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Cancer researcher salary
Average cancer researcher salary
$73,896
Understanding Cancer Researcher Salaries
The average salary for a cancer researcher in the United States stands at $73,896 annually. This figure may vary greatly depending on several factors, including geographical location, years of experience, and the specific sector of employment. For instance, cancer researchers in states like California and Massachusetts often command higher salaries due to the concentration of research institutions and healthcare facilities.
Experience plays a crucial role in determining salary levels. Entry-level positions typically offer lower compensation, while researchers with advanced degrees and extensive experience can see significant increases in their earnings. Furthermore, specialized roles, such as those focusing on clinical trials or translational research, often come with higher pay scales.
In addition to salary, cancer researchers may also benefit from various perks, including health insurance, retirement plans, and opportunities for professional development. As the demand for innovative cancer treatments continues to grow, the landscape for cancer researchers remains promising, making it an attractive career choice for those passionate about making a difference in healthcare.
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Where can a Cancer Researcher earn more?
Cancer researcher salary estimates from across the web
Average cancer researcher salary by state
The highest-paying states for cancer researchers are California, Hawaii, and Arizona. The lowest average cancer researcher salary states are Michigan, Georgia, and Nebraska.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for cancer researchers
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $110,813 | $53.28 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $81,317 | $39.09 |
| 3 | Oregon | $80,431 | $38.67 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $83,729 | $40.25 |
| 5 | Washington | $79,359 | $38.15 |
| 6 | Montana | $78,586 | $37.78 |
| 7 | Arizona | $85,486 | $41.10 |
| 8 | Minnesota | $74,557 | $35.84 |
| 9 | Nevada | $83,905 | $40.34 |
| 10 | Alaska | $83,529 | $40.16 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $79,085 | $38.02 |
| 12 | Colorado | $70,007 | $33.66 |
| 13 | Hawaii | $93,662 | $45.03 |
| 14 | Tennessee | $73,388 | $35.28 |
| 15 | Rhode Island | $65,936 | $31.70 |
| 16 | Maryland | $70,255 | $33.78 |
| 17 | Indiana | $74,765 | $35.94 |
| 18 | New York | $67,234 | $32.32 |
| 19 | Maine | $76,216 | $36.64 |
| 20 | Pennsylvania | $64,229 | $30.88 |
| 21 | District of Columbia | $68,185 | $32.78 |
| 22 | Delaware | $69,516 | $33.42 |
| 23 | Utah | $62,407 | $30.00 |
| 24 | Vermont | $63,802 | $30.67 |
| 25 | Wisconsin | $66,329 | $31.89 |
| 26 | Oklahoma | $62,303 | $29.95 |
| 27 | Virginia | $62,819 | $30.20 |
| 28 | New Hampshire | $61,386 | $29.51 |
| 29 | New Mexico | $60,187 | $28.94 |
| 30 | Arkansas | $61,377 | $29.51 |
| 31 | Louisiana | $58,356 | $28.06 |
| 32 | Wyoming | $62,870 | $30.23 |
| 33 | West Virginia | $58,202 | $27.98 |
| 34 | Ohio | $55,257 | $26.57 |
| 35 | Florida | $58,237 | $28.00 |
| 36 | Illinois | $56,940 | $27.38 |
| 37 | Michigan | $51,777 | $24.89 |
| 38 | Idaho | $58,976 | $28.35 |
| 39 | Kansas | $55,478 | $26.67 |
| 40 | Missouri | $56,961 | $27.39 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $55,600 | $26.73 |
| 42 | North Carolina | $53,830 | $25.88 |
| 43 | Alabama | $56,000 | $26.92 |
| 44 | Texas | $51,808 | $24.91 |
| 45 | Georgia | $49,266 | $23.69 |
| 46 | Mississippi | $52,152 | $25.07 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $48,738 | $23.43 |
| 48 | North Dakota | $48,292 | $23.22 |
| 49 | Kentucky | $52,238 | $25.11 |
| 50 | Iowa | $41,980 | $20.18 |
| 51 | South Carolina | $46,045 | $22.14 |
Highest paying cities for cancer researchers
The highest-paying cities for cancer researchers are San Francisco, CA, New Brunswick, NJ, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $119,672 | $57.53 |
