Research Aide 1 pay range
State of Washington · class code 509E
- Class code
- 509E
- Salary range
- 34
- Pay unit
- Year
- State
- Washington
- The State of Washington published pay range for Research Aide 1 is $38,340 to $50,412 per year.
- Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) keys this classification as class code 509E.
- This is the range the plan authorises, not the salary of any individual employee.
Step progression
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) assigns this class to salary range 34 in the General Service Salary Schedule. The range pays 13 steps; a step is normally earned on a periodic increment date, not negotiated.
| Basis | A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual | $38,340 | $39,036 | $39,924 | $40,836 | $41,820 | $42,780 | $43,836 | $44,856 | $45,924 | $47,004 | $48,048 | $49,296 | $50,412 |
| Monthly | $3,195 | $3,253 | $3,327 | $3,403 | $3,485 | $3,565 | $3,653 | $3,738 | $3,827 | $3,917 | $4,004 | $4,108 | $4,201 |
| Hourly | $18.36 | $18.70 | $19.12 | $19.56 | $20.03 | $20.49 | $20.99 | $21.48 | $21.99 | $22.51 | $23.01 | $23.61 | $24.14 |
Steps as published. The monthly and hourly rows are the state's own, not conversions of the annual row.
Class specification
The OFM classified job specification for this class is published by Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM). The passages below are quoted from it as published, not paraphrased, and cut to their opening sentences; the full specification is the authority on duties and qualifications.
What the state says the job is
Perform work related to study or research in a scientific or engineering field such as general physics, chemistry, meteorology, oceanography or mineralogy. Prepare reports, record information, prepare charts, graphs, read instruments, perform calculations, prepare and construct apparatus as directed or in accord with established procedures.
Examples of the work
May operate instruments and equipment such as microscopes, radiation counters, centrifuges, electronic equipment, refraction equipment, spectroscopes, light and polarizing microscopes, electron microscopes, polishing equipment, x-ray equipment, electrocardiographs, spectrophotometers, amino acid analyzer, NMR, etc.; Perform simple repairs and preventive maintenance to laboratory equipment and test equipment as directed; assist in construction of new equipment; Read and record data from instruments or other sources such as weather maps, thermometers, barographs, seismographs, pressure gauges or vacuum gauges; Operate photography equipment, develop pictures and films; Mount specimens on glass ...
Minimum qualifications
Two years college credits with major study in engineering or science, OR two years work experience equivalent to that performed by a research aide; possession of a motor vehicle operator's license may be required. The announcement of position vacancy (recruiting bulletin) may specify course work or experience within a specific discipline if determined necessary by the personnel officer. Selective certification from the employment list will be permitted to meet unique requirements of specifically identified positions. Equivalent education/experience.
Quoted from the OFM classified job specification, read 2026-10-21.
Where this comes from
Washington State Office of Financial Management (OFM) publishes this figure in Classified Job Listing joined to the OFM salary schedules effective July 1, 2026. Every number on this page is read from that document; nothing is estimated, modelled or averaged.
The dollar figures come from the salary schedule the listing assigns this range to.