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Medical scientist salary
Average medical scientist salary
$88,852
Understanding the Medical Scientist Salary
The average salary for a Medical Scientist is approximately $88,852 per year, translating to about $43 per hour. Salaries in this field can vary based on several factors, including geographic location, years of experience, and area of specialization. For instance, Medical Scientists working in California and New York tend to have higher salaries compared to those in other states due to the demand and cost of living.
Educational background also plays a crucial role; those with advanced degrees or specialized training often command higher salaries. Medical Scientists are pivotal in conducting research aimed at improving patient care and developing new medical treatments, which adds to the role's appeal and potential for salary growth. As this field continues to evolve, opportunities are expanding, offering promising career paths for aspiring scientists.
Salary Trends Over Time
Over the years, the demand for Medical Scientists has increased, leading to upward trends in salary. Staying informed about these trends can help professionals negotiate better compensation packages. Consider exploring resources that provide detailed salary estimates based on various parameters for a clearer understanding of earning potential within this dynamic field.
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Where can a Medical Scientist earn more?
Medical scientist salary estimates from across the web
Average medical scientist salary by state
The highest-paying states for medical scientists are California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. The lowest average medical scientist salary states are Iowa, Texas, and South Carolina.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for medical scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $111,837 | $53.77 |
| 2 | Nevada | $96,650 | $46.47 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $108,014 | $51.93 |
| 4 | Massachusetts | $94,717 | $45.54 |
| 5 | Delaware | $86,538 | $41.60 |
| 6 | Rhode Island | $104,774 | $50.37 |
| 7 | Connecticut | $100,812 | $48.47 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $84,927 | $40.83 |
| 9 | Maryland | $91,726 | $44.10 |
| 10 | Maine | $94,701 | $45.53 |
| 11 | Indiana | $95,167 | $45.75 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $81,527 | $39.20 |
| 13 | Virginia | $78,361 | $37.67 |
| 14 | Alaska | $83,104 | $39.95 |
| 15 | Tennessee | $87,403 | $42.02 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $72,000 | $34.62 |
| 17 | Vermont | $79,270 | $38.11 |
| 18 | Oregon | $83,039 | $39.92 |
| 19 | Montana | $81,291 | $39.08 |
| 20 | Idaho | $68,920 | $33.13 |
| 21 | New York | $78,250 | $37.62 |
| 22 | Washington | $75,247 | $36.18 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $75,986 | $36.53 |
| 24 | Arizona | $79,474 | $38.21 |
| 25 | Hawaii | $82,443 | $39.64 |
| 26 | New Mexico | $64,758 | $31.13 |
| 27 | Michigan | $76,387 | $36.72 |
| 28 | Illinois | $66,413 | $31.93 |
| 29 | Arkansas | $64,819 | $31.16 |
| 30 | North Carolina | $66,646 | $32.04 |
| 31 | District of Columbia | $70,117 | $33.71 |
| 32 | Kentucky | $62,979 | $30.28 |
| 33 | Wyoming | $65,104 | $31.30 |
| 34 | Ohio | $68,319 | $32.85 |
| 35 | Wisconsin | $66,716 | $32.08 |
| 36 | Georgia | $58,901 | $28.32 |
| 37 | Alabama | $57,266 | $27.53 |
| 38 | Colorado | $64,717 | $31.11 |
| 39 | South Dakota | $56,675 | $27.25 |
| 40 | Mississippi | $57,011 | $27.41 |
| 41 | Oklahoma | $65,247 | $31.37 |
| 42 | Missouri | $48,194 | $23.17 |
| 43 | Kansas | $57,136 | $27.47 |
| 44 | Utah | $57,560 | $27.67 |
| 45 | North Dakota | $54,693 | $26.29 |
| 46 | Florida | $58,846 | $28.29 |
| 47 | Iowa | $55,979 | $26.91 |
| 48 | Texas | $55,963 | $26.91 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $54,879 | $26.38 |
| 50 | Nebraska | $56,116 | $26.98 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $50,307 | $24.19 |
Highest paying cities for medical scientists
The highest-paying cities for medical scientists are San Francisco, CA, Edison, NJ, and Indianapolis, IN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $121,505 | $58.42 |
| 2 | Edison, NJ | $108,012 | $51.93 |
| 3 | Indianapolis, IN | $95,005 | $45.68 |
| 4 | Boston, MA | $94,882 | $45.62 |
| 5 | Memphis, TN | $86,144 | $41.42 |
| 6 | Minneapolis, MN | $84,908 | $40.82 |
| 7 | New York, NY | $78,285 | $37.64 |
| 8 | Pittsburgh, PA | $77,890 | $37.45 |
| 9 | Detroit, MI | $76,708 | $36.88 |
| 10 | Seattle, WA | $76,021 | $36.55 |
| 11 | Washington, DC | $70,205 | $33.75 |
| 12 | Cleveland, OH | $69,866 | $33.59 |
