🔬 How much does a researcher make?
U.S. science workers’ median is about $82,530 a year; computer research scientists’ median is $140,300, and their top 10% make about $230,630. Japan’s researchers average about ¥8.02M; professors about ¥10.82M.
Research spans many fields and employers, and pay tends to rise with experience and seniority.
US Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Life, physical, and social science workers (median) | $82,530 | BLS 2025 group median |
| Computer and information research scientists (median) | $140,300 | BLS 2025 median |
| Top 10% of computer and information research scientists | $230,630 | BLS 2025 OEWS 90th percentile |
Per month and per day
| Who | Per month | Per day (÷365) |
|---|---|---|
| Life, physical, and social science workers (median) | $6,878 | $226 |
| Computer and information research scientists (median) | $11,692 | $384 |
| Top 10% of computer and information research scientists | $19,219 | $632 |
About $45 an hour
Where does the money come from?
- Salary or wages: Researchers hired for a job receive pay from their employer. Source
- Fellowship stipend: Graduate and postdoctoral trainees may receive a fellowship stipend to help cover living costs. Source
- Paid research or teaching: Some research fellows may earn extra pay for part-time research or teaching that does not disrupt their training. Source
How pay changes with experience
| Stage | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Indirectly funded STEM graduate researcher | $36,000 Estimate | 2025 academic year; typical yearly pay based on university data. (Source) |
| Indirectly funded STEM postdoctoral researcher | $62,200 Estimate | 2025 academic year; typical yearly pay based on university data. (Source) |
What famous researchers make
| Who | Amount |
|---|---|
| 🔬 Jay Bhattacharya Director of the U.S. NIH | $228,000 (2026) NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya's salary is about $228,000 a year. |
How do you become a researcher?
In the United States, finish high school, study a science field in college, and earn a bachelor's degree. Gain research experience, then pursue a master's or Ph.D. Some researchers complete a postdoctoral position before applying for research jobs.
- Finish high school and choose a science field
- Earn a bachelor's degree and gain lab experience
- Attend graduate school for a master's or Ph.D.
- Gain postdoctoral experience and apply for research jobs
Qualifications and exams
Requirements vary by field. Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D.; those who treat patients must be licensed physicians or other licensed health practitioners.
A day as a researcher
The day varies by field. A researcher might check a question with the team in the morning, run an experiment or computer analysis, then review data, discuss results, and write a paper or report.
Common questions
Does pay differ by research workplace?
Yes. In 2024, computer and information research scientists had typical yearly pay of $237,990 in software publishing and $85,290 at state colleges and universities. Pay can depend on the workplace. Source
Does a research grant automatically raise a researcher's pay?
Not automatically. NIH rules say a worker's base salary cannot be raised just because NIH grant money replaces the organization's own salary funds. Source
Can research fellows earn money from teaching?
Yes. NIH permits fellows and trainees to take part-time research, teaching, or clinical jobs if the work does not interfere with or extend their training. Source
Can researchers get benefits besides pay?
Sometimes. STEM graduate researchers and postdocs may receive benefits such as health insurance and paid leave, but these can vary by institution and by whether the person is an employee or a fellow. Source
Do medical researchers ever work long hours?
Most medical scientists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours a week, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source
This section summarizes public sources. We only show numbers that have a source.
Close jobs in official statistics
In Japan
Japan Most people, typical, the top
| Who | Yearly earnings | Based on |
|---|---|---|
| Researchers (survey average) | $53,467 | 2025 MHLW wage-survey estimate |
| University professors (higher-paying example) | $72,133 | 2025 wage-survey estimate |
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Related questions
Jobs in the same group
Data table and sources
- www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/
- www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-and-information-res
- www.bls.gov/oes/earnings.htm
- www.e-stat.go.jp/stat-search/files?cycle=0&layout=datalist&page=1&stat_infid=000
- www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000685359.pdf
- techoffer.jp/rikeishukatsu/kenkyusyoku-nensyu-1000manen/
- www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/medical-scientists.htm
- data.bls.gov/oesprofile?major_group=150000&measure=01&occupation=151221
- www.gao.gov/products/gao-26-107757
- www.nigms.nih.gov/biobeat/2024/08/how-can-i-become-a-biomedical-scientist