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Amazon Research Scientist Salaries

Research Scientist compensation in United States at Amazon ranges from $164K per year for L4 to $307K per year for L6. The median compensation in United States package totals $215K. View the base salary, stock, and bonus breakdowns for Amazon's total compensation packages. Last updated: 5/20/2024

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Given Amazon has an irregular vesting schedule (5%, 15%, 40%, 40%), the average total compensation is calculated by dividing the total stock grant evenly by 4. We also average out the sum of the sign on bonuses over 4 years to calculate the total bonus.

Latest Salary Submissions

Vesting schedule.

At Amazon, Main RSUs are subject to a 4-year vesting schedule:

5 % vests in the 1st -year ( 5.00 % annually )

15 % vests in the 2nd -year ( 15.00 % annually )

40 % vests in the 3rd -year ( 20.00 % semi-annually )

40 % vests in the 4th -year ( 20.00 % semi-annually )

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Here's how much money 26 types of scientists make

• There are dozens of career specializations in science, but some are more lucrative than others.
• Physicists and natural-sciences managers were among the highest-paid professions.
• Here are 26 select science jobs ranked from lowest to highest median annual pay as of May 2021.

25 (tie). Postsecondary geography teachers had a median annual salary of $81,440.

Total number of employees in the US: 3,440

25 (tie). Postsecondary biological science teachers had a median annual salary of $81,440.

Total number of employees in the US: 47,690

24. Life scientists (all other) had a median annual salary of $81,500.

Total number of employees in the US: 6,820

This is a catch-all occupation category for life scientists.

23. Postsecondary environmental science teachers had a median annual salary of $81,980.

Total number of employees in the US: 5,440

22. Postsecondary forestry and conservation science teachers had a median annual salary of $82,330.

Total number of employees in the US: 1,180

21. Biological scientists (all other) had a median annual salary of $82,530.

Total number of employees in the US: 47,050

This is a catch-all occupation category for biological scientists.

20. Geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers) had a median annual salary of $83,680.

Total number of employees in the US: 23,620

19. Hydrologists had a median annual salary of $84,030.

Total number of employees in the US: 6,390

18. Geographers had a median annual salary of $85,220.

Total number of employees in the US: 1,440

17. Postsecondary physics teachers had a median annual salary of $93,070.

Total number of employees in the US: 12,460

16. Atmospheric and space scientists had a median annual salary of $94,570.

Total number of employees in the US: 8,520

15. Medical scientists (except epidemiologists) had a median annual salary of $95,310.

Total number of employees in the US: 108,550

14. Statisticians had a median annual salary of $95,570.

Total number of employees in the US: 31,370

13. Postsecondary agricultural sciences teachers had a median annual salary of $95,910.

Total number of employees in the US: 8,570

12. Postsecondary anthropology and archaeology teachers had a median annual salary of $97,340.

Total number of employees in the US: 5,010

11. Postsecondary atmospheric, earth, marine, and space sciences teachers had a median annual salary of $98,070.

Total number of employees in the US: 10,250

10. Nuclear technicians had a median annual salary of $99,340.

Total number of employees in the US: 5,360

9. Materials scientists had a median annual salary of $100,090.

Total number of employees in the US: 6,690

8. Data scientists had a median annual salary of $100,910.

Total number of employees in the US: 105,980

7. Biochemists and biophysicists had a median annual salary of $102,270.

Total number of employees in the US: 35,050

6. Physical scientists (all other) had a median annual salary of $104,100.

Total number of employees in the US: 19,680

This is a catch-all occupation category for physical scientists.

5. Mathematicians had a median annual salary of $108,100.

Total number of employees in the US: 1,770

4. Astronomers had a median annual salary of $128,160.

Total number of employees in the US: 1,930

3. Computer and information research scientists had a median annual salary of $131,490.

Total number of employees in the US: 30,840

2. Natural-sciences managers had a median annual salary of $137,900.

Total number of employees in the US: 74,760

1. Physicists had a median annual salary of $152,430.

Total number of employees in the US: 20,020

Method and data source

Depending on their specialization, scientists can earn a lot of money.

Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, which provides an annual guide to median pay in the United States, we looked at the pay of different science or science-related jobs, including different science professors. We were especially interested in looking at those that are the highest-paying.

Physicists, computer and information research scientists, and astronomers were among the most lucrative careers, earning six-figure salaries.

The above slides are the 26 highest-paying jobs from our list of science and science-related jobs, such as mathematicians, ranked in order of median annual salary. We also included the number of people employed as of May 2021 from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.

Ivan De Luce previously contributed to this story.

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Research Scientist salary

Average research scientist salary, how much does a research scientist make.

The average research scientist salary in the United States is $89,998. Research scientist salaries typically range between $58,000 and $137,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for research scientists is $43.27 per hour. Research scientist salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Research scientists earn the highest average salary in California.

Where can a Research Scientist earn more?

Research scientist salary estimates from across the web, average research scientist salary by state.

