What are the main factors that influence a Research Associate's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Research Associate's salary?

A Research Associate's salary grows with experience: a Staff Nurse - RN - Research (0-0 years)earns $92,948, a Research Associate (0-2 years)earns $60,126, a Clinical Research Associate II (2-4 years)earns $69,591, a Scientist - Clinical Research (4-7 years)earns $98,790, a Clinical Research Manager (7+ years)earns $106,763,

What are the highest paying states for a Research Associate?

Research Associate salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Research Associate roles are District of Columbia $67,323, California $67,067, Massachusetts $66,174. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Research Associate roles make?

Salaries for Research Associate level roles vary by specialization: Principal Research Associate: $164,203; Equity Research Associate: $116,439; Consulting Associate, Research: $84,376; Imaging Research Associate: $75,827; Research and Development Associate: $73,470.

How do different companies affect a Research Associate's salary?

Company size, industry, and compensation structure create significant salary variations for Research Associate roles. Large, established industry leaders like C R Bard Inc ($128,509) and Henry Schein Canada ($124,697) offer base salaries 35-40% above the national average. In contrast, smaller firms or startups may offer closer to $82,041.

Research Associate Salary in the United States

How much does a Research Associate make in the United States?

As of April 01, 2026, the average salary for a Research Associate in the United States is $60,805 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,444
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $52,405 to $70,038
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $44,757

Compensation Planning

Develop a Job Description

Pay Equity

2025 Compensation Trend

AI-Powered HR

AI Onboarding

Salary Salary + Bonus Benefits

View as table

Research Associate Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$70,038	$5,836	$1,347	$34
Average	$60,805	$5,067	$1,169	$29
25th Percentile	$52,405	$4,367	$1,008	$25

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

Change Search Criteria

Check out Research Associate Job Openings in the United States

Research & Writing Associate (RWA)

Kohrman Jackson & Krantz LLP - Cleveland, OH

Research Associate

The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center - Columbus, OH

Research Associate

The Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

Research Associate

Ohio State University - Columbus, OH

Search More Research Associate Jobs in the United States

Key Factors That Influence Research Associate Salaries

A Research Associate'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, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Research Associate Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Research Associate'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): $92,948
Early Career (1-2 years): $60,126
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $69,591
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $98,790
Expert (over 8 years): $106,763

Levels	Salary
Staff Nur... Level Research Associate	$92,948
Research ... Level Research Associate	$60,126
Clinical ... Level Research Associate	$69,591
Scientist... Level Research Associate	$98,790
Clinical ... Level Research Associate	$106,763

View as Graph

What Am I Worth?

How Do Research Associate 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 Research Associates. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $67,323.
California: $67,067.
Massachusetts: $66,174.

District of Columbia $67,323 California $67,067 Massachusetts $66,174 Washington $65,930 New Jersey $65,906 Alaska $65,821 Connecticut $64,982 New York $64,641

Hawaii $63,553 Rhode Island $63,042 Maryland $62,696 Minnesota $62,221 Colorado $62,039 Illinois $61,978 Oregon $61,747 Delaware $61,577

New Hampshire $61,470 Virginia $61,230 Pennsylvania $60,531 Nevada $60,178 North Dakota $60,063 Michigan $59,880 Wisconsin $59,813 Vermont $59,680

Texas $59,309 Maine $59,284 Arizona $59,248 Ohio $59,205 Georgia $58,646 Indiana $58,366 Wyoming $58,312 Utah $58,226

Iowa $58,190 Kansas $57,898 Louisiana $57,813 North Carolina $57,783 Missouri $57,770 Florida $57,533 Montana $57,406 Nebraska $57,284

Kentucky $57,217 South Carolina $56,974 Tennessee $56,822 Idaho $56,761 New Mexico $56,317 Oklahoma $56,220 Alabama $55,861 South Dakota $55,259

Arkansas $54,931 West Virginia $54,755 Mississippi $54,226

Top Paying Cities for Research Associates

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: $76,693
San Francisco: $75,939
Oakland: $74,255

