How much does a Ph.D Student Earn?

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SUMMARY

Ph.D. students working as research assistants (RAs) earn varying salaries based on their institution and funding sources. According to personal accounts, one individual earned $18,000 per year during their first year on a fellowship, which increased to $20,000 in the final year. In contrast, another individual reported that RAs at a different school earned approximately $15,000 per year, reflecting the lower cost of living in that area. For comprehensive statistics, refer to the American Institute of Physics' report on graduate student earnings.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of graduate funding structures
  • Familiarity with research assistantship roles
  • Knowledge of cost of living variations
  • Awareness of academic fellowship programs
NEXT STEPS
  • Research average salaries for Ph.D. students in various fields
  • Explore funding opportunities for graduate research assistants
  • Investigate the impact of cost of living on graduate student stipends
  • Review the American Institute of Physics' graduate statistics reports
USEFUL FOR

Prospective Ph.D. students, academic advisors, and anyone interested in understanding the financial aspects of graduate education and research assistantships.

T.O.E Dream
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I was reading Zapper Z's "So you want to be a physicist" article. I'd like to ask how much does a Ph.D Student earn on average if they are a research assistant?

Thanks!
 
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Asking for an on average I would check out http://www.aip.org/statistics/trends/highlite/grad/table8.htm

It is really dependent on the school (and the source of the funding).

When I was an RA, I was on fellowship and made 18K/year (12 month support) at the beginning then 20K/year (12 month support) for the last year since the fellowship was increased.

When I did my masters (at a different school), the RAs were paid 15K/year or so (12 month support). But the cost of living there was much less.
 

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