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A Process Development Scientist plays a crucial role in creating and improving processes within the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors. As of October 2025, the average salary for this position stands at $101,098 per year, or approximately $49 per hour. Factors influencing salary include geographical location, with higher compensation typically observed in states like California and Massachusetts.
For instance, experienced professionals in major metropolitan areas often command salaries significantly above the national average. It’s also important to consider that salaries can fluctuate based on years of experience, educational background, and the specific field of work within the industry.
To explore potential salary ranges, job seekers can utilize resources that provide insights on the highest paying roles and industries for Process Development Scientists. This valuable information can guide career decisions and help professionals negotiate better compensation packages. Networking with industry peers and staying updated on market trends can also enhance earning potential.
Numerous companies are actively seeking qualified Process Development Scientists, and platforms like Zippia can connect candidates with these opportunities. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to advance, understanding salary trends is essential for making informed career choices.
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The average process development scientist salary in Tennessee, California, and Montana are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average process development scientist salary states are Utah, Louisiana, and Missouri.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montana | $113,379 | $54.51 |
| 2 | Arizona | $105,948 | $50.94 |
| 3 | Minnesota | $102,219 | $49.14 |
| 4 | Nevada | $110,152 | $52.96 |
| 5 | Indiana | $109,945 | $52.86 |
| 6 | Tennessee | $127,742 | $61.41 |
| 7 | Alaska | $100,991 | $48.55 |
| 8 | California | $120,642 | $58.00 |
| 9 | New Jersey | $104,591 | $50.28 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $96,091 | $46.20 |
| 11 | Delaware | $99,457 | $47.82 |
| 12 | Pennsylvania | $90,523 | $43.52 |
| 13 | Connecticut | $106,867 | $51.38 |
| 14 | Maine | $102,499 | $49.28 |
| 15 | Hawaii | $98,995 | $47.59 |
| 16 | West Virginia | $86,396 | $41.54 |
| 17 | Oregon | $94,326 | $45.35 |
| 18 | Ohio | $84,803 | $40.77 |
| 19 | Wisconsin | $83,580 | $40.18 |
| 20 | South Dakota | $81,009 | $38.95 |
| 21 | Arkansas | $82,511 | $39.67 |
| 22 | New Mexico | $80,274 | $38.59 |
| 23 | Maryland | $89,010 | $42.79 |
| 24 | Colorado | $93,023 | $44.72 |
| 25 | Wyoming | $85,712 | $41.21 |
| 26 | Michigan | $81,723 | $39.29 |
| 27 | Florida | $83,761 | $40.27 |
| 28 | District of Columbia | $97,261 | $46.76 |
| 29 | Rhode Island | $86,954 | $41.80 |
| 30 | Virginia | $87,120 | $41.88 |
| 31 | Oklahoma | $83,715 | $40.25 |
| 32 | Georgia | $82,504 | $39.67 |
| 33 | North Carolina | $83,497 | $40.14 |
| 34 | Vermont | $86,720 | $41.69 |
| 35 | Idaho | $85,032 | $40.88 |
| 36 | New Hampshire | $82,745 | $39.78 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $73,746 | $35.45 |
| 38 | Nebraska | $78,048 | $37.52 |
| 39 | Washington | $84,691 | $40.72 |
| 40 | Illinois | $84,659 | $40.70 |
| 41 | Alabama | $78,697 | $37.84 |
| 42 | New York | $84,029 | $40.40 |
| 43 | Kansas | $72,778 | $34.99 |
| 44 | Kentucky | $75,717 | $36.40 |
| 45 | Missouri | $70,275 | $33.79 |
| 46 | Texas | $68,032 | $32.71 |
| 47 | Mississippi | $73,205 | $35.19 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $70,819 | $34.05 |
| 49 | Iowa | $60,060 | $28.88 |
| 50 | South Carolina | $67,551 | $32.48 |
| 51 | Utah | $71,511 | $34.38 |
The highest-paying cities for process development scientists are Petaluma, CA, Bloomington, IN, and New Haven, CT.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petaluma, CA | $129,945 | $62.47 |
| 2 | Bloomington, IN | $108,938 | $52.37 |
| 3 | New Haven, CT | $107,029 | $51.46 |
| 4 | Hillsborough, NJ | $104,575 | $50.28 |
| 5 | Norwood, MA | $96,243 | $46.27 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $90,799 | $43.65 |
| 7 | Rockville, MD | $88,841 | $42.71 |
| 8 | Bothell, WA | $85,254 | $40.99 |
| 9 | Chicago, IL | $84,897 | $40.82 |
