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Clinical research scientist salary
Average clinical research scientist salary
$99,160
Understanding Clinical Research Scientist Salaries
As of October 2025, the average salary for a Clinical Research Scientist stands at $99,160 per year, translating to approximately $48 per hour. Salaries can differ significantly based on factors such as geographic location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which these professionals operate.
For instance, Clinical Research Scientists working in pharmaceutical companies may earn higher salaries than those in academic settings. States like California, Massachusetts, and New York often report the highest salaries, reflecting both the cost of living and demand for skilled professionals. In addition to state-level differences, salaries can vary within sectors; for example, professionals in biotechnology may find themselves earning more compared to those in clinical settings.
Moreover, individuals with advanced degrees or specialized certifications may command higher salaries, enhancing their career prospects. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for aspiring Clinical Research Scientists as they consider their professional journey.
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Where can a Clinical Research Scientist earn more?
Clinical research scientist salary estimates from across the web
Average clinical research scientist salary by state
The average clinical research scientist salary in California, Washington, and New Hampshire are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average clinical research scientist salary states are Kansas, South Carolina, and Kentucky.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for clinical research scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $120,824 | $58.09 |
| 2 | Vermont | $101,918 | $49.00 |
| 3 | Oregon | $96,042 | $46.17 |
| 4 | New Hampshire | $109,355 | $52.57 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $96,777 | $46.53 |
| 6 | Arizona | $103,799 | $49.90 |
| 7 | Washington | $115,107 | $55.34 |
| 8 | Maine | $91,644 | $44.06 |
| 9 | Rhode Island | $91,304 | $43.90 |
| 10 | Delaware | $94,631 | $45.50 |
| 11 | New York | $95,639 | $45.98 |
| 12 | Massachusetts | $105,235 | $50.59 |
| 13 | Minnesota | $92,202 | $44.33 |
| 14 | Nevada | $94,357 | $45.36 |
| 15 | Idaho | $91,761 | $44.12 |
| 16 | Michigan | $88,415 | $42.51 |
| 17 | Illinois | $89,501 | $43.03 |
| 18 | Utah | $87,145 | $41.90 |
| 19 | Montana | $85,236 | $40.98 |
| 20 | Connecticut | $84,862 | $40.80 |
| 21 | Indiana | $88,685 | $42.64 |
| 22 | Virginia | $86,584 | $41.63 |
| 23 | North Carolina | $80,411 | $38.66 |
| 24 | New Mexico | $82,286 | $39.56 |
| 25 | Pennsylvania | $79,805 | $38.37 |
| 26 | Hawaii | $91,377 | $43.93 |
| 27 | District of Columbia | $96,993 | $46.63 |
| 28 | North Dakota | $77,434 | $37.23 |
| 29 | Colorado | $81,567 | $39.21 |
| 30 | Iowa | $83,693 | $40.24 |
| 31 | Alaska | $88,517 | $42.56 |
| 32 | Georgia | $80,732 | $38.81 |
| 33 | Ohio | $77,718 | $37.36 |
| 34 | Florida | $78,899 | $37.93 |
| 35 | South Dakota | $74,760 | $35.94 |
| 36 | Wyoming | $75,922 | $36.50 |
| 37 | Maryland | $77,548 | $37.28 |
| 38 | Oklahoma | $79,359 | $38.15 |
| 39 | West Virginia | $74,341 | $35.74 |
| 40 | Nebraska | $71,762 | $34.50 |
| 41 | Wisconsin | $69,156 | $33.25 |
| 42 | Louisiana | $72,412 | $34.81 |
| 43 | Mississippi | $72,978 | $35.09 |
| 44 | Tennessee | $69,543 | $33.43 |
| 45 | Texas | $70,149 | $33.73 |
| 46 | Kansas | $67,880 | $32.63 |
| 47 | Missouri | $65,697 | $31.59 |
| 48 | Kentucky | $67,321 | $32.37 |
| 49 | Arkansas | $66,696 | $32.07 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $67,324 | $32.37 |
| 51 | Alabama | $64,633 | $31.07 |
Highest paying cities for clinical research scientists
The highest-paying cities for clinical research scientists are San Francisco, CA, Seattle, WA, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $129,245 | $62.14 |
| 2 | Seattle, WA | $116,557 | $56.04 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $105,443 | $50.69 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $104,521 | $50.25 |
| 5 | Hackensack, NJ | $97,402 | $46.83 |
| 6 | New York, NY | $95,698 | $46.01 |
| 7 | Wilmington, DE | $95,165 | $45.75 |
| 8 | Indianapolis, IN | $87,928 | $42.27 |
