Research Scientist Salary in United States during 2022

πŸ’° The median Research Scientist Salary in United States during 2022 is USD 150,000

✏️ This salary info is based on 9 individual salaries reported during 2022

Submit your salary Download the data

Salary details

The average Research Scientist salary lies between USD 145,000 and USD 210,000 in the United States. 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.

Job title
Research Scientist
Experience
all levels
Region
United States
Salary year
2022
Sample size
9
Top 10%
$ 300,000
Top 25%
$ 210,000
Median
$ 150,000
Bottom 25%
$ 145,000
Bottom 10%
$ 120,000

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:

Salary trend

Top 20 Job Tags for Research Scientist roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with Research Scientist job listings are Research, Machine Learning and Python. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job tags in 2022 and the number of open jobs that where associated with them during that period:

Research | 280 jobs Machine Learning | 245 jobs Python | 188 jobs Computer Science | 177 jobs PhD | 165 jobs Deep Learning | 150 jobs Engineering | 145 jobs PyTorch | 116 jobs TensorFlow | 111 jobs Statistics | 87 jobs Mathematics | 80 jobs Computer Vision | 77 jobs R | 76 jobs NLP | 69 jobs Classification | 69 jobs NeurIPS | 55 jobs Scikit-learn | 53 jobs ICML | 48 jobs Scala | 47 jobs Excel | 45 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Research Scientist roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with Research Scientist job listings are Career development, Conferences and Flex hours. Below you find a list of the 20 most occuring job perks or benefits in 2022 and the number of open jobs that where offering them during that period:

Career development | 190 jobs Conferences | 125 jobs Flex hours | 101 jobs Health care | 101 jobs Startup environment | 80 jobs Flex vacation | 74 jobs Parental leave | 69 jobs Medical leave | 68 jobs Team events | 64 jobs Competitive pay | 59 jobs Flexible spending account | 51 jobs Insurance | 48 jobs Yoga | 39 jobs Equity / stock options | 34 jobs Salary bonus | 27 jobs Snacks / Drinks | 21 jobs Wellness | 18 jobs Home office stipend | 17 jobs Fertility benefits | 15 jobs 401(k) matching | 9 jobs

Salary Composition

The salary for a Research Scientist in AI/ML/Data Science typically comprises a base salary, performance bonuses, and additional remuneration such as stock options or equity, especially in tech companies. The base salary is the fixed component and usually forms the bulk of the total compensation package. Bonuses can vary significantly depending on the company's performance and individual contributions. In tech hubs like Silicon Valley, Seattle, or New York, the base salary might be higher due to the cost of living and competitive job market. In contrast, regions with a lower cost of living might offer a smaller base salary but compensate with other benefits. Larger companies often provide more comprehensive packages, including stock options, while smaller startups might offer equity as a significant part of the compensation to attract talent.

Increasing Salary

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

  • Specialize in High-Demand Areas: Focus on niche areas within AI/ML that are in high demand, such as deep learning, natural language processing, or computer vision.
  • Pursue Advanced Education: Obtaining a Ph.D. or additional certifications can make you more competitive and justify a higher salary.
  • Gain Leadership Experience: Transitioning into a leadership role, such as a team lead or project manager, can significantly boost your earning potential.
  • Negotiate Offers: When switching jobs, leverage competing offers to negotiate a better salary package.
  • Contribute to High-Impact Projects: Work on projects that have a significant impact on the company’s bottom line, as this can lead to performance bonuses and promotions.

Educational Requirements

Most Research Scientist roles in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a Master's degree in a related field such as Computer Science, Data Science, Statistics, or Mathematics. A Ph.D. is often preferred, especially for positions focused on cutting-edge research and development. The educational background should include a strong foundation in algorithms, data structures, machine learning, and statistical analysis.

Helpful Certifications

While not always required, certain certifications can enhance your profile and demonstrate expertise:

  • Certified Machine Learning Professional (CMLP)
  • 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 more attractive to potential employers.

Required Experience

Typically, a Research Scientist position requires several years of experience in a related field. This includes hands-on experience with machine learning models, data analysis, and programming languages such as Python or R. Experience in publishing research papers, contributing to open-source projects, or working in cross-functional teams can also be beneficial.

Related salaries

Research Scientist @ $ 173,000 (global) - Senior-level / Expert Details
Research Scientist @ $ 84,053 (global) - Mid-level / Intermediate Details
Research Scientist @ $ 144,000 (global) Details
Research Scientist @ $ 196,000 (United States) - Senior-level / Expert Details

Want to contribute?

πŸ“ Submit your salary info

Enter your own salary data for the current or past work year. It's quite simple and doesn't take more than a minute to fill out.

Go to salary survey

πŸ“’ Share our salary survey

Share our "in-less-than-a-minute survey" with others working in the field of AI, ML, Data Science. The more data we have the better for everyone.

πŸ’Ύ Download the data

All collected information will be updated into a public dataset regularly and provided as a download free for anyone to use.

Go to download page

πŸš€ Search for jobs & talent

If you're thinking about a career change or want to hire fresh talent quickly check out the jobs page.

Go to frontpage

About this project

We collect salary information anonymously from professionals and employers all over the world and make it publicly available for anyone to use, share and play around with.

Our goal is to have open salary data for everyone. So newbies, experienced pros, hiring managers, recruiters and also startup founders or people wanting to switch careers can make better decisions.