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Medical research scientist salary
Average medical research scientist salary
$78,125
Understanding Medical Research Scientist Salaries
The role of a medical research scientist is pivotal in advancing healthcare through research and innovation. As of October 2025, the average salary stands at $78,125 annually, translating to approximately $38 per hour. Factors influencing these salaries include geographic location, level of experience, and the specific industry sector. For instance, states like California and Massachusetts frequently offer higher compensation due to the concentration of biotech firms and research institutions.
In addition to base salaries, professionals can explore various opportunities in high-paying industries such as pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. For those seeking to maximize their earning potential, pursuing advanced degrees or specialized certifications can significantly enhance marketability and salary prospects. Understanding the full spectrum of salary data, including state-specific averages and job titles, enables medical research scientists to make informed career decisions.
Top Industries for Medical Research Scientists
- Biotechnology
- Pharmaceuticals
- Healthcare Research
- Academia
Overall, navigating the medical research scientist salary landscape is essential for career growth and financial stability in this critical field.
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Where can a Medical Research Scientist earn more?
Medical research scientist salary estimates from across the web
Average medical research scientist salary by state
The average medical research scientist salary in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average medical research scientist salary states are Nebraska, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for medical research scientists
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rhode Island | $95,646 | $45.98 |
| 2 | California | $93,413 | $44.91 |
| 3 | New Jersey | $91,661 | $44.07 |
| 4 | Nevada | $81,250 | $39.06 |
| 5 | Delaware | $81,724 | $39.29 |
| 6 | Connecticut | $94,654 | $45.51 |
| 7 | Massachusetts | $89,011 | $42.79 |
| 8 | Illinois | $79,206 | $38.08 |
| 9 | Maine | $82,726 | $39.77 |
| 10 | Minnesota | $72,181 | $34.70 |
| 11 | Tennessee | $77,706 | $37.36 |
| 12 | Indiana | $79,264 | $38.11 |
| 13 | North Carolina | $74,164 | $35.66 |
| 14 | Oregon | $75,315 | $36.21 |
| 15 | Montana | $74,935 | $36.03 |
| 16 | Michigan | $75,351 | $36.23 |
| 17 | Ohio | $73,873 | $35.52 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania | $70,151 | $33.73 |
| 19 | Vermont | $69,754 | $33.54 |
| 20 | Missouri | $64,207 | $30.87 |
| 21 | Arizona | $72,341 | $34.78 |
| 22 | Arkansas | $65,823 | $31.65 |
| 23 | New Hampshire | $68,248 | $32.81 |
| 24 | Oklahoma | $72,200 | $34.71 |
| 25 | Idaho | $64,084 | $30.81 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $63,400 | $30.48 |
| 27 | Maryland | $72,808 | $35.00 |
| 28 | Alaska | $75,318 | $36.21 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $68,800 | $33.08 |
| 30 | New Mexico | $59,365 | $28.54 |
| 31 | New York | $72,977 | $35.09 |
| 32 | West Virginia | $58,200 | $27.98 |
| 33 | Washington | $68,080 | $32.73 |
| 34 | Wyoming | $61,342 | $29.49 |
| 35 | Virginia | $61,963 | $29.79 |
| 36 | Georgia | $59,479 | $28.60 |
| 37 | Kansas | $57,003 | $27.41 |
| 38 | District of Columbia | $66,974 | $32.20 |
| 39 | Alabama | $58,707 | $28.22 |
| 40 | Florida | $62,923 | $30.25 |
| 41 | South Dakota | $54,624 | $26.26 |
| 42 | Hawaii | $57,195 | $27.50 |
| 43 | Texas | $58,385 | $28.07 |
| 44 | Colorado | $57,674 | $27.73 |
| 45 | Mississippi | $52,829 | $25.40 |
| 46 | North Dakota | $51,430 | $24.73 |
| 47 | Nebraska | $54,492 | $26.20 |
| 48 | Iowa | $55,238 | $26.56 |
| 49 | Utah | $46,652 | $22.43 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $54,124 | $26.02 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $48,585 | $23.36 |
Highest paying cities for medical research scientists
The highest-paying cities for medical research scientists are San Francisco, CA, Jersey City, NJ, and Boston, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $101,167 | $48.64 |
| 2 | Jersey City, NJ | $91,790 | $44.13 |
| 3 | Boston, MA | $88,987 | $42.78 |
| 4 | Las Vegas, NV | $80,217 | $38.57 |
| 5 | Oak Ridge, TN | $78,732 | $37.85 |
| 6 | Southfield, MI | $75,535 | $36.31 |
| 7 | Durham, NC | $74,739 | $35.93 |
| 8 | Cleveland, OH | $74,372 | $35.76 |
| 9 | Bethesda, MD | $72,659 | $34.93 |
| 10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $72,538 | $34.87 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, WI | $69,146 | $33.24 |
| 12 | Seattle, WA | $68,582 | $32.97 |
| 13 | Washington, DC | $66,969 | $32.20 |
| 14 | Orlando, FL | $63,301 | $30.43 |
| 15 | Lawrenceville, GA | $59,579 | $28.64 |
| 16 | Dallas, TX | $58,899 | $28.32 |
| 17 | Omaha, NE | $54,733 | $26.31 |
Medical research scientist salary details
A medical research scientist's salary ranges from $47,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $129,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a medical research scientist's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $129,000 | $10,750 | $62 |
| 75th Percentile | $101,000 | $8,417 | $49 |
| Average | $78,125 | $6,510 | $38 |
| 25th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
| 10th Percentile | $47,000 | $3,917 | $23 |
Highest paying medical research scientist jobs
The highest paying types of medical research scientists are medical science liaison, principal scientist, and senior 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 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $57,587 | $4,799 | $27.69 | 18,983 |
| Research Laboratory Manager | $64,333 | $5,361 | $30.93 | 89,981 |
| Laboratory Researcher | $27,760 | $2,313 | $13.35 | 57,359 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
Top companies hiring medical research scientists now:
Which companies pay medical research scientists the most?