San Jose, CA $76,693

San Francisco, CA $75,939

Oakland, CA $74,255

New York, NY $70,466

Queens Village, NY $70,010

Paramus, NJ $69,524

Passaic, NJ $69,463

Bergenfield, NJ $69,402

Stamford, CT $69,311

Huntington, NY $69,250

Newark, NJ $68,855

Bridgeport, CT $68,734

New Brunswick, NJ $68,533

Vallejo, CA $68,405

Middlesex, NJ $68,369

Somerset, NJ $68,314

Petaluma, CA $68,174

Santa Cruz, CA $67,937

Boston, MA $67,815

Monterey, CA $67,511

Fairbanks, AK $67,469

Los Angeles, CA $67,353

Washington, DC $67,323

Seattle, WA $67,213

Santa Rosa, CA $67,201

Juneau, AK $67,025

Orange, CA $66,824

Anchorage, AK $66,715

Anaheim, CA $66,672

Santa Ana, CA $66,581

Nassau, NY $66,545

Long Beach, CA $66,520

Danbury, CT $66,502

Santa Maria, CA $66,295

Everett, WA $66,283

Bremerton, WA $65,985

Trenton, NJ $65,870

Sacramento, CA $65,845

San Diego, CA $65,815

Brockton, MA $65,791

Tacoma, WA $65,766

Santa Barbara, CA $65,681

Lowell, MA $65,438

New Suffolk, NY $65,414

Nashua, NH $65,341

Lompoc, CA $65,243

Ventura, CA $65,183

Stockton, CA $65,164

New Haven, CT $65,043

Atlantic City, NJ $64,885

Hartford, CT $64,751

Modesto, CA $64,720

Poughkeepsie, NY $64,587

New Britain, CT $64,556

Olympia, WA $64,471

Kennewick, WA $64,471

New London, CT $64,459

Norwich, CT $64,441

Lawrence, MA $64,410

Bakersfield, CA $64,240

Riverside, CA $64,155

New Bedford, MA $64,155

Richland, WA $64,094

Portsmouth, NH $64,045

Vineland, NJ $64,033

San Bernardino, CA $63,985

Boulder, CO $63,814

Worcester, MA $63,766

Portland, OR $63,711

Saint Paul, MN $63,638

Minneapolis, MN $63,638

Philadelphia, PA $63,553

Honolulu, HI $63,231

Springfield, MA $63,018

Providence, RI $63,012

Chicago, IL $62,835

Bellingham, WA $62,763

Baltimore, MD $62,696

Chico, CA $62,544

Wilmington, DE $62,440

Pittsfield, MA $62,379

Manchester, NH $62,264

Spokane, WA $61,996

Denver, CO $61,990

Albany, NY $61,705

Troy, NY $61,680

Schenectady, NY $61,552

Burlington, VT $61,419

Portland, ME $61,206

Salem, OR $61,157

Yakima, WA $61,145

Ann Arbor, MI $61,127

Rochester, MN $60,957

Fresno, CA $60,926

Reno, NV $60,926

Milwaukee, WI $60,871

Detroit, MI $60,811

Allentown, PA $60,792

Carson City, NV $60,786

Houston, TX $60,695

Colorado Springs, CO $60,689

Syracuse, NY $60,659

Eugene, OR $60,543

Bismarck, ND $60,470

Gary, IN $60,470

Galveston, TX $60,470

Springfield, OR $60,422

Medford, OR $60,276

Fort Collins, CO $60,251

Austin, TX $60,203

Mesa, AZ $60,075

Phoenix, AZ $60,063

Dallas, TX $60,045

Reading, PA $60,008

Saint Cloud, MN $59,984

Concord, NH $59,929

Madison, WI $59,905

Utica, NY $59,741

Raleigh, NC $59,692

Las Vegas, NV $59,686

Rochester, NY $59,643

Des Moines, IA $59,637

Atlanta, GA $59,540

Battle Creek, MI $59,522

Salt Lake City, UT $59,503

Lancaster, PA $59,412

Champaign, IL $59,400

Harrisburg, PA $59,327

Durham, NC $59,272

Kansas City, MO $59,266

Kansas City, KS $59,254

Fort Worth, TX $59,248

Boca Raton, FL $59,224

Cleveland, OH $59,218

Columbus, OH $59,205

Pittsburgh, PA $59,199

Richmond, VA $59,175

Indianapolis, IN $59,163

Cincinnati, OH $59,084

Petersburg, VA $58,993

Billings, MT $58,859

Lansing, MI $58,859

Huntsville, AL $58,859

Lebanon, PA $58,853

Dayton, OH $58,847

Pueblo, CO $58,847

Appleton, WI $58,828

Buffalo, NY $58,804

Racine, WI $58,774

Charlotte, NC $58,768

Saint Louis, MO $58,749

Springfield, IL $58,725

Elkhart, IN $58,713

York, PA $58,713

Gastonia, NC $58,707

Benton Harbor, MI $58,707

Beaumont, TX $58,670

Lorain, OH $58,658

Toledo, OH $58,634

Binghamton, NY $58,603

Rock Hill, SC $58,597

Rockford, IL $58,567