| 2 | New Brunswick, NJ | $83,508 | $40.15 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $81,570 | $39.22 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $80,498 | $38.70 |
| 5 | Portland, OR | $79,782 | $38.36 |
| 6 | Memphis, TN | $75,201 | $36.15 |
| 7 | Minneapolis, MN | $74,662 | $35.90 |
| 8 | Baltimore, MD | $70,695 | $33.99 |
| 9 | Denver, CO | $69,890 | $33.60 |
| 10 | New York, NY | $67,308 | $32.36 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $66,343 | $31.90 |
| 12 | Philadelphia, PA | $64,807 | $31.16 |
| 13 | Norfolk, VA | $62,763 | $30.17 |
| 14 | Salt Lake City, UT | $62,178 | $29.89 |
| 15 | Tampa, FL | $58,868 | $28.30 |
| 16 | Evanston, IL | $56,805 | $27.31 |
| 17 | Charlotte, NC | $53,671 | $25.80 |
| 18 | Detroit, MI | $51,884 | $24.94 |
| 19 | Houston, TX | $51,212 | $24.62 |
| 20 | Atlanta, GA | $49,512 | $23.80 |
Cancer researcher salary details
A cancer researcher's salary ranges from $46,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $117,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a cancer researcher's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $117,000 | $9,750 | $56 |
| 75th Percentile | $94,000 | $7,833 | $45 |
| Average | $73,896 | $6,158 | $36 |
| 25th Percentile | $57,000 | $4,750 | $27 |
| 10th Percentile | $46,000 | $3,833 | $22 |
Highest paying cancer researcher jobs
The highest paying types of cancer researchers are medical science liaison, senior scientist, and scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fellow | $66,364 | $5,530 | $31.91 | 7,459 |
| Doctoral Fellow | $53,366 | $4,447 | $25.66 | 22,661 |
| Scientist | $97,344 | $8,112 | $46.80 | 62,467 |
| Staff Scientist | $93,941 | $7,828 | $45.16 | 121,054 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $57,587 | $4,799 | $27.69 | 18,983 |
| Medical Science Liaison | $145,718 | $12,143 | $70.06 | 57,208 |
Top companies hiring cancer researchers now:
Which companies pay cancer researchers the most?
Cancer researcher salaries at AstraZeneca and Motion Recruitment are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average cancer researcher salary at companies like HealthTrust and Planet Pharma are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AstraZeneca | $87,537 | $42.09 |
| 2 | Motion Recruitment | $81,332 | $39.10 |
| 3 | HealthTrust | $79,686 | $38.31 |
| 4 | Planet Pharma | $75,183 | $36.15 |
| 5 | Univ. Of Texas Cancer Ctr. | $73,481 | $35.33 |
| 6 | Columbia University in the City of New York | $71,528 | $34.39 |
| 7 | Cedars-Sinai | $67,293 | $32.35 |
| 8 | Illumina | $67,179 | $32.30 |
| 9 | University of Tennessee | $65,307 | $31.40 |
| 10 | University of California | $63,144 | $30.36 |
| 11 | UC Santa Barbara | $63,040 | $30.31 |
| 12 | University Of Minnesota Physicians | $62,014 | $29.81 |
| 13 | Northwestern University | $61,246 | $29.45 |
| 14 | Virginia Mason Medical Center | $60,519 | $29.10 |
| 15 | American Cancer Society | $59,512 | $28.61 |
| 16 | Providence Health & Services | $58,986 | $28.36 |
| 17 | Orlando Health | $58,783 | $28.26 |
| 18 | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | $58,676 | $28.21 |
| 19 | Massachusetts General Hospital | $56,559 | $27.19 |
| 20 | Rutgers University | $56,127 | $26.98 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Cancer researcher salary trends
The average cancer researcher salary has risen by $12,420 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average cancer researcher earned $61,476 annually, but today, they earn $73,896 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for cancer researchers over the last decade.
Compare cancer researcher salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average cancer researcher salary over time
Compare cancer researcher salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Cancer researcher salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $73,900 | $35.53 | +3.0% |
| 2025 | $71,700 | $34.47 | +4.5% |
| 2024 | $68,500 | $32.93 | +3.2% |
| 2023 | $66,300 | $31.87 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $65,000 | $31.26 | -2.1% |
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