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Chief scientific officer salary
Average chief scientific officer salary
$103,182
Understanding the Chief Scientific Officer Salary
The role of a Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) is critical in any organization focused on research and innovation. As of October 2025, the average salary for a CSO stands at $103,182 annually, with variations based on industry, location, and experience. For example, CSOs in biotechnology often earn higher than those in academia due to the competitive nature of the sector.
Industry Insights
In addition to salary, CSOs can benefit from bonuses and stock options, especially in private companies. Understanding these factors can provide a clearer picture of overall compensation. States such as California and Massachusetts have emerged as top-paying locations for CSOs, driven by their robust biotech and pharmaceutical industries.
Career Path and Opportunities
The pathway to becoming a Chief Scientific Officer typically includes advanced degrees in relevant fields such as biology, chemistry, or a related discipline, coupled with extensive experience in research and leadership. As organizations increasingly value innovation, the demand for qualified CSOs is expected to grow, making this a promising career path for aspiring scientists.
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Where can a Chief Scientific Officer earn more?
Chief scientific officer salary estimates from across the web
Average chief scientific officer salary by state
The highest-paying states for chief scientific officers are Nevada, Washington, and California. The lowest average chief scientific officer salary states are Arkansas, Indiana, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for chief scientific officers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | $125,268 | $60.23 |
| 2 | Washington | $123,001 | $59.14 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $110,837 | $53.29 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $105,686 | $50.81 |
| 5 | District of Columbia | $133,727 | $64.29 |
| 6 | Maryland | $108,529 | $52.18 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $95,007 | $45.68 |
| 8 | New York | $104,289 | $50.14 |
| 9 | Arizona | $93,081 | $44.75 |
| 10 | Connecticut | $107,474 | $51.67 |
| 11 | Alaska | $116,561 | $56.04 |
| 12 | California | $118,135 | $56.80 |
| 13 | New Mexico | $89,909 | $43.23 |
| 14 | Minnesota | $87,518 | $42.08 |
| 15 | Oregon | $104,456 | $50.22 |
| 16 | Ohio | $93,190 | $44.80 |
| 17 | Colorado | $87,069 | $41.86 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $79,599 | $38.27 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $84,914 | $40.82 |
| 20 | Virginia | $95,716 | $46.02 |
| 21 | Delaware | $93,790 | $45.09 |
| 22 | Vermont | $81,602 | $39.23 |
| 23 | Wisconsin | $81,767 | $39.31 |
| 24 | North Dakota | $75,549 | $36.32 |
| 25 | Michigan | $79,958 | $38.44 |
| 26 | Missouri | $81,646 | $39.25 |
| 27 | Idaho | $73,297 | $35.24 |
| 28 | Nebraska | $73,551 | $35.36 |
| 29 | Texas | $76,520 | $36.79 |
| 30 | Louisiana | $76,785 | $36.92 |
| 31 | Illinois | $72,472 | $34.84 |
| 32 | North Carolina | $69,879 | $33.60 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $73,013 | $35.10 |
| 34 | Iowa | $71,454 | $34.35 |
| 35 | Alabama | $70,294 | $33.80 |
| 36 | Georgia | $70,102 | $33.70 |
| 37 | Utah | $76,020 | $36.55 |
| 38 | Montana | $76,415 | $36.74 |
| 39 | Florida | $76,994 | $37.02 |
| 40 | South Dakota | $66,611 | $32.02 |
| 41 | Maine | $65,179 | $31.34 |
| 42 | Oklahoma | $63,038 | $30.31 |
| 43 | Wyoming | $70,778 | $34.03 |
| 44 | Hawaii | $75,971 | $36.52 |
| 45 | South Carolina | $63,687 | $30.62 |
| 46 | Tennessee | $57,510 | $27.65 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $46,837 | $22.52 |
| 48 | Indiana | $62,514 | $30.05 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $62,747 | $30.17 |
| 50 | Kentucky | $59,508 | $28.61 |
| 51 | Kansas | $56,430 | $27.13 |
Highest paying cities for chief scientific officers
The highest-paying cities for chief scientific officers are Washington, DC, San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington, DC | $136,114 | $65.44 |
| 2 | San Francisco, CA | $130,647 | $62.81 |
| 3 | Seattle, WA | $127,302 | $61.20 |
| 4 | Juneau, AK | $111,366 | $53.54 |
| 5 | Boston, MA | $106,271 | $51.09 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $104,497 | $50.24 |
| 7 | Portland, OR | $104,246 | $50.12 |
| 8 | Fairfield, OH | $88,622 | $42.61 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $86,641 | $41.65 |
| 10 | Concord, NH | $84,927 | $40.83 |
| 11 | Wyandotte, MI | $79,930 | $38.43 |
| 12 | Lancaster, PA | $79,136 | $38.05 |