Fargo, ND $58,537

Elyria, OH $58,537

Flagstaff, AZ $58,494

Fort Lauderdale, FL $58,458

Miami, FL $58,421

Duluth, MN $58,324

Bangor, ME $58,245

Cedar Rapids, IA $58,178

Louisville, KY $58,147

Grand Rapids, MI $58,135

Hialeah, FL $58,129

Casper, WY $58,044

Scranton, PA $57,971

New Orleans, LA $57,953

Virginia Beach, VA $57,947

Akron, OH $57,916

Peoria, IL $57,837

Sarasota, FL $57,825

Green Bay, WI $57,783

Baton Rouge, LA $57,752

Charleston, SC $57,740

Nashville, TN $57,722

Jamestown, NY $57,710

Davenport, IA $57,710

Tucson, AZ $57,679

Cheyenne, WY $57,661

Saint Petersburg, FL $57,643

Tampa, FL $57,631

Omaha, NE $57,618

Port Arthur, TX $57,594

Evansville, IN $57,594

Bradenton, FL $57,570

Santa Fe, NM $57,460

Orlando, FL $57,400

Clearwater, FL $57,333

Canton, OH $57,205

La Crosse, WI $57,205

Grand Forks, ND $57,187

Albuquerque, NM $57,168

Tulsa, OK $57,168

Newport News, VA $57,162

High Point, NC $57,144

Ogden, UT $57,120

Corpus Christi, TX $57,071

Laramie, WY $57,035

Norfolk, VA $57,035

Rock Island, IL $56,998

Saginaw, MI $56,986

Jacksonville, FL $56,980

Salisbury, NC $56,968

Memphis, TN $56,956

Moline, IL $56,925

Fort Myers, FL $56,907

Waterloo, IA $56,828

Spartanburg, SC $56,767

Lincoln, NE $56,737

Fort Wayne, IN $56,725

Birmingham, AL $56,658

Cedar Falls, IA $56,646

Provo, UT $56,639

Springfield, OH $56,633

San Antonio, TX $56,621

Greensboro, NC $56,597

South Bend, IN $56,591

Winston Salem, NC $56,585

Boise, ID $56,567

Savannah, GA $56,524

Muskegon, MI $56,415

Lima, OH $56,342

Lake Charles, LA $56,317

Anderson, IN $56,305

Lexington, KY $56,287

Augusta, GA $56,269

Greenville, SC $56,269

Wichita, KS $56,214

Tuscaloosa, AL $56,214

Columbia, SC $56,159

Bloomington, IN $56,007

Roanoke, VA $55,971

Asheville, NC $55,892

Knoxville, TN $55,788

Shreveport, LA $55,782

Wilmington, NC $55,703

Frankfort, KY $55,588

Oklahoma City, OK $55,545

Chillicothe, OH $55,521

Longview, TX $55,515

Topeka, KS $55,496

Mobile, AL $55,405

Terre Haute, IN $55,381

Erie, PA $55,375

Altoona, PA $55,344

Melbourne, FL $55,326

Amarillo, TX $55,302

Killeen, TX $55,284

Fayetteville, AR $55,235

Sioux Falls, SD $55,192

Chattanooga, TN $55,156

Idaho Falls, ID $55,150

Gainesville, FL $55,022

Portsmouth, OH $54,992

Little Rock, AR $54,980

Lynchburg, VA $54,980

Lafayette, LA $54,955

Youngstown, OH $54,955

Temple, TX $54,931

Daytona Beach, FL $54,919

Clarksville, TN $54,913

Pensacola, FL $54,907

Hopkinsville, KY $54,724

Charleston, WV $54,718

Florence, SC $54,688

Sioux City, IA $54,651

Macon, GA $54,475

Tallahassee, FL $54,469

Fayetteville, NC $54,457

Waco, TX $54,444

Wichita Falls, TX $54,444

Pine Bluff, AR $54,420

Vincennes, IN $54,305

Lubbock, TX $54,280

Great Falls, MT $54,244

Alamogordo, NM $54,238

Abilene, TX $54,189

Rapid City, SD $54,110

Monroe, LA $54,110

Albany, GA $54,074

Huntington, WV $54,067

Jackson, MS $54,061

Greenville, MS $54,055

Parkersburg, WV $53,994

Montgomery, AL $53,982

Johnstown, PA $53,970

Springfield, MO $53,922

Biloxi, MS $53,891

Sumter, SC $53,763

Columbus, GA $53,757

Twin Falls, ID $53,721

Pascagoula, MS $53,642

Kingsport, TN $53,484

Gulfport, MS $53,465

Alexandria, LA $53,265

Fort Smith, AR $53,113

El Paso, TX $52,949

Helena, MT $52,870

Las Cruces, NM $52,675

Harlingen, TX $52,505

Pocatello, ID $52,450

Florence, AL $52,432

Brownsville, TX $52,420

Dothan, AL $52,322

Mcallen, TX $52,292

Columbus, MS $51,842

Altus, OK $51,562

Lawton, OK $51,447

Pierre, SD $51,228

What Skills Can Increase a Research Associate's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

