Postdoctoral Research Associate

Postdoctoral Research Associate Salary

$42.5K

$84K

$117K

$85,959

/year

$41.33

/hour

Postdoctoral Research Associate Salary Comparison by Location

Nationwide

United States

$85,959

Columbus

Ohio

$83,028

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    How much does a Postdoctoral Research Associate make?

    As of Aug 6, 2026, the average annual pay for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the United States is $85,959 a year.

    Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $41.33 an hour. This is the equivalent of $1,653/week or $7,163/month.

    While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $117,000 and as low as $42,500, the majority of Postdoctoral Research Associate salaries currently range between $56,000 (25th percentile) to $116,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $116,000 annually across the United States. The average pay range for a Postdoctoral Research Associate varies greatly (by as much as 60000), which suggests there may be many opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location and years of experience.

    A Postdoctoral Research Associate in your area makes on average $83,028 per year, or $2,931 (3.410%) less than the national average annual salary of $85,959. Ohio ranks number 30 out of 50 states nationwide for Postdoctoral Research Associate salaries.

    To estimate the most accurate annual salary range for Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs, ZipRecruiter continuously scans its database of millions of active jobs published locally throughout America.

    Find your next high paying job as a Postdoctoral Research Associate on ZipRecruiter today.

    What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs

    We've identified 10 cities where the typical salary for a Postdoctoral Research Associate job is above the national average. Topping the list is Felton, CA, , with Cupertino, CA, and Mercer Island, WA, close behind in the second and third positions. Mercer Island, WA, beats the national average by $19,318 (22.5%), and Felton, CA, furthers that trend with another $23,319 (27.1%) above the $85,959 average.

    With these 10 cities having average salaries higher than the national average, the opportunities for economic advancement by changing locations as a Postdoctoral Research Associate appears to be exceedingly fruitful.

    Finally, another factor to consider is the average salary for these top 10 cities varies very little at 7% between Felton, CA, and Menlo Park, CA, , reinforcing the limited potential for much wage advancement. The possibility of a lower cost of living may be the best factor to use when considering location and salary for a Postdoctoral Research Associate role.

    City

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Felton, CA

    $109,278

    $52.54

    Cupertino, CA

    $106,052

    $50.99

    Mercer Island, WA

    $105,277

    $50.61

    Redwood City, CA

    $105,245

    $50.60

    Berkeley, CA

    $104,793

    $50.38

    Sitka, AK

    $103,554

    $49.79

    South San Francisco, CA

    $103,296

    $49.66

    Bodega Bay, CA

    $102,014

    $49.05

    Mountain View, CA

    $101,405

    $48.75

    Menlo Park, CA

    $101,300

    $48.70

    What are Top 5 Best Paying Related Postdoctoral Research Associate Jobs in the U.S.

    Analyzing some similar jobs related to the Postdoctoral Research Associate job category, we found that Forensic Entomologist jobs have average salaries greater than Postdoctoral Research Associate jobs.

    Significantly, Forensic Entomologist jobs pay $1,918 (2.2%) more than the average Postdoctoral Research Associate salary of $85,959. If you're qualified, finding work as a Forensic Entomologist may help you make more money than that of the average Postdoctoral Research Associate position.

    Job Title

    Annual Salary

    Hourly Wage

    Forensic Entomologist

    $87,877

    $42.25

    Condensed Matter Physics

    $73,942

    $35.55

    Modern Campus

    $72,950

    $35.07

    Analytical Biochemist

    $60,610

    $29.14

    Computational Chemistry Phd

    $48,298

    $23.22

    About Our Data

    ZipRecruiter salary estimates, histograms, trends and comparisons are derived from both employer job postings and third party data sources.

    Infographic detailing Postdoctoral Research Associate salary across the United States as of August 2026. Displays a bar chart with salary percentiles, a national average salary of $85,959 per year or $41.33 an hour, and a color-coded map showing state-by-state salary variations.