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Entry Level Research Scientist Jobs in California

Generalist AI, Inc

Research Assistant

San Mateo, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

... entry-level research role for individuals with less than 3 years of research experience, and is designed to be a potential career path towards eventually contributing as a Research Scientist. At ...

System One

Research Operations Associate

San Diego, CA · On-site

$24 - $29.40/hr

... entry level Research Operations Associate. Ideal candidates should have a Bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biology, Organic Chemistry, or a related scientific discipline. As well as, a ...

Donor Network West

Research Assistant

Fresno, CA · On-site

$16.53 - $19.92/hr

POSITION SUMMARY The Research Assistant provides an opportunity for intern-level introductory ... a basic entry-level college biology course and be working towards a Bachelor of Science (B.S ...

Donor Network West

Research Assistant

Fresno, CA · On-site

$16.53 - $19.92/hr

POSITION SUMMARY The Research Assistant provides an opportunity for intern-level introductory ... a basic entry-level college biology course and be working towards a Bachelor of Science (B.S ...

Donor Network West

Research Assistant

Fresno, CA · On-site

$16.53 - $19.92/hr

POSITION SUMMARY The Research Assistant provides an opportunity for intern-level introductory ... a basic entry-level college biology course and be working towards a Bachelor of Science (B.S ...

Kelly Services

Research Associate (RA)

Tustin, CA · On-site

Research Associate Contract-to-Hire | 2 Openings | Entry-Level Candidates Welcome Kelly is hiring ... This is an excellent opportunity for recent graduates and early-career scientists with 0-1 year of ...

TriCom Quest

Be Seen First

R&D Associate

Cypress, CA · On-site

$27/hr

A growing international food manufacturing company is seeking a talented and motivated Research & Development (R&D) Specialist to join the team. * Entry-level with science degree * $27/hr. plus full ...

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All JobsResearch Scientist JobsEntry Level Research Scientist JobsEntry Level Research Scientist Jobs in California

Entry Level Research Scientist information

See California salary details

$49.8K

$128.4K

$171.7K

How much do entry level research scientist jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 7, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level research scientist in California is $128,413.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $106,100.00 and $170,700.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an entry level research scientist do?

An entry level research scientist assists in designing, conducting, and analyzing experiments under the supervision of senior scientists. They may collect and interpret data, maintain laboratory equipment, and help prepare reports or publications. Their work is vital for supporting ongoing research projects and gaining foundational experience in scientific methods and procedures. Entry level research scientists often work in fields such as biology, chemistry, or engineering, and their tasks may vary depending on the specific area of research.

What are some typical challenges faced by entry level research scientists during their first year?

Entry level research scientists often encounter challenges such as adjusting to the fast-paced and sometimes ambiguous nature of research projects, mastering new laboratory techniques, and learning to interpret complex data. Collaborating effectively with senior researchers and multidisciplinary teams can also require strong communication skills. Additionally, balancing multiple tasks—such as conducting experiments, analyzing results, and preparing reports—requires effective time management and adaptability as you build experience.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level research scientist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Research Scientist, you need a solid academic background in a scientific discipline, strong analytical skills, and experience with laboratory techniques, usually supported by a bachelor’s or master’s degree. Familiarity with data analysis software (such as R or Python), laboratory information management systems (LIMS), and relevant safety certifications is often required. Attention to detail, curiosity, effective teamwork, and strong written and verbal communication skills help distinguish candidates in this field. These skills and qualities are essential for ensuring accurate research results, maintaining safe lab environments, and contributing effectively to scientific discovery and collaboration.

What is the difference between Entry Level Research Scientist vs Research Associate?

CriteriaEntry Level Research ScientistResearch Associate
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master's in relevant fieldBachelor's or Master's, often with some research experience
Work EnvironmentLaboratories, research facilitiesLaboratories, research teams
Employer & Industry UsageResearch institutions, biotech, pharmaAcademic labs, industry research divisions
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

Entry Level Research Scientists and Research Associates often share similar educational backgrounds and work environments. The main difference lies in job titles used by employers; 'Research Associate' may imply slightly more experience or specific roles, but both positions typically involve conducting experiments, data analysis, and supporting research projects in laboratory settings.

