Research Assistant Jobs in San Francisco, CA

Research Assistant jobs in San Francisco are in strong demand, concentrated in Mission Bay, the Inner Sunset, and SoMa across academic medical centers, life sciences, and technology research. Employers hiring right now include Pinterest, OpenAI, and University of California - San Francisco. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles179+
Top employerPinterest
Work type45% On-site
Top credentialBachelor's
Companies hiring81

Showing 5 of 179+ Research Assistant jobs

University of California - San Francisco
Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator
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University of California - San Francisco
Added 1d ago
Assistant Clinical Research Coordinator
University of California - San Francisco
San Francisco, California
Clinical Trials & Medical Research
Laboratory Research
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Trials
On-Site
High School
10,000+

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Lilt- Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori
AI Researcher / ML Engineer (ASR & Speech Specialist)
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Lilt- Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori
Added 1w ago
AI Researcher / ML Engineer (ASR & Speech Specialist)
Lilt- Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
ML (Machine Learning)
Master's

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Notion
User Researcher
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Notion
Added 1w ago
User Researcher
Notion
San Francisco, California
Data Science & Analytics
Product Management
Data Science
$164k - $190k/yr
Hybrid
Master's

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Cisco
AI Researcher
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Cisco
Added 1w ago
AI Researcher
Cisco
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
$165k - $270k/yr
Master's
10,000+

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Cisco
AI Researcher
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Cisco
Added 1w ago
AI Researcher
Cisco
San Francisco, California
Software Engineering
Data Science & Analytics
AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Data Science
$146k - $239k/yr
Master's
10,000+

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See All 179+ Research Assistant Jobs in San Francisco

Find roles in San Francisco that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

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Research Assistant Job Market in San Francisco

Who's Hiring

  • Pinterest
    Pinterest13
  • OpenAI
    OpenAI10
  • University of California - San Francisco
    University of California - San Francisco10
  • Lyft
    Lyft7
  • Socure
    Socure7

Top Industries Hiring

  • Technology & Software102
  • Education16
  • Healthcare & Medical Services14
  • Science & Research11
  • Artificial Intelligence9

Research Assistant Jobs in San Francisco: Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get a research assistant job in San Francisco?

The strongest path into research assistant work in San Francisco is targeting its dominant research hubs: the academic medical complex anchored in Mission Bay, the University of California San Francisco campus in the Inner Sunset and Parnassus, and the life sciences cluster stretching into South San Francisco. Candidates with hands-on wet lab skills, clinical data experience, or a background in public health have a clear edge in this market over generalist applicants.

Which companies hire research assistants in San Francisco?

Employers hiring research assistants in San Francisco right now include Pinterest, OpenAI, and University of California - San Francisco, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. San Francisco's hiring landscape is led by academic medical institutions, biotechnology firms, and health-focused research organizations that maintain active, year-round recruiting pipelines for entry and mid-level research staff.

Are there remote research assistant jobs in San Francisco?

Yes, though availability depends heavily on role type: hands-on lab and clinical positions are almost always on-site, while literature review, data analysis, and survey research roles often allow remote or hybrid schedules. About 55% of research assistant openings tied to San Francisco are remote or hybrid as of June 2026. Desk-based roles at technology companies and public health organizations in SoMa and Civic Center tend to offer the most scheduling flexibility.

How can I get a research assistant job in San Francisco with little or no experience?

The most realistic entry point for candidates without formal experience is applying for volunteer research roles or work-study positions at UCSF, which maintains a steady pipeline of entry-level openings across its Mission Bay and Parnassus campuses. Community health organizations in the Tenderloin and Bayview districts also hire coordinators and data entry assistants who can build toward a research assistant title. A strong grasp of REDCap, Excel, or basic statistical software makes a candidate stand out at these employer types.

Which industries hire the most research assistants in San Francisco?

The sectors hiring the most research assistants in San Francisco are Technology & Software, Education, and Healthcare & Medical Services, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. San Francisco's concentration of federally funded medical research institutions, venture-backed biotechnology startups, and public health agencies creates sustained local demand that outpaces most comparable U.S. cities.

See All 179+ Research Assistant Jobs in San Francisco

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