Research Assistant in United States
| 1 | Meta | $142,209 | |
| 2 | $109,283 | ||
| 3 | Microsoft | $103,152 | |
| 4 | Oracle | $85,470 | |
| 5 | Intel Corporation | $81,159 | |
| 6 | Chevron | $80,407 | |
| 7 | Genentech | $77,558 | |
| 8 | NEC Corporation | $73,310 | |
| 9 | Citadel | $70,933 | |
| 10 | BioMarin Pharmaceutical | $70,547 |
For Research Assistant
Download as data table
What is the total pay trajectory for Research Assistant?
| Job Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Research Assistant | $39,284 /yr |
| Senior Research Assistant | $57,384 /yr |
| Research Assistant IV | $72,568 /yr |
What are total pay estimates for a Research Assistant at different companies?
- Popular
- Most Reports
- Salary: high to low
- Salary: low to high
$17
/ hr
$17
/ hr
$33,889
/ yr
$33,487
/ yr
$18
/ hr
$18
/ hr
$35,006
/ yrIs this salary info helpful?
Let’s pay it forward! The Glassdoor community relies on people like you to share accurate salary info to promote fair compensation everywhere
$39,431
/ yr
$17
/ hr
$35,772
/ yr
$34,848
/ yr
$18
/ hr
$18
/ hr
$17
/ hr
$34,944
/ yr
$37,428
/ yr
$33,916
/ yr
$33,614
/ yr
$36,854
/ yrResearch Assistant Salaries
Top Paying Industries
For a Research Assistant in United States
The top 5 paying industries for a Research Assistant in United States are Energy, Mining & Utilities with a median total pay of $65,480, Information Technology with a median total pay of $62,064, Aerospace & Defense with a median total pay of $56,981, Insurance with a median total pay of $55,300, and Government & Public Administration with a median total pay of $51,111.
- Government & Public AdministrationGovernment & Public Administration$51,111
26% Higher than other industries
Energy, Mining & Utilities
Top paying companies in Energy, Mining & Utilities for Research Assistant are Chevron and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
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.
Recent Salaries Shared
For research assistant
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Years at Recent Employer
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Research Assistant pay FAQ
The average salary for a Research Assistant is $39,284 per year in United States. Salaries estimates are based on 54638 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by a Research Assistant employees in United States.
The highest salary for a Research Assistant in United States is $51,701 per year.
The lowest salary for a Research Assistant in United States is $29,935 per year.
If you are thinking of becoming a Research Assistant or planning the next step in your career, find details about the role, the career path and salary trajectory of a Research Assistant.
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.
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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.
Research assistant salaries vary, typically ranging between $23,447.09 and $66,056.55, with an average of $37,055.13. After bonuses, research assistants make about $39,283.91. 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.
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.
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.