Medical research scientist salaries at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Parexel International are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average medical research scientist salary at companies like Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute and Cleveland Clinic are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak Ridge National Laboratory | $108,390 | $52.11 |
| 2 | Parexel International | $94,533 | $45.45 |
| 3 | Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute | $83,674 | $40.23 |
| 4 | Cleveland Clinic | $82,454 | $39.64 |
| 5 | Doctors Community Hospital | $82,043 | $39.44 |
| 6 | Benaroya Research Institute | $78,730 | $37.85 |
| 7 | Centers For Disease Control And Prevention | $78,331 | $37.66 |
| 8 | Veritas Health Services Inc | $75,078 | $36.10 |
| 9 | Medical Science & Computing, LLC | $72,592 | $34.90 |
| 10 | MJ Care | $72,536 | $34.87 |
| 11 | JDSI | $71,845 | $34.54 |
| 12 | Chemtex | $70,251 | $33.77 |
| 13 | Georgetown University | $67,606 | $32.50 |
| 14 | INTEGRIS Health | $59,613 | $28.66 |
| 15 | East Coast Property Management | $55,156 | $26.52 |
| 16 | Creighton University | $54,537 | $26.22 |
| 17 | South Baylo University | $46,529 | $22.37 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Medical Research Scientist salary by industry
The average medical research scientist salary varies across industries:
- The average medical research scientist salary in the pharmaceutical industry is $94,777, the highest of any industry.
- The average medical research scientist salary in the finance industry is $67,819.
- Medical research scientists in the education industry earn an average salary of $65,780, the lowest of any industry.
Highest paying industries for medical research scientists
| Rank | Industry | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pharmaceutical | $94,777 | $45.57 |
| 2 | Professional | $67,819 | $32.61 |
| 3 | Health Care | $67,414 | $32.41 |
| 4 | Education | $65,780 | $31.63 |
High paying medical research scientist jobs
Medical research scientist salary trends
The average medical research scientist salary has risen by $13,130 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average medical research scientist earned $64,995 annually, but today, they earn $78,125 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for medical research scientists over the last decade.
Compare medical research scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average medical research scientist salary over time
Compare medical research scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Medical research scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $78,100 | $37.56 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $75,800 | $36.44 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $72,400 | $34.81 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $70,100 | $33.69 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $68,800 | $33.05 | -2.1% |
Recently added medical research scientist salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carestream | Medical Imaging Research Scientist | Rochester, NY | 06/11/2025 | $132,200 |
| University of Arizona | Researcher/Scientist IV, Department of Basic Medical Sciences | Phoenix, AZ | 04/27/2025 | $75,540 |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation | Medical Research Scientist | Cleveland, OH | 03/18/2025 | $60,000 |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation | Medical Research Scientist | Cleveland, OH | 03/11/2025 | $68,964 |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation | Medical Research Scientist | Cleveland, OH | 03/11/2025 | $90,000 |
| Georgetown Univerisity | Research Scientist, Neuroscience Lab-Georgetown University Medical Center | Washington, DC | 12/18/2024 | $36,335 |
| University of Arizona | Researcher/Scientist III, Department of Basic Medical Sciences (Multiple Openings) | Phoenix, AZ | 11/21/2024 | $59,404 |
| Cleveland Clinic Foundation | Medical Research Scientist | Cleveland, OH | 10/30/2024 | $60,000 |
| Georgetown Univerisity | Research Scientist, Neuroscience Lab-Georgetown University Medical Center | Washington, DC | 10/09/2024 | $36,335 |
| Georgetown Univerisity | Research Scientist, Neuroscience Lab-Georgetown University Medical Canter | Washington, DC | 09/12/2024 | $36,335 |
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