Integrity (Mentioned in 5.09% Job Postings): Is about having strong principles and values, which you demonstrate through your conduct in the work environment. A common integrity definition states that people with integrity do the right thing even when nobody is watching.
Oncology (Mentioned in 2.46% Job Postings): Designing, constructing, and repairing dental prosthetics and restorative and orthodontic devices to help patients correct dental conditions.
Data Collection (Mentioned in 1.46% Job Postings): Data collection is the process of gathering and measuring information on targeted variables in an established system, which then enables one to answer relevant questions and evaluate outcomes. Data collection is a component of research in all fields of study including physical and social sciences, humanities, and business. While methods vary by discipline, the emphasis on ensuring accurate and honest collection remains the same. The goal for all data collection is to capture quality evidence that allows analysis to lead to the formulation of convincing and credible answers to the questions that have been posed.

See More Skills

Skills	Demand Percentage
Integrity	5.09%
Oncology	2.46%
Data Collection	1.46%

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 Research Associate's salary.

Line Management: Can increase your salary by up to 33%.
Dedication: Can increase your salary by up to 9%.
Patient Safety: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.

Skill	Salary	Salary % Increase
Line Management	$80,870	33%
Dedication	$66,277	9%
Patient Safety	$65,061	7%
Accountability	$64,453	6%
Communicates Effectively	$64,453	6%
Communication Skills	$63,845	5%

Get Latest Data

How Education impacts a Research Associate's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Research Associates enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Research Associate with a Bachelor's Degree is between $64,284 and $68,801).

Research Associate Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Research Associate

No Diploma 0.3%

High School 2.7%

Associates 1.9%

Bachelors 61.9%

Masters 26.5%

Doctorate 6.6%

view as table

Degree Level	% of user with this level of education
No Diploma	0.3%
High School	2.7%
Associates	1.9%
Bachelors	61.9%
Masters	26.5%
Doctorate	6.6%

view as graph

Research Associate Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Research Associate'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 April 01, 2026

$52,405

Average $60,805/year

$70,038

$4,367

Average $5,067/month

$5,836

$1,008

Average $1,169/week

$1,347

$25

Average $29/hour

$34

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$70,038	$5,836	$1,347	$34
Average	$60,805	$5,067	$1,169	$29
25th Percentile	$52,405	$4,367	$1,008	$25

Salaries of jobs related to Research Associate

Salary Trends for Research Associate

Salaries for a Research Associate can change over time, reflecting shifts in market demand and the overall economy. The median salary increased from $55,596 in 2023 to around $55,606 in 2025, reflecting changes in demand, location, experience, and the wider economy. For a detailed analysis of Research Associate salary trends, .

Average Annual Salary of Research Associate Over Time

2022

$???

2023

$55,596

2024

$55,704

2025

$55,606

2026

$???

2027

$???

Year	Average Annual Salary
2022	View More
2023	$55,596
2024	$55,704
2025	$55,606
2026	View More
2027	View More

Most common benefits for Research Associate

Social Security

401(k)

Disability

Healthcare

Pension

Time Off (days)

For Employers

If your compensation planning software is too rigid to deploy winning incentive strategies, it’s time to find an adaptable solution.

Compensation Planning

Biotechnology

the United States

Find Your Next Research Associate Job

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

For Employees

Get a Salary Increase

Analyze the market and your qualifications to negotiate your salary with confidence.

Search Job Openings

Search thousands of open positions to find your next opportunity.

For Employers

Adjust Employee Salary

Individualize employee pay based on unique job requirements and personal qualifications.

Price My Industry Jobs

Get the latest market price for benchmark jobs and jobs in your industry.

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.

Are you an HR manager or compensation specialist?

Salary.com's CompAnalyst platform offers:

Detailed skills and competency reports for specific positions
Job and employee pricing reports
Compensation data tools, salary structures, surveys and benchmarks.

Learn about