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Average Merck principal research scientist salary

$139,465yearly

$61.15 hourly rate

Entry-level Merck principal research scientist salary
$102,000 yearly
Updated April 5, 2024

How much does Merck pay principal research scientists?

The average salary for Merck principal research scientists is $139,465 per year. Merck principal research scientist salaries range between $102,000 to $190,000 per year. Merck principal research scientists earn 10% more than the national average salary for principal research scientists of $127,191.

Location impacts how much a principal research scientist at Merck can expect to make. Principal research scientists at Merck make the most in Sacramento, CA, Helena, MT, and Carson City, NV.

How much does Merck pay principal research scientists by location?

Merck pays principal research scientists the most in Sacramento, CA, Helena, MT, and Carson City, NV. Additionally, cities like Juneau and Nashville also report highly competitive salaries for principal research scientists at Merck.

Principal research scientist Merck salary by location

RankCityAvg. salaryHourly rate
1Sacramento, CA$178,560$85.85
2Helena, MT$164,496$79.08
3Carson City, NV$151,992$73.07
4Juneau, AK$146,450$70.41
5Nashville, TN$146,348$70.36
6Indianapolis, IN$145,359$69.88
7Saint Paul, MN$143,825$69.15
8Madison, WI$141,668$68.11
9Olympia, WA$140,834$67.71
10Augusta, ME$140,780$67.68

Highest-paid Merck principal research scientists by job level

RankJob titleAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
1Senior Staff Scientist$131,151$63-
2Senior Clinical Research Scientist$127,685$61-
3Senior Research Investigator$124,407$60-
4Principal Scientist$120,275$5813
5Senior Principal Scientist$114,450$559
6Associate Principal Scientist$108,674$5220
7Senior Project Scientist$108,372$52-
8Research Investigator$108,244$52-
9Research Scientist Lead$107,912$52-
10Lead Scientist$106,954$51-

Recent salaries for principal research scientists at merck

JobLocationDate addedSalary
Principal Scientist, Upstream Process R&DRahway, NJ06/22/2025$169,700
Principal Scientist/Director, Outcomes Research, OncologyUpper Gwynedd, PA05/28/2025$187,000
Principal Scientist, Analytical R&D BiologicsRahway, NJ05/27/2025$153,800
Principal Scientist, Research Science-GenomicsRahway, NJ04/08/2025$153,800
Principal Scientist, Downstream Biologics Process R&DRahway, NJ03/30/2025$169,700

Principal research scientist salary at Merck competitors

RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
1Amgen$145,348$7078
2Zoetis$144,965$7023
3Sanofi Genzyme$144,394$69-
4Bayer$131,172$63141
5Gilead Sciences$131,038$6391
6Seagen$129,852$62-
7AbbVie$127,297$61134
8Bristol-Myers Squibb$125,730$60229
9Eli Lilly and Company$123,269$59107
10Sanofi US$123,105$5946
11Johnson & Johnson$120,449$5898
12Pfizer$103,605$5071

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