How to become an entry level research scientist with no experience?

To become an entry level research scientist with no experience, focus on obtaining a relevant bachelor's degree in a scientific field such as biology, chemistry, or physics. Gaining practical skills through internships, laboratory coursework, or research assistant positions can improve your prospects, and developing proficiency with research tools and data analysis software is beneficial.
More about Entry Level Research Scientist jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Research Scientist jobs in California?

The most popular types of Research Scientist jobs in California are:

What are popular job titles related to Entry Level Research Scientist jobs in California?

For Entry Level Research Scientist jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Entry Level Research Scientist jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Entry Level Research Scientist jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Entry Level Research Scientist jobs?

Cities in California with the most Entry Level Research Scientist job openings:

Entry Level Research Scientist jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Research Scientist job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 82% Full Time, 13% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $128,413 per year, or $61.7 per hour.

Research Engineer, Reinforcement Learning (Palo Alto)

1X

Palo Alto, CA • On-site

$130K - $250K/yr

Full-time

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

Join to apply for the Research Engineer, Reinforcement Learning role at 1X

Join to apply for the Research Engineer, Reinforcement Learning role at 1X

Target start date: Immediately. Relocation provided.
Since its founding in 2015, 1X has been at the forefront of developing advanced humanoid robots designed for household use. Our mission is to create an abundant supply of labor via safe, intelligent humanoids. At 1X, you’ll own critical projects, tackle unsolved research problems, deliver great products to customers, and be rewarded based on merit and achievement.
We are looking for a Research Engineer in Reinforcement Learning (RL). In this role, you will teach NEO to learn new capabilities via RL algorithms. This enables our robots to be safe and robust in a variety of conditions.
Responsibilities

  • Full-stack engineering, from data engineering to model architecture design to shipping polished products
  • Train NEO to do a diverse set of manipulation and locomotion tasks.
  • Close the sim2real gap between policies trained in simulation and real.
  • Work with controls, QA, and data collection teams to ship RL policies to the production fleet.
  • Deploy skills trained with RL into home environments
  • Getting general-purpose robots to work in the home is just about the hardest problem one can work on. We are looking for people with the courage to tackle unsolved technical challenges with an intense work ethic.
  • 4+ years of Python programming experience.
  • Strong empirical research abilities and a keen eye for spotting performance bottlenecks in RL training.
  • Experience with tuning reward functions, hyperparameters and exploration strategies to solve complex tasks with deep RL.
  • Experience with authoring environments and benchmarks in simulators like Mujoco, Pybullet, or Isaac Sim.
Nice to have
  • Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Computer Science or related field
  • Published RL research in top ML conferences (NeurIPS, CoRL, RSS, ICML, etc.)
  • Have trained real-world quadruped or biped locomotion with RL
  • Robotics and control theory knowledge
Sample Projects
We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet every single qualification. If you have direct experience in solving one of the “sample projects” listed below, please let us know in your cover letter.
  • Fuse separate RL policies (walking, running, standing up) into a single hybrid policy that smoothly transitions between modes.
  • Speed up the simulator to enable faster training and evaluation.
  • Design and implement infra for re-training models deployed in the real world using offline RL methods.
  • Reduce the amount of “reward engineering” needed to solve long-horizon tasks by formulating general objectives like energy minimization, self-play, and data-driven reward functions.
Compensation
At 1X your work and results will be rewarded with a total rewards package consisting of a base salary, stock options and benefits. Base salary range is $130,000 to $250,000. Your actual salary will be based on your knowledge, skills and experience.
Location Policy
We believe the best work is done when collaborating and therefore require in-person presence in our office locations.
We're excited to get to know you and the prospects of having you on board! Seniority level
  • Seniority levelNot Applicable
Employment type
  • Employment typeFull-time
Job function

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