Research Associate Salary in United Kingdom during 2024

Salary details

The average Research Associate salary lies between USD 49,183 and USD 59,842 in the United Kingdom. It represents the overall compensation/gross salary amount for the working year (before deductions like social security, taxes and other contributions), not including equity/stock options or similar benefits.

Region represents the primary country of residence of an employee during the year (or residence for tax purposes). All data shown are full-time equivalent (FTE) salaries. Part-time salary information has been extrapolated to its FTE value.

Last updated: Dec. 22, 2024

Top 20 Job Tags for Research Associate roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with Research Associate job listings are Research, Python and Machine Learning. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Research | 295 jobs Python | 221 jobs Machine Learning | 186 jobs Engineering | 154 jobs PhD | 138 jobs Computer Science | 127 jobs R | 117 jobs Statistics | 117 jobs Security | 77 jobs Data analysis | 72 jobs Mathematics | 68 jobs Physics | 64 jobs Deep Learning | 61 jobs Banking | 52 jobs Biology | 49 jobs PyTorch | 48 jobs Testing | 48 jobs Matlab | 46 jobs Teaching | 42 jobs Athena | 38 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Research Associate roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with Research Associate job listings are Career development, Health care and Competitive pay. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2024 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 200 jobs Health care | 124 jobs Competitive pay | 115 jobs Flex hours | 112 jobs Conferences | 91 jobs Team events | 74 jobs Insurance | 66 jobs Medical leave | 59 jobs Flex vacation | 58 jobs Wellness | 58 jobs Parental leave | 54 jobs Relocation support | 50 jobs Equity / stock options | 48 jobs Fitness / gym | 44 jobs Startup environment | 41 jobs Flexible spending account | 40 jobs 401(k) matching | 11 jobs Salary bonus | 6 jobs Transparency | 5 jobs Home office stipend | 5 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United Kingdom, the salary for a Research Associate in AI/ML/Data Science typically consists of a fixed base salary, which forms the bulk of the compensation package. This base salary can vary significantly depending on the region, industry, and company size. For instance, positions in London or other major tech hubs might offer higher base salaries compared to those in smaller cities. In addition to the base salary, some companies offer performance-based bonuses, which can range from 5% to 20% of the base salary, depending on the company's performance and individual contributions. Larger companies or those in competitive industries like finance or tech might also provide additional remuneration in the form of stock options, profit-sharing, or other incentives.

Steps to Increase Salary

To increase your salary from a Research Associate position, consider the following strategies:

• Skill Enhancement: Continuously update and expand your technical skills, particularly in high-demand areas like deep learning, natural language processing, or big data analytics.
• Advanced Education: Pursuing a higher degree, such as a Ph.D., can open doors to more advanced positions and higher pay.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network by attending industry conferences, joining relevant professional organizations, and engaging with the AI/ML community.
• Publications and Research: Contribute to academic journals or industry publications to establish yourself as an expert in your field.
• Transition to Industry: Consider moving to a more lucrative industry or a larger company that offers better compensation packages.

Educational Requirements

Most Research Associate positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a master's degree in a relevant field such as computer science, data science, statistics, or mathematics. A Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for roles that are heavily research-focused or in academic settings. The educational background should include a strong foundation in machine learning algorithms, statistical methods, and programming languages like Python or R.

Helpful Certificates

While not always mandatory, certain certifications can enhance your profile and demonstrate your expertise to potential employers. Some valuable certifications include:

• Certified Data Scientist (CDS)
• TensorFlow Developer Certificate
• AWS Certified Machine Learning – Specialty
• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate

These certifications can validate your skills in specific tools and platforms, making you a more attractive candidate.

Experience Requirements

Typically, employers look for candidates with at least 1-3 years of experience in a related field. This experience can be gained through internships, research projects, or previous employment in data science or machine learning roles. Experience with data analysis, model development, and working with large datasets is often crucial.

Related salaries

Want to contribute?