NextChapter

Entry-level research assistant jobs: what the job is, skills and open roles

A research assistant gathers and organizes information, runs surveys or studies and writes up findings for a team or client. It fits people with strong reading, writing and analysis skills. Right now 1,299 entry-level research assistant jobs are open on employers’ own career sites.

What a research assistant does

In the data and analytics family of jobs. Roles that collect, clean and explain data.

A typical day

  1. 1. Collect data and sources
  2. 2. Run surveys or interviews
  3. 3. Clean and code results
  4. 4. Write summaries and slides
  5. 5. Check facts and citations

Do you need experience?

31 of the 1,299 open entry-level research assistant jobs say in their own text that no experience is required. 1 say they provide training. The figures are counted from the posting text and change as jobs open and close.

Open entry-level research assistant jobs

Taken from employers’ own career sites and checked to still be open within the last week.

Showing the newest 15 of about 1,299 verified open jobs here. Search all jobs

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Skills for research assistant jobs

The skills this job uses, most important first. Most can be learned or shown before the first day.

Skills to build or show

  1. 1. Research methods
  2. 2. Writing
  3. 3. Excel or statistics software
  4. 4. Attention to detail
  5. 5. Curiosity

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The market for research assistant work

Every figure names its source.

Open entry-level research assistant jobs
1,299

Source: NextChapter, checked against employer career sites, last 7 days.

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Openings that say no experience is required
31

Source: The posting’s own text, counted by NextChapter.

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Openings that say they provide training
1

Source: The posting’s own text, counted by NextChapter.

Median pay in listings that state it
$75,000

Source: NextChapter verified openings (235 with pay).

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Across 235 open entry-level research assistant listings that state an annual pay figure, the middle half run from $62,500 to $94,000, with a median of $75,000. Listings that state pay are not every listing, and some roles add commission or bonus on top.

Where entry-level research assistant jobs are

Between jobs? Unemployment benefits and severance rules in these states, or in every state.

Employers hiring research assistants now

  • Emory University 42
  • Oxford College of Emory University 38
  • Mount Sinai Health System 33
  • University of Virginia 32
  • ICON 22
  • University Of Miami 21
  • Iterative Health 17
  • Flourish 16
  • Initio Capital 16
  • Cedars-sinai Medical Center 15

More jobs like research assistant

Roles that use the same skills, and where this job commonly leads.

Where it can lead

Similar entry-level jobs

All entry-level data and analytics jobs · Research Assistant jobs at every level

Questions about research assistant jobs

What does a research assistant do?
A research assistant gathers and organizes information, runs surveys or studies and writes up findings for a team or client. It fits people with strong reading, writing and analysis skills. A typical day includes: collect data and sources; run surveys or interviews; clean and code results; write summaries and slides; check facts and citations.
Can I get an entry-level research assistant job with no experience?
31 of the 1,299 open entry-level research assistant jobs say in their own text that no experience is required. 1 say they provide training. The figures are counted from the posting text and change as jobs open and close.
What skills do you need to be a research assistant?
The skills this job uses most are research methods, writing, excel or statistics software, attention to detail, curiosity. Most can be learned before the first day through coursework, short courses, practice or a related job.
How much does an entry-level research assistant make?
Across 235 open entry-level research assistant listings that state an annual pay figure, the middle half run from $62,500 to $94,000, with a median of $75,000. Listings that state pay are not every listing, and some roles add commission or bonus on top.
Where can a research assistant job lead?
People in this job commonly move to data analyst, marketing analyst, business analyst, content marketing associate. The link between jobs is the shared skills; the path is not guaranteed and depends on the employer.

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