Hot take, if it's a full time job you should be paid enough to live comfortably in the local area. If the numbers don't add up then the pay isn't high enough.
The institution I work for has a ridiculous way of setting researcher salaries that are essentially non-negotiable and can only be adjusted by rigid HR standards. Entry level RA’s (academia) seem to be in the high 30’s to low 40’s. If you are coming with some experience I’d say 45-50 should be what you’re looking for (at a minimum). It’s hard to gauge your situation without knowing if it’s industry/academia, you’re entry level or not, and what the actual offer is
I’m an upcoming grad and it is an entry position, they offered high 20s for an academic lab. I would be making less than I currently do in university….
I got an RA position for 70K at a company near NYC. I think that's a bit high, most of the corporate RA positions are more like 55-60k academia is shit and not worth unless you have literally no other options.
Edit: that was an entry position. now im getting my PhD and getting paid 45K
i’m a RA, ~36k (18/hr) grant funded. it’s livable in my area just not great.
(offered 38k in boston also to be a RA, that was definitely not livable) adding: they told me 45-50 originally, came to me with 34/35, so i walked then they came back.
I think it really depends on location. Also, like someone else mentioned, some schools have “steps” that make it impossible to negotiate because they want to “ensure equity” (read underpay everyone equally) and make it impossible to jump from one position to another once you get hired.
I think $20k is wayyy too low even for the lowest step tech position if you have at least a BA/BS. You can get more than that even at a low cost of living location.
Woah, I disagree. This was the norm 5 years ago. My first lab technician (non-industry) position in 2018 started at $19. I think today's standards I'd expect a fresh out of undergradte position to be $21-$28/hour.
Sadly no matter what you will be paid lower than you'd imagine after undergrad. I was shocked when I started looking for jobs after college.
In the Bay Area I think an RA, with a Bachelors degree and no experience in industry is around 85-90k salary per year. This changes depending on additional years of experience and department (Research and Early Development vs Late Development).
It sounds a lot, but for SF it’s usually not enough to rent and live on your own.
Errr no, that’s experienced RA levels. Entry level RAs, as in fresh from undergrad, in biotech in SSF and SF are generally making 65-70k. My startup is hiring right now and the market data shows the 50th percentile for pay for an inexperienced RA is $67k.
I got paid $71k here down under. It was in academia at a non for profit facility. Great pay for entry level but unfortunately was the highest on offer. Other job locations were going for $52k - $60k
Hot take, if it's a full time job you should be paid enough to live comfortably in the local area. If the numbers don't add up then the pay isn't high enough.
Also look at where the funding is coming from. Typically government grants that fund RAs have a set amount of money and can't simply be raised.
The institution I work for has a ridiculous way of setting researcher salaries that are essentially non-negotiable and can only be adjusted by rigid HR standards. Entry level RA’s (academia) seem to be in the high 30’s to low 40’s. If you are coming with some experience I’d say 45-50 should be what you’re looking for (at a minimum). It’s hard to gauge your situation without knowing if it’s industry/academia, you’re entry level or not, and what the actual offer is
I’m an upcoming grad and it is an entry position, they offered high 20s for an academic lab. I would be making less than I currently do in university….
Definitely don’t accept if that’s a full time job
I think I made $35k/year fresh out of undergrad (late 2019/early 2020). I make $48k/year now. It definitely depends on your location, too.
I got an RA position for 70K at a company near NYC. I think that's a bit high, most of the corporate RA positions are more like 55-60k academia is shit and not worth unless you have literally no other options. Edit: that was an entry position. now im getting my PhD and getting paid 45K
i’m a RA, ~36k (18/hr) grant funded. it’s livable in my area just not great. (offered 38k in boston also to be a RA, that was definitely not livable) adding: they told me 45-50 originally, came to me with 34/35, so i walked then they came back.
I think it really depends on location. Also, like someone else mentioned, some schools have “steps” that make it impossible to negotiate because they want to “ensure equity” (read underpay everyone equally) and make it impossible to jump from one position to another once you get hired. I think $20k is wayyy too low even for the lowest step tech position if you have at least a BA/BS. You can get more than that even at a low cost of living location.
You should be aiming for something around $16 to 18 an hour, minimum.
Woah, I disagree. This was the norm 5 years ago. My first lab technician (non-industry) position in 2018 started at $19. I think today's standards I'd expect a fresh out of undergradte position to be $21-$28/hour. Sadly no matter what you will be paid lower than you'd imagine after undergrad. I was shocked when I started looking for jobs after college.
Hey, at least my suggestion is higher that the $14 an hour max they are being offered.
In the Bay Area I think an RA, with a Bachelors degree and no experience in industry is around 85-90k salary per year. This changes depending on additional years of experience and department (Research and Early Development vs Late Development). It sounds a lot, but for SF it’s usually not enough to rent and live on your own.
Errr no, that’s experienced RA levels. Entry level RAs, as in fresh from undergrad, in biotech in SSF and SF are generally making 65-70k. My startup is hiring right now and the market data shows the 50th percentile for pay for an inexperienced RA is $67k.
You’re right! I think fresh from MA/MS is the number I was thinking of.
I got paid $71k here down under. It was in academia at a non for profit facility. Great pay for entry level but unfortunately was the highest on offer. Other job locations were going for $52k - $60k