Research scientist salary in United States

The average salary for a Research Scientist is $144,577 per year in the United States. This figure is based on 2.9k salaries taken from job postings on Indeed in the past 36 months, last updated on July 27, 2026.

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Research Scientist salaries typically range between a low of $69,032 and a high of $302,794 per year, depending on experience, location, and the hiring company.

Some of the highest-paying cities for Research Scientist include San Jose, CA at $261,127 per year, San Francisco, CA at $227,523 per year, and Seattle, WA at $199,502 per year.

Based on recent job postings on Indeed, some of the top-paying companies for Research Scientist include HARVEY ($300,000 per year) and Scale AI ($282,498 per year).

Compensation can vary based on the specific niche and level of responsibility within the field. Here is how the average Research Scientist salary compares to related positions:

• Junior Research Scientist: Average $70,205 per year
• Senior Research Scientist: Average $146,355 per year