| 13 | Austin, TX | $76,962 | $37.00 |
| 14 | Fort Myers, FL | $76,605 | $36.83 |
| 15 | Bismarck, ND | $74,238 | $35.69 |
| 16 | Omaha, NE | $73,425 | $35.30 |
| 17 | Chicago, IL | $72,923 | $35.06 |
| 18 | Montgomery, AL | $70,560 | $33.92 |
| 19 | Columbia, SC | $63,874 | $30.71 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $63,440 | $30.50 |
Chief scientific officer salary details
A chief scientific officer's salary ranges from $59,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $179,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a chief scientific officer's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $179,000 | $14,917 | $86 |
| 75th Percentile | $138,000 | $11,500 | $66 |
| Average | $103,182 | $8,599 | $50 |
| 25th Percentile | $77,000 | $6,417 | $37 |
| 10th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
Highest paying chief scientific officer jobs
The highest paying types of chief scientific officers are president/chief executive officer, president & chief operating officer, and senior vice president.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | $90,334 | $7,528 | $43.43 | 86,486 |
| Co-Founder | $105,022 | $8,752 | $50.49 | 4,214 |
| President | $192,329 | $16,027 | $92.47 | 49,413 |
| Co-Owner | $86,704 | $7,225 | $41.68 | 52,915 |
| Operations Vice President | $163,076 | $13,590 | $78.40 | 147,465 |
| Vice President | $158,637 | $13,220 | $76.27 | 119,530 |
Top companies hiring chief scientific officers now:
Which companies pay chief scientific officers the most?
Chief scientific officer salaries at McKinsey & Company Inc and Brookhaven National Laboratory are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average chief scientific officer salary at companies like Agenus and E C O are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McKinsey & Company Inc | $155,852 | $74.93 |
| 2 | Brookhaven National Laboratory | $119,278 | $57.35 |
| 3 | Agenus | $117,597 | $56.54 |
| 4 | E C O | $109,939 | $52.86 |
| 5 | Science Exchange | $108,005 | $51.93 |
| 6 | Amylyx | $105,228 | $50.59 |
| 7 | BioXcel | $105,135 | $50.55 |
| 8 | The Independent Traveler | $104,691 | $50.33 |
| 9 | Bio Architecture Lab | $104,690 | $50.33 |
| 10 | Brookhaven Science Associates LLC | $104,646 | $50.31 |
| 11 | AbVitro | $104,529 | $50.25 |
| 12 | *n/a* | $104,436 | $50.21 |
| 13 | JLL | $104,142 | $50.07 |
| 14 | CVS Health | $103,890 | $49.95 |
| 15 | Glympse Bio | $103,427 | $49.72 |
| 16 | Planet Pharma | $103,239 | $49.63 |
| 17 | Seven Bridges | $102,672 | $49.36 |
| 18 | Eurofins | $102,002 | $49.04 |
| 19 | The Chicago Lighthouse | $99,755 | $47.96 |
| 20 | Pfizer | $96,050 | $46.18 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Chief scientific officer salary trends
The average chief scientific officer salary has risen by $10,565 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average chief scientific officer earned $92,617 annually, but today, they earn $103,182 a year. That works out to a 3% change in pay for chief scientific officers over the last decade.
Compare chief scientific officer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average chief scientific officer salary over time
Compare chief scientific officer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Chief scientific officer salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $103,000 | $49.61 | +0.8% |
| 2024 | $102,000 | $49.21 | -2.8% |
| 2023 | $105,000 | $50.58 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $102,000 | $48.89 | +1.1% |
| 2021 | $101,000 | $48.34 | +3.4% |
Recently added chief scientific officer salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simons Foundation | Scientific Officer, Neuroscience Collaborations | New York, NY | 06/19/2025 | $125,000 |
| The Trinity Ai Software Inc. | Chief AI Officer | Frisco, TX | 02/28/2025 | $127,878 |
| Manas Ai, Inc. | Chief Scientific Officer | San Mateo, CA | 02/25/2025 | $300,000 |
| American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy | Chief Scientific Officer | Columbia, MO | 02/18/2025 | $106,000 |
| Prologue Medicines, Inc. | Chief Scientific Officer | New York, NY | 02/18/2025 | $450,000 |
| Exviva Inc. | Chief Scientific Officer | Richmond, CA | 02/13/2025 | $125,000 |
| Baker McKenzie Advisory Services P.C. | Chief People Officer | Chicago, IL | 02/11/2025 | $821,756 |
| The Arkenstone Ltd. | Chief Scientific Officer | Richardson, TX | 02/06/2025 | $175,000 |
| Exviva Inc. | Chief Scientific Officer | New Haven, CT | 12/18/2024 | $125,000 |
| The Institute of Cancer Research | Scientific Officer-Epigenetics and Genome Stability | Chelsea, MA | 12/16/2024 | $36,315 |
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