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As of October 2025, the average salary for a Validation Scientist stands at $77,661 per year. This figure can vary based on location, years of experience, and the specific industry in which one works. Validation Scientists play a crucial role in industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices, where product safety and compliance are paramount.
Location significantly impacts salary ranges. States like California and Massachusetts often offer higher pay due to the concentration of biotech firms. Additionally, those with advanced degrees or certifications may command higher salaries. Experience also plays a vital role; entry-level positions start lower, while seasoned professionals with specialized skills tend to earn significantly more.
The demand for Validation Scientists is steadily increasing, with numerous job openings available across various sectors. Companies are keen to attract top talent, frequently offering competitive salaries and benefits. Prospective candidates should explore job boards, like Zippia, for current listings and career advice to maximize their earning potential in this field.
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The average validation scientist salary in California, Tennessee, and Maryland are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average validation scientist salary states are Utah, Mississippi, and North Dakota.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $106,199 | $51.06 |
| 2 | Maryland | $93,522 | $44.96 |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | $83,849 | $40.31 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $84,197 | $40.48 |
| 5 | Connecticut | $86,403 | $41.54 |
| 6 | Delaware | $79,879 | $38.40 |
| 7 | Maine | $83,163 | $39.98 |
| 8 | Tennessee | $99,697 | $47.93 |
| 9 | Montana | $80,126 | $38.52 |
| 10 | Indiana | $86,490 | $41.58 |
| 11 | Illinois | $81,079 | $38.98 |
| 12 | New York | $78,810 | $37.89 |
| 13 | Nevada | $85,119 | $40.92 |
| 14 | Oregon | $76,148 | $36.61 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $71,703 | $34.47 |
| 16 | Minnesota | $77,097 | $37.07 |
| 17 | Arizona | $79,903 | $38.41 |
| 18 | Rhode Island | $70,460 | $33.88 |
| 19 | North Carolina | $67,160 | $32.29 |
| 20 | Vermont | $69,910 | $33.61 |
| 21 | Virginia | $69,194 | $33.27 |
| 22 | Colorado | $71,567 | $34.41 |
| 23 | District of Columbia | $77,965 | $37.48 |
| 24 | Ohio | $67,375 | $32.39 |
| 25 | New Hampshire | $65,590 | $31.53 |
| 26 | West Virginia | $68,843 | $33.10 |
| 27 | Idaho | $67,005 | $32.21 |
| 28 | Wyoming | $64,236 | $30.88 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $64,870 | $31.19 |
| 30 | Michigan | $65,052 | $31.27 |
| 31 | Washington | $63,915 | $30.73 |
| 32 | South Dakota | $60,420 | $29.05 |
| 33 | Arkansas | $64,244 | $30.89 |
| 34 | New Mexico | $60,269 | $28.98 |
| 35 | Oklahoma | $64,466 | $30.99 |
| 36 | Florida | $63,986 | $30.76 |
| 37 | Hawaii | $62,205 | $29.91 |
| 38 | Texas | $60,581 | $29.13 |
| 39 | Georgia | $63,711 | $30.63 |
| 40 | Iowa | $60,832 | $29.25 |
| 41 | Alaska | $60,980 | $29.32 |
| 42 | Utah | $56,956 | $27.38 |
| 43 | North Dakota | $53,113 | $25.54 |
| 44 | Nebraska | $60,112 | $28.90 |
| 45 | Alabama | $60,515 | $29.09 |
| 46 | Kentucky | $59,701 | $28.70 |
| 47 | Kansas | $56,996 | $27.40 |
| 48 | Missouri | $51,538 | $24.78 |
| 49 | South Carolina | $52,459 | $25.22 |
| 50 | Mississippi | $55,413 | $26.64 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $52,713 | $25.34 |
The highest-paying cities for validation scientists are South San Francisco, CA, Frederick, MD, and New Brunswick, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South San Francisco, CA | $114,418 | $55.01 |
| 2 | Frederick, MD | $93,457 | $44.93 |
| 3 | New Brunswick, NJ | $84,187 | $40.47 |
| 4 | Lancaster, PA | $83,761 | $40.27 |
| 5 | Elk Grove Village, IL | $81,172 | $39.02 |
| 6 | Syracuse, NY | $78,545 | $37.76 |