| 13 | Durham, NC | $67,524 | $32.46 |
| 14 | Chicago, IL | $66,659 | $32.05 |
| 15 | Albuquerque, NM | $64,992 | $31.25 |
| 16 | Gainesville, FL | $58,979 | $28.36 |
| 17 | Atlanta, GA | $58,917 | $28.33 |
| 18 | Huntsville, AL | $57,193 | $27.50 |
| 19 | Salt Lake City, UT | $56,944 | $27.38 |
| 20 | Iowa City, IA | $56,476 | $27.15 |
Medical scientist salary details
A medical scientist's salary ranges from $59,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $133,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a medical scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $133,000 | $11,083 | $64 |
| 75th Percentile | $110,000 | $9,167 | $53 |
| Average | $88,852 | $7,404 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $71,000 | $5,917 | $34 |
| 10th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
Highest paying medical scientist jobs
The highest paying types of medical scientists are medical science liaison, principal scientist, and senior scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research Laboratory Manager | $64,333 | $5,361 | $30.93 | 89,981 |
| Laboratory Researcher | $27,760 | $2,313 | $13.35 | 57,359 |
| Fellow | $66,364 | $5,530 | $31.91 | 7,459 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| PHD Researcher | $51,634 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 19,736 |
| Researcher | $67,145 | $5,595 | $32.28 | 30,498 |
Top companies hiring medical scientists now:
Which companies pay medical scientists the most?
Medical scientist salaries at Varian Medical Systems and Genentech are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average medical scientist salary at companies like Amgen and Bristol-Myers Squibb are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Varian Medical Systems | $125,764 | $60.46 |
| 2 | Genentech | $119,557 | $57.48 |
| 3 | Amgen | $105,233 | $50.59 |
| 4 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $104,988 | $50.48 |
| 5 | Novartis | $104,056 | $50.03 |
| 6 | Southern California Medical Center | $103,786 | $49.90 |
| 7 | Sanofi Genzyme | $102,955 | $49.50 |
| 8 | Novo Nordisk | $102,236 | $49.15 |
| 9 | Vertex Pharmaceuticals | $101,677 | $48.88 |
| 10 | Cytokinetics | $101,671 | $48.88 |
| 11 | U.S. Pharmacopeia | $101,338 | $48.72 |
| 12 | University At Buffalo Neurosurgery | $101,119 | $48.61 |
| 13 | Brookhaven National Laboratory | $101,003 | $48.56 |
| 14 | AstraZeneca | $100,157 | $48.15 |
| 15 | Merck | $99,902 | $48.03 |
| 16 | Allergan plc | $99,552 | $47.86 |
| 17 | Medimmune | $99,304 | $47.74 |
| 18 | Hoffmann-LA Roche Inc | $99,013 | $47.60 |
| 19 | Boehringer Ingelheim | $98,565 | $47.39 |
| 20 | Battelle | $97,383 | $46.82 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Medical scientist salary trends
The average medical scientist salary has risen by $14,933 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average medical scientist earned $73,919 annually, but today, they earn $88,852 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for medical scientists over the last decade.
Compare medical scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average medical scientist salary over time
Compare medical scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Medical scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $88,900 | $42.72 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $86,200 | $41.45 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $82,300 | $39.59 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $79,700 | $38.32 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $78,200 | $37.59 | -2.1% |
Recently added medical scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Johnson | Postdoctoral Scientist, Artificial Intelligence for Medical Imaging | Cambridge, MA | 03/21/2025 | $77,000 |
| J&J Family of Companies | Postdoctoral Scientist, Artificial Intelligence for Medical Imaging | Cambridge, MA | 03/18/2025 | $77,000 |
| University of Florida | Medical Scientist II | Gainesville, FL | 03/05/2025 | $57,200 |
| Amgen Inc. | Global Safety SR Medical Scientist | North Carolina | 03/03/2025 | $235,442 |
| Comforce Corp | Medical Scientist-Pharmaceutical-Analysts | Lawrence, NJ | 02/17/2025 | $146,090 |
| VGSO | Medical Scientist Grade 1-Microbiology | Parkville, MD | 02/17/2025 | $63,674 |
| Education, Research and Health International, Inc. | Medical Scientist | Houston, TX | 02/06/2025 | $68,000 |
| PMx Labs, LLC | Medical Scientist | Birmingham, AL | 02/05/2025 | $82,500 |
| Amgen Inc. | Global Safety SR Medical Scientist | North Carolina | 01/07/2025 | $235,442 |
| Yvonne Kew Md PLLC | Medical Scientist | Houston, TX | 11/19/2024 | $75,400 |
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