| 10 | Durham, NC | $84,102 | $40.43 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $83,530 | $40.16 |
| 12 | Saint Louis, MO | $70,647 | $33.96 |
| 13 | College Station, TX | $68,002 | $32.69 |
| 14 | Marion, IA | $60,483 | $29.08 |
A process development scientist's salary ranges from $74,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $138,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $138,000 | $11,500 | $66 |
| 75th Percentile | $119,000 | $9,917 | $57 |
| Average | $101,098 | $8,425 | $49 |
| 25th Percentile | $85,000 | $7,083 | $41 |
| 10th Percentile | $74,000 | $6,167 | $36 |
The highest paying types of process development scientists are senior scientist, scientist, and staff scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quality Control Analyst | $59,217 | $4,935 | $28.47 | 85,546 |
| Chemical Technician | $42,584 | $3,549 | $20.47 | 40,191 |
| Laboratory Analyst | $44,024 | $3,669 | $21.17 | 44,074 |
| Analytical Chemist | $61,573 | $5,131 | $29.60 | 14,661 |
| Quality Control Chemist | $58,892 | $4,908 | $28.31 | 90,467 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
Top companies hiring process development scientists now:
Process development scientist salaries at Bunge and Genentech are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average process development scientist salary at companies like AbbVie and Bristol-Myers Squibb are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bunge | $126,481 | $60.81 |
| 2 | Genentech | $115,654 | $55.60 |
| 3 | AbbVie | $113,310 | $54.48 |
| 4 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $112,317 | $54.00 |
| 5 | Bayer | $108,434 | $52.13 |
| 6 | PTC Therapeutics | $107,958 | $51.90 |
| 7 | Sutro Biopharma | $106,481 | $51.19 |
| 8 | Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings | $105,877 | $50.90 |
| 9 | Emergent BioSolutions | $105,380 | $50.66 |
| 10 | BioMarin | $105,162 | $50.56 |
| 11 | FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies | $105,001 | $50.48 |
| 12 | Alexion Pharmaceuticals | $104,876 | $50.42 |
| 13 | Integrated DNA Technologies | $104,346 | $50.17 |
| 14 | Amgen | $104,139 | $50.07 |
| 15 | Merrimack Pharmaceuticals | $104,012 | $50.01 |
| 16 | Eastman | $103,878 | $49.94 |
| 17 | Agilent Technologies | $103,725 | $49.87 |
| 18 | Sarepta Therapeutics | $103,455 | $49.74 |
| 19 | Teva Pharmaceuticals | $103,023 | $49.53 |
| 20 | bluebird bio | $102,571 | $49.31 |
The average process development scientist salary has risen by $16,991 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average process development scientist earned $84,107 annually, but today, they earn $101,098 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for process development scientists over the last decade.
Compare process development scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare process development scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $101,000 | $48.60 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $98,100 | $47.16 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $93,700 | $45.05 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $90,700 | $43.60 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $89,000 | $42.77 | -2.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals | Scientist, CMC Process Development (Data Review) | Verona, WI | 06/27/2025 | $80,000 |
| Kindeva Drug Delivery | Product and Process Development Scientist | Woodbury, MN | 06/20/2025 | $60,750 |
| Virginia Commonwealth University | Scientist, Process Development | Richmond, VA | 06/14/2025 | $80,000 |
| Gilead Sciences, Inc. | Scientist, Purification Process Development-Pivotal & Commercial Biologics | Foster City, CA | 06/13/2025 | $146,540 |
| Net2Source Inc. | Process Development Scientist | Lansdale, PA | 06/13/2025 | $93,915 |
| Merck | Process Development Scientist | Kankakee, IL | 06/08/2025 | $78,000 |
| Merck | Process Development Scientist-SAN | San Jose, CA | 06/07/2025 | $78,000 |
| Net2Source Inc. | Process Development Scientist | Lansdale, PA | 05/29/2025 | $93,915 |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Scientist, Chemical Process Development, Process Chemistry | New Brunswick, NJ | 05/27/2025 | $104,300 |
| KBI Biopharma Inc. | Scientist I, Process Development | Boulder, CO | 05/27/2025 | $90,925 |
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