| 9 | Pleasant Grove, UT | $86,514 | $41.59 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $79,720 | $38.33 |
| 11 | Orlando, FL | $79,061 | $38.01 |
| 12 | Gaithersburg, MD | $76,814 | $36.93 |
| 13 | Athens, OH | $76,460 | $36.76 |
| 14 | Knoxville, TN | $71,723 | $34.48 |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | $71,347 | $34.30 |
| 16 | Madison, WI | $67,458 | $32.43 |
| 17 | Kansas City, MO | $65,146 | $31.32 |
Clinical research scientist salary details
A clinical research scientist's salary ranges from $63,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $154,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a clinical research scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $154,000 | $12,833 | $74 |
| 75th Percentile | $125,000 | $10,417 | $60 |
| Average | $99,160 | $8,263 | $48 |
| 25th Percentile | $78,000 | $6,500 | $38 |
| 10th Percentile | $63,000 | $5,250 | $30 |
Highest paying clinical research scientist jobs
The highest paying types of clinical research scientists are clinical project manager, scientist, and clinical research manager.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Study Director | $82,066 | $6,839 | $39.45 | 6,789 |
| Study Coordinator | $47,435 | $3,953 | $22.81 | 14,929 |
| Clinical Trial Manager | $93,644 | $7,804 | $45.02 | 60,284 |
| Clinical Coordinator | $57,665 | $4,805 | $27.72 | 74,962 |
| Clinical Project Manager | $100,510 | $8,376 | $48.32 | 153,837 |
| Research Project Coordinator | $48,683 | $4,057 | $23.41 | 67,800 |
Top companies hiring clinical research scientists now:
Which companies pay clinical research scientists the most?
Clinical research scientist salaries at Meta and Apple are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average clinical research scientist salary at companies like Amgen and Cepheid are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Meta | $170,193 | $81.82 |
| 2 | Apple | $147,135 | $70.74 |
| 3 | Amgen | $136,713 | $65.73 |
| 4 | Cepheid | $134,665 | $64.74 |
| 5 | Emergent BioSolutions | $131,363 | $63.16 |
| 6 | Incyte | $124,202 | $59.71 |
| 7 | Abiomed | $120,062 | $57.72 |
| 8 | Gilead Sciences | $109,435 | $52.61 |
| 9 | Eli Lilly and Company | $109,108 | $52.46 |
| 10 | Karyopharm | $108,104 | $51.97 |
| 11 | Boston Scientific | $103,058 | $49.55 |
| 12 | AstraZeneca | $102,775 | $49.41 |
| 13 | Abbott | $100,602 | $48.37 |
| 14 | Insys Therapeutics | $99,279 | $47.73 |
| 15 | Philips | $97,823 | $47.03 |
| 16 | Purdue Pharma L.P. | $96,843 | $46.56 |
| 17 | Ferring Pharmaceuticals | $95,987 | $46.15 |
| 18 | Eisai | $95,396 | $45.86 |
| 19 | dōTERRA | $95,089 | $45.72 |
| 20 | EQRx | $95,008 | $45.68 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Clinical Research Scientist salary by industry
The average clinical research scientist salary varies across industries:
- The average clinical research scientist salary in the pharmaceutical industry is $105,459, the highest of any industry.
- The average clinical research scientist salary in the finance industry is $95,328.
- Clinical research scientists in the professional industry earn an average salary of $81,756, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for clinical research scientists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharmaceutical | $105,459 | $50.70 |
| 2 | Health Care | $95,328 | $45.83 |
| 3 | Finance | $94,763 | $45.56 |
| 4 | Manufacturing | $94,555 | $45.46 |
| 5 | Professional | $81,756 | $39.31 |
High paying clinical research scientist jobs
Clinical research scientist salary trends
The average clinical research scientist salary has risen by $16,656 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average clinical research scientist earned $82,504 annually, but today, they earn $99,160 a year. That works out to a 15% change in pay for clinical research scientists over the last decade.
Compare clinical research scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average clinical research scientist salary over time
Compare clinical research scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Clinical research scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $99,200 | $47.67 | +6.4% |
| 2025 | $92,800 | $44.62 | +4.1% |
| 2024 | $89,000 | $42.81 | +3.9% |
| 2023 | $85,500 | $41.12 | -0.7% |
| 2022 | $86,200 | $41.42 | -0.3% |
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