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Medical science liaison salary
Average medical science liaison salary
$145,718
Understanding Medical Science Liaison Salaries
The role of a Medical Science Liaison (MSL) is pivotal in the healthcare sector, focusing on scientific communication and relationship management with healthcare professionals. As of October 2025, the average salary for an MSL is about $145,718 annually. This figure can fluctuate based on several factors, including experience, location, and specific industry sector.
Salary by State
Different states offer varying salaries for MSLs. For instance, states such as California and New York typically provide higher compensation due to the cost of living and demand for medical professionals.
Job Opportunities
Medical Science Liaisons can find opportunities in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices. The demand for these professionals is projected to grow, providing a stable career path. Professionals with advanced degrees and strong communication skills are particularly valued in this field.
Conclusion
Overall, a career as a Medical Science Liaison not only offers competitive pay but also the chance to contribute significantly to healthcare advancements.
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Where can a Medical Science Liaison earn more?
Medical science liaison salary estimates from across the web
Average medical science liaison salary by state
The average medical science liaison salary in Tennessee, Maine, and Indiana are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average medical science liaison salary states are South Carolina, Mississippi, and Hawaii.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for medical science liaisons
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Minnesota | $152,341 | $73.24 |
| 2 | Maine | $154,312 | $74.19 |
| 3 | Delaware | $148,947 | $71.61 |
| 4 | Tennessee | $158,166 | $76.04 |
| 5 | New Jersey | $150,230 | $72.23 |
| 6 | Illinois | $138,422 | $66.55 |
| 7 | California | $148,990 | $71.63 |
| 8 | Rhode Island | $145,537 | $69.97 |
| 9 | Montana | $141,510 | $68.03 |
| 10 | Indiana | $153,213 | $73.66 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $148,227 | $71.26 |
| 12 | Nevada | $129,235 | $62.13 |
| 13 | Alaska | $140,059 | $67.34 |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $138,671 | $66.67 |
| 15 | New York | $139,352 | $67.00 |
| 16 | Ohio | $137,917 | $66.31 |
| 17 | District of Columbia | $141,202 | $67.89 |
| 18 | Massachusetts | $131,984 | $63.45 |
| 19 | Pennsylvania | $131,970 | $63.45 |
| 20 | Michigan | $135,622 | $65.20 |
| 21 | Wyoming | $126,173 | $60.66 |
| 22 | Maryland | $137,562 | $66.14 |
| 23 | Vermont | $127,712 | $61.40 |
| 24 | Kentucky | $120,722 | $58.04 |
| 25 | Nebraska | $117,468 | $56.48 |
| 26 | Washington | $133,095 | $63.99 |
| 27 | Arizona | $128,407 | $61.73 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $114,448 | $55.02 |
| 29 | Idaho | $115,425 | $55.49 |
| 30 | Virginia | $126,273 | $60.71 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $127,423 | $61.26 |
| 32 | Arkansas | $114,557 | $55.08 |
| 33 | Kansas | $113,305 | $54.47 |
| 34 | New Hampshire | $124,541 | $59.88 |
| 35 | Oregon | $124,599 | $59.90 |
| 36 | North Dakota | $122,675 | $58.98 |
| 37 | New Mexico | $109,697 | $52.74 |
| 38 | Iowa | $123,206 | $59.23 |
| 39 | Colorado | $120,094 | $57.74 |
| 40 | North Carolina | $118,285 | $56.87 |
| 41 | Missouri | $108,301 | $52.07 |
| 42 | Alabama | $105,845 | $50.89 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $112,823 | $54.24 |
| 44 | Mississippi | $98,075 | $47.15 |
| 45 | Georgia | $94,949 | $45.65 |
| 46 | Utah | $100,627 | $48.38 |
| 47 | Texas | $104,516 | $50.25 |
| 48 | Hawaii | $95,020 | $45.68 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $99,122 | $47.65 |
| 50 | Florida | $90,519 | $43.52 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $81,677 | $39.27 |
Highest paying cities for medical science liaisons
The highest-paying cities for medical science liaisons are Jackson, TN, Sacramento, CA, and Minneapolis, MN.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jackson, TN | $188,176 | $90.47 |
| 2 | Sacramento, CA | $186,494 | $89.66 |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | $183,249 | $88.10 |
| 4 | Indianapolis, IN | $178,702 | $85.91 |
| 5 | Helena, MT | $170,015 | $81.74 |
| 6 | Hartford, CT | $165,878 | $79.75 |
| 7 | Providence, RI | $162,035 | $77.90 |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | $155,473 | $74.75 |
| 9 | Madison, WI | $154,075 | $74.07 |
| 10 | Washington, DC | $153,848 | $73.97 |
| 11 | Seattle, WA | $151,850 | $73.00 |
| 12 | Columbus, OH | $150,995 | $72.59 |
| 13 | New York, NY | $150,867 | $72.53 |
| 14 | Baltimore, MD | $148,441 | $71.37 |
| 15 | Detroit, MI | $147,426 | $70.88 |
| 16 | Cambridge, MA | $142,066 | $68.30 |
| 17 | Philadelphia, PA | $139,715 | $67.17 |
| 18 | Phoenix, AZ | $139,561 | $67.10 |
| 19 | Las Vegas, NV | $138,974 | $66.81 |
| 20 | Oklahoma City, OK | $138,360 | $66.52 |
Medical science liaison salary details
A medical science liaison's salary ranges from $59,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $359,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a medical science liaison's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $359,000 | $29,917 | $173 |
| 75th Percentile | $234,000 | $19,500 | $113 |
| Average | $145,718 | $12,143 | $70 |
| 25th Percentile | $90,000 | $7,500 | $43 |
| 10th Percentile | $59,000 | $4,917 | $28 |
Highest paying medical science liaison jobs
The highest paying types of medical science liaisons are medical director, senior scientist, and scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PHD Researcher | $51,634 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 19,736 |
| Researcher | $67,145 | $5,595 | $32.28 | 30,498 |
| Fellow | $66,364 | $5,530 | $31.91 | 7,459 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Doctoral Fellow | $53,366 | $4,447 | $25.66 | 22,661 |
| Microbiologist | $54,620 | $4,552 | $26.26 | 11,444 |
Top companies hiring medical science liaisons now:
Which companies pay medical science liaisons the most?
