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PhD Salaries and Lifetime Earnings

PhDs employed across job sectors show impressive earning potential:

“…[T]here is strong evidence that advanced education levels continue to be associated with higher salaries. A study by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce showed that across the fields examined, individuals with a graduate degree earned an average of 38.3% more than those with a bachelor’s degree in the same field. The expected lifetime earnings for someone without a high school degree is $973,000; with a high school diploma, $1.3 million; with a bachelor’s degree, $2.3 million; with a master’s degree, $2.7 million; and with a doctoral degree (excluding professional degrees), $3.3 million. Other data indicate that the overall unemployment rate for individuals who hold graduate degrees is far lower than for those who hold just an undergraduate degree.” - Pathways Through Graduate School and Into Careers , Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and Educational Testing Service (ETS), pg. 3.

Average salaries by educational level and degree (data from the US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2009-2011, courtesy of the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce):

The Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports higher earnings and lower unemployment rates for doctoral degree holders in comparison to those with master’s and bachelor’s degrees:

According to national studies, more education translates not only to higher earnings, but also higher levels of job success and job satisfaction:

“Educational attainment – the number of years a person spends in school – strongly predicts adult earnings, and also predicts health and civic engagement. Moreover, individuals with higher levels of education appear to gain more knowledge and skills on the job than do those with lower levels of education and they are able, to some extent, to transfer what they learn across occupations.” - Education for Life and Work (2012), National Research Council of the National Academies, pg. 66.

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PhD, Professor, and Postdoc Salaries in the United States in 2024

The United States is home to many of the world’s top universities, making it a leading destination for international researchers. Here’s a breakdown of the most common American academic job titles and their associated average annual salaries. All salary statistics in this article are in American Dollars (USD) and are pre-tax.

PhD Student

A Master’s degree is not always required to pursue a PhD in the U.S., as many top universities offer direct entry PhD programs. American PhD programs typically begin with two to three years of coursework, after which students take qualifying exams. It takes an average of six years to earn a PhD, and most students gain teaching experience during this time, either as teaching assistants or by leading their own courses.

In the U.S., there is no mandated national salary for PhD students. PhD students’ stipends vary widely depending on the institution, field of study, and location. As of 2024, PhD students typically earn between $20,000 and $35,000 per year. Stipends may be tax-free (if they are fellowship awards) or taxable (if classified as salary for teaching or research assistant roles). Many students are funded for nine months of the year, with optional summer funding ( WorldMetrics ).

After earning a PhD, many researchers take on postdoctoral positions to further specialize in their fields. Postdocs typically last two to three years, although it's common to complete more than one postdoc in the U.S. As of 2024, the average salary for postdocs is $61,000 to $72,000 per year, depending on factors such as the field and location​ ( UnivStats ) ​( WorldMetrics ).

A lecturer is a non-tenure-track teaching position. These positions usually carry a higher teaching load and no research obligations. Lecturers may or may not hold a PhD, and their positions are more common in the humanities and social sciences. The average salary for full-time lecturers in 2024 is approximately $70,000 per year​ ( WorldMetrics ).

Assistant Professor

This is the first rank on the tenure track. Assistant professors are responsible for teaching, research, and contributing to service activities within their institution. They typically teach two to four courses per semester while also supervising graduate students and maintaining an active research agenda. As of 2024, the average salary for assistant professors is $75,000 to $85,000 per year, with some variation depending on the institution and discipline​( UnivStats ).

Associate Professor

An assistant professor who is granted tenure is promoted to the rank of associate professor. Tenure is a key milestone that provides job security and reflects recognition of the professor's contributions to their field. Associate professors typically have a national reputation and are involved in service activities beyond their institution. The average salary for associate professors in 2024 is around $90,000 to $101,000 per year​ ( UnivStats ).

Professor (Full Professor)

After five to seven years as an associate professor, faculty members can apply for promotion to full professor. This rank is granted to those who have established themselves as national or international leaders in their field. Full professors have a significant track record of research and publications. As of 2024, the average salary for full professors is $115,000 to $130,000 per year, with some earning well above this in fields like law and engineering​( WorldMetrics ) ​( UnivStats ).

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Graduate Research Student salary

Average graduate research student salary, how much does a graduate research student make.

The average graduate research student salary in the United States is $34,658. Graduate research student salaries typically range between $19,000 and $60,000 yearly. The average hourly rate for graduate research students is $16.66 per hour.

Graduate research student salary is impacted by location, education, and experience. Graduate research students earn the highest average salary in Pennsylvania.

Where can a Graduate Research Student earn more?

Average graduate research student salary by state.

The highest-paying states for graduate research students are Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Maryland. The lowest average graduate research student salary states are Georgia, Iowa, and Florida.

• County View

Highest paying states for graduate research students

Highest paying cities for graduate research students.

The highest-paying cities for graduate research students are Boston, MA, Edison, NJ, and Appleton, WI.

Graduate Research Student salary details

A graduate research student's salary ranges from $19,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $60,000 at the 90th percentile.

What is a graduate research student's salary?

Highest paying graduate research student jobs.

The highest paying types of graduate research students are research scientist, researcher, and assistant research scientist.

Top companies hiring graduate research students now:

• California State University Jobs (48)
• Rutgers University Jobs (43)
• Morgan State University Jobs (31)
• University of Wisconsin System Jobs (34)
• University of Washington Jobs (42)

Which companies pay graduate research students the most?

Graduate research student salaries at Capgemini and ConocoPhillips are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average graduate research student salary at companies like Google and Los Alamos National Laboratory are highly competitive.

Wage gap by gender, race and education

Graduate research student salary trends.

The average graduate research student salary has risen by $5,652 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average graduate research student earned $29,006 annually, but today, they earn $34,658 a year. That works out to a 9% change in pay for graduate research students over the last decade.

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

Average graduate research student salary over time

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

Graduate Research Student salary by year

Graduate research student salary faqs, what state pays graduate research students the most, how do i know if i'm being paid fairly as a graduate research student.

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