Research Scientist Jobs

The US market for Research Scientist positions encompasses 246 open roles nationwide, with a median midpoint salary of $100,500, reflecting steady demand across diverse sectors like technology, AI, and innovation. This landscape highlights a robust opportunity for qualified professionals, as employers actively expand their research teams to drive advancements in areas such as machine learning and autonomous systems. Leading the hiring charge are ifm-us with 11 openings, anthropic with 10, and Spotify with 9, signaling a clear commitment from these organizations to bolster their scientific capabilities and innovate at scale—candidates who align their expertise with such forward-thinking companies stand to gain the most traction. Other notable hirers include Scale AI, Nuro, and Waymo, each posting 8 roles, further underscoring the competitive edge in pursuing positions at these innovators. Geographically, the deepest concentrations of openings cluster in San Francisco, CA; New York, NY; and Seattle, WA, where tech hubs fuel the majority of opportunities and offer proximity to collaborative ecosystems. For Research Scientist candidates, focus your applications on customizing cover letters to emphasize specific research methodologies from your background that match the employer's domain, such as AI ethics for Anthropic or sensor technologies for ifm-us—this targeted approach increases visibility in applicant tracking systems and differentiates you amid the volume of submissions. By prioritizing these high-activity employers and cities, you position yourself effectively in this dynamic national market.