The average research scientist salary in California, Hawaii, and Indiana are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average research scientist salary states are Utah, Missouri, and Texas.

• County View

Highest paying states for research scientists

Highest paying cities for research scientists.

The highest-paying cities for research scientists are Menlo Park, CA, Indianapolis, IN, and Newark, NJ.

Research Scientists are the most in-demand in these five cities:

• Menlo Park, CA
• Indianapolis, IN
• Oak Ridge, TN

Research Scientist salary details

A research scientist's salary ranges from $58,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $137,000 at the 90th percentile.

What is a research scientist's salary?

Highest paying research scientist jobs.

The highest paying types of research scientists are senior scientist, scientist, and staff scientist.

Top companies hiring research scientists now:

• Meta Jobs (1,847)
• Google Jobs (500)
• Amazon Jobs (886)
• Intel Jobs (595)
• Battelle Jobs (212)

Which companies pay research scientists the most?

Research scientist salaries at Lyft and Flexport are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average research scientist salary at companies like Meta and Netflix are highly competitive.

Wage gap by gender, race and education

Research scientist salary trends.

The average research scientist salary has risen by $15,126 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average research scientist earned $74,872 annually, but today, they earn $89,998 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for research scientists over the last decade.

Compare research scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.

Average research scientist salary over time

Compare research scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Research Scientist salary by year

Recently added research scientist salaries, research scientist salary faqs, what state pays research scientists the most, how do i know if i'm being paid fairly as a research scientist, how much do ph.d. scientists make, how much does a research scientist make starting out, how much does a research scientist with a ph.d. make, how much money does a researcher make.

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Research Scientist I Salary

How much does a Research Scientist I make? The average Research Scientist I salary is $110,455 as of April 24, 2024, but the salary range typically falls between $100,413 and $123,081 . Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education , certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target. 

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Jobs with a similar salary range to Research Scientist I : Scientist II , Qc Associate Scientist , Associate Scientist I

Last Update: April 24, 2024

Careers in research

Join a brilliant team of researchers working to solve technology’s most exciting challenges.

New roles at Microsoft Research

Microsoft Research provides a dynamic environment for research careers with a network of world-class research labs led by globally-recognized research scientists and engineers. Our researchers and engineers pursue innovation in a range of scientific and technical disciplines, to help solve complex challenges in diverse fields, including computing, healthcare, economics, and the environment.

Senior Applied Scientist – Microsoft Teams  

Location : Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Research Areas : Artificial intelligence, Human language technologies

Principal Applied Scientist Manager – Microsoft Ads  

Locations : Redmond, WA, US; San Francisco, CA, US

Research Areas : Artificial intelligence, Computer vision, Human language technologies

Principal Applied Scientist – Microsoft Advertising Marketplace team  

Locations : Mountain View, CA, US; Redmond, WA, US

Research Areas : Algorithms, Artificial intelligence, Systems and networking

Cambridge Residency Programme: AI Design Researcher  

Location : Cambridge, UK

Research Areas : Artificial intelligence, Human-computer interaction

Locations : Redmond, WA, US; Remote (within US)

Research Area : Artificial intelligence

Senior Applied Scientist – Copilot AI  

Location : Redmond, WA, US

About our roles

Research internships.

Research interns put inquiry and theory into practice. Alongside fellow doctoral candidates and some of the world’s best researchers, interns learn, collaborate, and network for life. Interns not only advance their careers but also contribute to exciting research and development strides. During the 12-week internship, students are paired with mentors and expected to collaborate with other interns and researchers, present findings, and contribute to the vibrant life of the community. Internships are available virtually, at our locations around the world, and in all areas of research. During the application process, we’ll work with you to find the opportunity that best aligns with your interests. Internships are offered year-round, though they typically begin in the summer. All internships are paid. We’ll also help with visa applications where needed.

Postdoctoral researcher positions

Microsoft Research provides a vibrant research environment, with an open publications policy and close links to top academic institutions across the world. Postdoctoral researcher positions provide an opportunity to develop your research career and to interact with some of the top minds in the research community, with the potential to have your research realized in products and services that will be used worldwide. Postdoc researchers are expected to demonstrate both independence in defining their own research strategy within a domain as well as an ability to drive forward an effective program of research. Postdoc researchers receive a competitive salary and benefits package and are eligible for relocation expenses. Our Postdoc positions are typically for a one-year or two-year fixed-term appointment.

Full-time academic research positions

Microsoft research teams are built with the world’s best researchers, engineers, program managers and designers who work together to seek innovative solutions to the world’s toughest challenges and improve the lives of people everywhere. We seek research candidates with PhDs and a proven track record of published papers and participation on program committees and editorial boards for our academic research positions. Microsoft Research has lab locations around the world and provides a collaborative, supportive and open academic environment.

Working at Microsoft Research

Our culture, your future.

Microsoft Research offers an exhilarating and supportive environment for both theoretical and empirical cutting-edge multidisciplinary research, with access to an extraordinary diversity of big and small data sources, an open publications policy, and close links to top academic institutions around the world.

