Salary for Entry-level / Junior Research Assistant in United States during 2024

Salary details

The average entry-level / junior Research Assistant salary lies between USD 36,000 and USD 108,000 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.

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: Nov. 17, 2024

Top 20 Job Tags for Entry-level / Junior Research Assistant roles

The three most common job tag items assiciated with entry-level / junior Research Assistant 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 | 52 jobs Python | 44 jobs Machine Learning | 34 jobs Computer Science | 31 jobs Engineering | 27 jobs Statistics | 21 jobs R | 20 jobs Data analysis | 15 jobs Matlab | 12 jobs Mathematics | 12 jobs Deep Learning | 9 jobs Linux | 9 jobs Security | 9 jobs PhD | 9 jobs Privacy | 9 jobs Testing | 8 jobs Physics | 8 jobs Java | 8 jobs PyTorch | 7 jobs Industrial | 7 jobs

Top 20 Job Perks/Benefits for Entry-level / Junior Research Assistant roles

The three most common job benefits and perks assiciated with entry-level / junior Research Assistant 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 | 25 jobs Health care | 10 jobs Competitive pay | 10 jobs Flex hours | 9 jobs Equity / stock options | 7 jobs Conferences | 5 jobs Medical leave | 4 jobs Flex vacation | 3 jobs Relocation support | 3 jobs 401(k) matching | 2 jobs Parental leave | 2 jobs Team events | 2 jobs Insurance | 2 jobs Wellness | 1 jobs Gear | 1 jobs Flexible spending account | 1 jobs Paid sabbatical | 1 jobs

Salary Composition

In the United States, the salary composition for an entry-level or junior research assistant in AI/ML/Data Science typically includes a fixed base salary, which forms the bulk of the compensation package. The median salary of USD 73,750 is primarily the base salary. However, depending on the region, industry, and company size, additional components may include:

• Bonus: Some companies offer performance-based bonuses, which can range from 5% to 15% of the base salary. Bonuses are more common in larger tech companies or startups with aggressive growth targets.
• Equity or Stock Options: Particularly in tech hubs like Silicon Valley, companies may offer stock options or equity as part of the compensation package. This is more prevalent in startups or publicly traded tech companies.
• Benefits and Perks: Comprehensive health insurance, retirement plans (like 401(k) matching), and other perks such as wellness programs, transportation allowances, or educational reimbursements can add significant value to the overall compensation.

Increasing Salary

To increase your salary from an entry-level position, consider the following steps:

• Skill Enhancement: Continuously upgrade your technical skills, especially in high-demand areas like deep learning, natural language processing, or big data analytics.
• Advanced Education: Pursuing a master's degree or Ph.D. in a related field can open up higher-paying roles and research opportunities.
• Networking: Build a strong professional network by attending industry conferences, meetups, and workshops. Networking can lead to opportunities in higher-paying companies or roles.
• Certifications: Obtain relevant certifications that can validate your skills and make you more competitive in the job market.
• Experience and Projects: Gain experience by working on diverse projects, contributing to open-source projects, or publishing research papers. This can demonstrate your expertise and lead to promotions or better job offers.

Educational Requirements

Most entry-level positions in AI/ML/Data Science require at least a bachelor's degree in a related field such as computer science, data science, mathematics, statistics, or engineering. However, a master's degree is often preferred and can make candidates more competitive. Coursework in machine learning, data analysis, programming, and statistics is particularly valuable.

Helpful Certifications

While not always required, certain certifications can enhance your resume and demonstrate your commitment to the field:

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

These certifications can help validate your skills in specific tools and platforms commonly used in the industry.

Experience Requirements

For entry-level roles, employers typically look for candidates with some practical experience, which can be gained through internships, co-op programs, or relevant projects during your academic career. Experience with programming languages like Python or R, familiarity with machine learning frameworks (such as TensorFlow or PyTorch), and hands-on experience with data manipulation and analysis are often expected.

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