Medical science liaison salaries at Saint Luke's Health System and Novant Health are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average medical science liaison salary at companies like Baptist Health South Florida and Organon are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saint Luke's Health System | $322,184 | $154.90 |
| 2 | Novant Health | $234,521 | $112.75 |
| 3 | Baptist Health Home Care | $207,725 | $99.87 |
| 4 | Organon | $204,409 | $98.27 |
| 5 | Daiichi Sankyo | $201,755 | $97.00 |
| 6 | Sanofi US | $199,511 | $95.92 |
| 7 | Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. | $197,611 | $95.01 |
| 8 | American Society of Hematology | $192,902 | $92.74 |
| 9 | UCB | $190,900 | $91.78 |
| 10 | Fresenius Medical Care North America Holdings Limited Partnership | $183,126 | $88.04 |
| 11 | Eisai | $183,094 | $88.03 |
| 12 | Amneal Pharmaceuticals | $177,102 | $85.15 |
| 13 | Genentech | $174,515 | $83.90 |
| 14 | Catalyst Pharmaceuticals | $174,071 | $83.69 |
| 15 | Columbus Regional Health | $167,878 | $80.71 |
| 16 | UnitedHealth Group | $165,366 | $79.50 |
| 17 | Ferring Pharmaceuticals | $163,962 | $78.83 |
| 18 | Otsuka Pharmaceuticals | $160,090 | $76.97 |
| 19 | Biogen | $159,819 | $76.84 |
| 20 | Exact Sciences | $159,481 | $76.67 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Medical science liaison salary trends
The average medical science liaison salary has risen by $24,490 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average medical science liaison earned $121,228 annually, but today, they earn $145,718 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for medical science liaisons over the last decade.
Compare medical science liaison salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average medical science liaison salary over time
Compare medical science liaison salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Medical science liaison salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $146,000 | $70.06 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $141,000 | $67.97 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $135,000 | $64.93 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $131,000 | $62.85 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $128,000 | $61.65 | -2.1% |
Recently added medical science liaison salaries
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayer | Senior Medical Science Liaison, Stroke/Thrombosis | Oklahoma City, OK | 06/30/2025 | $140,500 |
| Bayer Cropscience Ltd. | Senior Medical Science Liaison, Stroke/Thrombosis | Cole, OK | 06/30/2025 | $140,500 |
| Natera | Medical Science Liaison-Oncology (Central California) | Los Angeles, CA | 06/29/2025 | $145,000 |
| Amneal Pharmaceuticals | Medical Science Liaison-Northeast (Remote) | Bridgewater, NJ | 06/29/2025 | $160,000 |
| Bausch Health Companies Inc. | Medical Science Liaison, Gastroenterology/Hepatology | Atlanta, GA | 06/29/2025 | $136,000 |
| Bayer Cropscience Ltd. | Medical Science Liaison, Stroke/Thrombosis (North TX) | Frisco, TX | 06/29/2025 | $129,100 |
| Organon | Medical Science Liaison-Pacific Northwest | Long Beach, CA | 06/29/2025 | $168,000 |
| Legend Biotech | SR. Medical Science Liaison (South Central) | Memphis, TN | 06/29/2025 | $163,468 |
| Sobi | Medical Science Liaison/Senior Medical Science Liaison | Seattle, WA | 06/29/2025 | $170,000 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | Associate Director-Medical Science Liaison (Gi/Gu/Thoracic) Rocky Mountain | Pine, AZ | 06/28/2025 | $145,500 |
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