| 7 | Brockton, MA | $71,813 | $34.53 |
| 8 | Morrisville, NC | $67,705 | $32.55 |
| 9 | Seattle, WA | $64,247 | $30.89 |
| 10 | Portage, MI | $64,090 | $30.81 |
| 11 | Lenexa, KS | $57,008 | $27.41 |
| 12 | Guaynabo, PR | $51,993 | $25.00 |
| 13 | Saint Charles, MO | $51,859 | $24.93 |
A validation scientist's salary ranges from $55,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $109,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $109,000 | $9,083 | $52 |
| 75th Percentile | $93,000 | $7,750 | $45 |
| Average | $77,661 | $6,472 | $37 |
| 25th Percentile | $64,000 | $5,333 | $31 |
| 10th Percentile | $55,000 | $4,583 | $26 |
The highest paying types of validation scientists 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 |
| Research Fellow | $53,823 | $4,485 | $25.88 | 59,746 |
| Doctoral Fellow | $53,366 | $4,447 | $25.66 | 22,661 |
| PHD Researcher | $51,634 | $4,303 | $24.82 | 19,736 |
| Researcher | $67,145 | $5,595 | $32.28 | 30,498 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | $57,587 | $4,799 | $27.69 | 18,983 |
Top companies hiring validation scientists now:
Validation scientist salaries at AstraZeneca and Eli Lilly and Company are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average validation scientist salary at companies like Bristol-Myers Squibb and Thermo Fisher Scientific are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AstraZeneca | $99,503 | $47.84 |
| 2 | Eli Lilly and Company | $97,884 | $47.06 |
| 3 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $96,334 | $46.31 |
| 4 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | $84,461 | $40.61 |
| 5 | Quanterix | $80,456 | $38.68 |
| 6 | Mentor | $78,410 | $37.70 |
| 7 | Pharmaceutical Product Development | $76,889 | $36.97 |
| 8 | Nostrum Laboratories | $74,866 | $35.99 |
| 9 | MillenniumSoft | $74,689 | $35.91 |
| 10 | Freenome | $73,984 | $35.57 |
| 11 | Eurofins | $73,965 | $35.56 |
| 12 | Lilly & Company | $73,236 | $35.21 |
| 13 | West-Ward Pharmaceuticals | $71,361 | $34.31 |
| 14 | Tris Pharma | $71,112 | $34.19 |
| 15 | Staffing Resources | $69,032 | $33.19 |
| 16 | OHM Corporation | $67,766 | $32.58 |
| 17 | Kelly Services | $67,762 | $32.58 |
The average validation scientist salary has risen by $13,052 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average validation scientist earned $64,609 annually, but today, they earn $77,661 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for validation scientists over the last decade.
Compare validation scientist salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare validation scientist salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $77,700 | $37.34 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $75,400 | $36.23 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $72,000 | $34.60 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $69,700 | $33.49 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $68,300 | $32.86 | -2.1% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roche | Scientist-Test Method Validation | Branchburg, NJ | 05/18/2025 | $64,100 |
| Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. | Scientist-Test Method Validation | Branchburg, NJ | 05/16/2025 | $64,100 |
| Kelly Services | Validation Scientist | Wilson, NC | 05/15/2025 | $83,480 |
| Regeneron Pharmaceuticals | SR Process Controls & Validation Scientist | Rensselaer, NY | 04/23/2025 | $77,600 |
| Lonza, Inc. | Msat Process Validation Scientist III | Vacaville, CA | 04/19/2025 | $95,000 |
| Eli Lilly | Scientist-Ts/Ms Validation | Indianapolis, IN | 02/17/2025 | $64,500 |
| Kelly Science, Engineering, Technology & Telecom | Validation Scientist | Eagan, MN | 02/17/2025 | $70,000 |
| Actalent | Validation Scientist | Chicago, IL | 02/13/2025 | $104,350 |
| Steris Corporation | Scientist I-Validations | Coon Rapids, MN | 02/04/2025 | $54,500 |
| Kelly Services | Validation Scientist | Eagan, MN | 02/01/2025 | $70,000 |
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