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Scientific Writer Salary

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There are many factors that determine how much you should be earning as a Scientific Writer. Use Zippia's Salary Calculator to see how your pay matches up.

How Much Does a Scientific Writer Earn In The United States?

Scientific Writer Salaries
Updated April 6, 2021
Location
Industry
Education
Location
Filters
Average Yearly Salary
$127,000
$71,000
$127,000
$226,000
Scientific writers in the United States make an average salary of $127,239 per year or $61.17 per hour. People on the lower end of that spectrum, the bottom 10% to be exact, make roughly $71,000 a year, while the top 10% makes $226,000. As most things go, location can be critical. Massachusetts, Maine, California, Washington, and West Virginia provide the highest scientific writer salaries.
Best Paying Cities

1. Menlo Park, CA

Average Salary: $103,708

2. Gaithersburg, MD

Average Salary: $86,935

3. Hackensack, NJ

Average Salary: $84,134

4. Houston, TX

Average Salary: $84,070

Scientific Writer Jobs: 2

5. Saint Louis, MO

Average Salary: $73,630

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Where Scientific Writers Earn The Most

The darker areas on the map show where scientific writers earn the highest salaries across all 50 states.

Average Salary

How Much Do Scientific Writers Earn In Different Cities?

While a scientific writer can average a salary of $127,239 per year, or $61.17 per hour, there are many opportunities for scientific writers to make more. For example, in Menlo Park, CA you might make $103,708 per year. Other high-paying locations include Gaithersburg, MD, Hackensack, NJ and Houston, TX. If you're in an entry-level position, your best bet is to move to Menlo Park, CA where the average starting salary is $55,000. The highest paying states for scientific writers include Massachusetts, Maine and California. Meanwhile, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and South Carolina offer the lowest salaries.
Location
1. Menlo Park, CA
$103,708
Avg. Salary
$53k
$143k
2. Gaithersburg, MD
$86,935
Avg. Salary
$53k
$143k
3. Hackensack, NJ
$84,134
Avg. Salary
$53k
$143k
4. Houston, TX
$84,070
Avg. Salary
$53k
$143k
5. Saint Louis, MO
$73,630
Avg. Salary
$53k
$143k

High Paying Scientific Writer Jobs

Which Companies Pay Scientific Writers The Most?

To earn a high income as a scientific writer, working for Champions Oncology or Smith Hanley Associates might be your best bet, as they are the highest paying companies in this field. In addition, companies like Washington University in St. Louis and City of Hope National Medical Center report highly competitive wages for scientific writers.
Company
1. Champions Oncology
4.0
$120,066
Avg. Salary
$77k
$151k
2. Smith Hanley Associates
4.2
$119,452
Avg. Salary
$77k
$151k
3. Washington University in St. Louis
4.5
$116,444
Avg. Salary
$77k
$151k
4. City of Hope National Medical Center
4.6
$99,644
Avg. Salary
$77k
$151k
5. HJF
4.8
$96,886
Avg. Salary
$77k
$151k

The largest raises come from changing jobs.

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Scientific Writer Salary History

Compare salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.

Location

    How Much Do Scientific Writers Make In Different Industries?

    As we previously stated, scientific writer salaries can vary depending on the industry. In fact, our data shows that pharmaceutical, health care, and government companies tend to offer much higher salaries for scientific writers. For example, scientific writers make a whopping average salary of $117,081 while working for pharmaceutical companies. Meanwhile, other people in this field are making $116,362 at health care companies and $99,613 at government companies. But scientific writers may want to avoid working in the media industry as it offers the lowest average salary at $83,600.
    1. Pharmaceutical
    $117,081
    Avg. Salary
    $73k
    $147k
    2. Health Care
    $116,362
    Avg. Salary
    $73k
    $147k
    3. Government
    $99,613
    Avg. Salary
    $73k
    $147k
    4. Finance
    $92,651
    Avg. Salary
    $73k
    $147k
    5. Non Profits
    $92,400
    Avg. Salary
    $73k
    $147k
    6. Media
    $83,600
    Avg. Salary
    $73k
    $147k

    Recently Added Scientific Writer Salaries

    Location
    CompanyascdescJobascdescLocationascdescDate AddedascdescSalaryascdesc
    Washington University of St. Louis
    Washington University of St. Louis
    Scientific Writer-Bone Marrow Transplant
    Scientific Writer-Bone Marrow Transplant
    Scientific Writer-Bone Marrow Transplant
    Saint Louis, MO
    Saint Louis, MO
    11/05/2020
    11/05/2020
    $51,292
    $51,292
    11/05/2020
    University of Wisconsin Madison
    University of Wisconsin Madison
    Scientific Writer/Editor
    Scientific Writer/Editor
    Scientific Writer/Editor
    Madison, WI
    Madison, WI
    10/21/2020
    10/21/2020
    $52,000
    $52,000
    10/21/2020
    Washington University of St. Louis
    Washington University of St. Louis
    Scientific Writer-Psychiatry
    Scientific Writer-Psychiatry
    Scientific Writer-Psychiatry
    Saint Louis, MO
    Saint Louis, MO
    09/11/2020
    09/11/2020
    $51,292
    $51,292
    09/11/2020
    W.M. Rice University
    W.M. Rice University
    Scientific Writer
    Scientific Writer
    Scientific Writer
    Houston, TX
    Houston, TX
    08/12/2019
    08/12/2019
    $57,000
    $57,000
    08/12/2019
    Meharry Medical College
    Meharry Medical College
    Scientific Editor/Writer
    Scientific Editor/Writer
    Scientific Editor/Writer
    Pulaski, TN
    Pulaski, TN
    03/13/2019
    03/13/2019
    $40,000
    $40,000
    03/13/2019
    City of Hope National Medical Center
    City of Hope National Medical Center
    Senior Scientific Writer
    Senior Scientific Writer
    Senior Scientific Writer
    Duarte, CA
    Duarte, CA
    10/23/2017
    10/23/2017
    $140,000
    $140,000
    10/23/2017
    Alzheimer's Consulting & Services
    Alzheimer's Consulting & Services
    Scientific Writer
    Scientific Writer
    Scientific Writer
    Menlo Park, CA
    Menlo Park, CA
    03/27/2017
    03/27/2017
    $75,000
    $75,000
    03/27/2017
    Alzheimer's Consulting & Services
    Alzheimer's Consulting & Services
    Scientific Writer
    Scientific Writer
    Scientific Writer
    Menlo Park, CA
    Menlo Park, CA
    03/26/2017
    03/26/2017
    $55,000
    $55,000
    03/26/2017
    Meharry Medical College
    Meharry Medical College
    Scientific Editor/Writer
    Scientific Editor/Writer
    Scientific Editor/Writer
    Nashville, TN
    Nashville, TN
    02/21/2017
    02/21/2017
    $32,469
    $32,469
    02/21/2017
    Insyght Interactive, Inc.
    Insyght Interactive, Inc.
    Medical Content and Scientific Writer
    Medical Content and Scientific Writer
    Medical Content and Scientific Writer
    Los Angeles, CA
    Los Angeles, CA
    06/28/2016
    06/28/2016
    $58,000
    $58,000
    06/28/2016
    Show More

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    Updated April 6, 2021