We need your passion for science and your commitment to working on world-class research projects.

To help the researchers with their projects and unleash their full potential, we provide an open interdisciplinary research atmosphere with sufficient computational resources. Worldwide collaborations within Microsoft and with other institutes are encouraged and supported.

As a researcher, you have the opportunity to create and pursue a research agenda with our group’s diverse array of researchers and practitioners, as well as contribute to ongoing research projects.

Our researcher community

Here are just a few of the people doing research at Microsoft in a vast array of disciplines and roles. Learn more about the people who make it all possible.

We are committed to building an inclusive, diverse, and pluralistic research environment and strongly encourage applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, as well as students with non-traditional backgrounds. We work collectively to make Microsoft Research a welcoming and productive space for all researchers.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees, we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

Melissa Boone

Principal Xbox Research Manager

Victor Dibia

Principal Research Software Engineer

Asta Roseway

Principal Research Designer / Fusionist

Deepthi Sudharsan

Research Fellow

Vice President and Managing Director, Microsoft Research Redmond

Jaime Teevan

Chief Scientist & Technical Fellow

Research labs

“Over the coming decade, deep learning looks set to have a transformational impact on the natural sciences. The consequences are potentially far-reaching and could dramatically improve our ability to model and predict natural phenomena over widely varying scales of space and time. Our AI4Science team encompasses world experts in machine learning, quantum physics, computational chemistry, molecular biology, fluid dynamics, software engineering, and other disciplines, who are working together to tackle some of the most pressing challenges in this field.“ Professor Chris Bishop , Technical Fellow and Director, Microsoft Research AI4Science

AI Frontiers

At AI Frontiers, our mission is to revolutionize our understanding of intelligence by pushing the boundaries of AI. We strive to achieve this by continuously exploring and innovating current architectures and learning signals, unlocking new possibilities and shaping the future of AI.

Microsoft Research Asia (MSR Asia), based in Beijing and Shanghai, is Microsoft’s largest research institute outside the United States. Founded in 1998, MSR Asia has grown into a world-class research lab, with more than 300 scientists and engineers and conducts research in: natural user interface, artificial intelligence, cloud and edge computing, big data and knowledge mining, computer science fundamentals, intelligent multimedia, and computational science.

Cambridge Lab

“At Microsoft Research in Cambridge, our mission is to transform the world through deep research. We do this by working together in an interdisciplinary way, in close collaboration with the broader Microsoft business, to ensure that we are designing robust and trusted technologies to empower millions of people worldwide. To truly understand how we can empower others, we need to put the people at the centre of what we do. I am proud to be part of a team who is so enthusiastically committed to exploring and pushing the boundaries for the benefit of our society.” Abigail Sellen , Distinguished Scientist and Lab Director, Microsoft Research Cambridge

Health Futures

Microsoft Health Futures is focused on empowering every person on the planet to live a healthier future. To this end, we are responsible for research, incubations, and moonshots that drive cross-company strategy, partnerships, and real-world impact across healthcare and the life sciences. We are a global, inclusive, and diverse crew of researchers, scientists, engineers, biotechnologists, designers, social scientists, strategists, healthcare experts, and medical professionals.

Microsoft Research India brings together scientists, researchers, and engineers with backgrounds in algorithms, machine learning and AI, systems and socio-technical systems that empower marginalized populations. The lab also includes a  Center for Societal impact through Cloud and Artificial Intelligence  (SCAI) that focuses on creating, nurturing and deploying technologies that will have large scale impact on society through deep collaborations with academic groups, startups, NGOs and other organizations that share our passion for positively impacting society through technology.

Montréal Lab

The Microsoft Research Montréal lab strives to build machines that learn from and understand the world by bringing together researchers in the machine learning, reinforcement learning, and FATE (fairness accountability, transparency and ethics in AI) research areas. With a focus on advancing the state-of-the-art in deep learning, the lab’s researchers accelerate research breakthroughs across both existing and new models to advance state-of-the-art deep learning that has a positive impact on society.

New England Lab

Microsoft Research New England (MSR-NE) was founded in July 2008 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The New England lab builds on Microsoft’s commitment to collaborate with the broader research community and pursues new, interdisciplinary areas of research that bring together core computer scientists and social scientists to understand, model, and enable computing and online experiences of the future.

New York City Lab

Researchers at this lab work together with others in Microsoft Research and in academia to advance the state of the art in social science, both computational and behavioral, computational economics and prediction markets, machine learning, as well as information retrieval. Along with helping to answer big data questions, their research will help us to understand economic and political predictions for understanding online human behavior. This research along with their study of social sciences will help to inform the technology of the future.

Redmond Lab

“Microsoft Research is doing foundational research, pursuing ambitious disruptions, and performing high-impact tech transfer. We want to create a better future for Microsoft and society through research.” Johannes Gehrke , Technical Fellow

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