Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
Senior scientist, biology salary
Average senior scientist, biology salary
$88,965
Comprehensive Overview of Senior Scientist, Biology Salaries
As of October 2025, the average annual salary for a Senior Scientist in Biology is $88,965, which translates to about $43 per hour. This figure is influenced by several factors, including location, experience, and industry sector. For instance, Senior Scientists in urban areas or specialized industries tend to earn higher salaries.
In terms of state averages, certain locations stand out for their competitive compensation packages. States like California and Massachusetts consistently offer some of the highest salaries for this role. Additionally, professionals with advanced degrees or extensive experience may command salaries well above the average.
Opportunities for Senior Scientists in Biology are expanding across various sectors, including pharmaceuticals, environmental science, and academia. These positions not only offer competitive salaries but also the chance to contribute significantly to research and development efforts. Keeping abreast of salary trends and job openings can greatly assist in career advancement.
Let Zippi find your next senior scientist, biology job
Let Zippi find your next senior scientist, biology job
Where can a Senior Scientist, Biology earn more?
Senior scientist, biology salary estimates from across the web
Average senior scientist, biology salary by state
The average senior scientist, biology salary in California, Rhode Island, and Alaska are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average senior scientist, biology salary states are Kansas, Mississippi, and Alabama.
- State view
- County view
Highest paying states for senior scientists, biology
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $111,077 | $53.40 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $92,131 | $44.29 |
| 3 | Alaska | $98,050 | $47.14 |
| 4 | Connecticut | $93,000 | $44.71 |
| 5 | Rhode Island | $105,260 | $50.61 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $91,187 | $43.84 |
| 7 | Maine | $96,636 | $46.46 |
| 8 | Delaware | $84,129 | $40.45 |
| 9 | Montana | $89,613 | $43.08 |
| 10 | Oregon | $84,621 | $40.68 |
| 11 | Vermont | $79,899 | $38.41 |
| 12 | Nevada | $92,958 | $44.69 |
| 13 | Washington | $80,835 | $38.86 |
| 14 | Pennsylvania | $80,538 | $38.72 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $88,014 | $42.31 |
| 16 | Hawaii | $86,862 | $41.76 |
| 17 | Illinois | $77,512 | $37.27 |
| 18 | Virginia | $74,206 | $35.68 |
| 19 | New Hampshire | $76,679 | $36.86 |
| 20 | Maryland | $73,774 | $35.47 |
| 21 | Indiana | $76,879 | $36.96 |
| 22 | Arizona | $77,830 | $37.42 |
| 23 | Michigan | $76,195 | $36.63 |
| 24 | Wyoming | $67,284 | $32.35 |
| 25 | New York | $69,512 | $33.42 |
| 26 | Idaho | $70,537 | $33.91 |
| 27 | Tennessee | $73,288 | $35.23 |
| 28 | West Virginia | $68,849 | $33.10 |
| 29 | Wisconsin | $67,116 | $32.27 |
| 30 | South Dakota | $60,014 | $28.85 |
| 31 | North Carolina | $62,695 | $30.14 |
| 32 | Colorado | $67,382 | $32.40 |
| 33 | District of Columbia | $67,354 | $32.38 |
| 34 | Ohio | $66,352 | $31.90 |
| 35 | New Mexico | $63,157 | $30.36 |
| 36 | Texas | $64,090 | $30.81 |
| 37 | North Dakota | $59,466 | $28.59 |
| 38 | Arkansas | $62,265 | $29.94 |
| 39 | Oklahoma | $62,723 | $30.16 |
| 40 | Florida | $60,069 | $28.88 |
| 41 | Kentucky | $59,844 | $28.77 |
| 42 | Utah | $56,348 | $27.09 |
| 43 | Kansas | $55,779 | $26.82 |
| 44 | Iowa | $55,804 | $26.83 |
| 45 | Georgia | $56,186 | $27.01 |
| 46 | South Carolina | $52,271 | $25.13 |
| 47 | Alabama | $55,186 | $26.53 |
| 48 | Nebraska | $55,892 | $26.87 |
| 49 | Mississippi | $55,384 | $26.63 |
| 50 | Missouri | $46,659 | $22.43 |
| 51 | Louisiana | $50,185 | $24.13 |
Highest paying cities for senior scientists, biology
The highest-paying cities for senior scientists, biology are San Francisco, CA, Boston, MA, and Rahway, NJ.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $119,599 | $57.50 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $92,400 | $44.42 |
| 3 | Rahway, NJ | $91,356 | $43.92 |
| 4 | Seattle, WA | $81,995 | $39.42 |
| 5 | Lancaster, PA | $79,856 | $38.39 |
| 6 | North Chicago, IL | $78,799 | $37.88 |
| 7 | Arlington, VA | $76,459 | $36.76 |
| 8 | Frederick, MD | $73,600 | $35.38 |
| 9 | New York, NY | $69,488 | $33.41 |
| 10 | Boulder, CO | $67,476 | $32.44 |
| 11 | Madison, WI | $65,934 | $31.70 |
| 12 | Arlington, TX | $62,691 | $30.14 |
| 13 | Tampa, FL | $60,593 | $29.13 |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | $46,776 | $22.49 |
Senior scientist, biology salary details
A senior scientist, biology's salary ranges from $56,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $139,000 at the 90th percentile.
What is a senior scientist, biology's salary?
| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $139,000 | $11,583 | $67 |
| 75th Percentile | $112,000 | $9,333 | $54 |
| Average | $88,965 | $7,414 | $43 |
| 25th Percentile | $70,000 | $5,833 | $34 |
| 10th Percentile | $56,000 | $4,667 | $27 |
Highest paying senior scientist, biology jobs
The highest paying types of senior scientists, biology are medical science liaison, senior scientist, and scientist.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemist | $64,961 | $5,413 | $31.23 | 20,221 |
| Quality Control Analyst | $59,217 | $4,935 | $28.47 | 85,546 |
| Quality Control Coordinator | $49,894 | $4,158 | $23.99 | 88,145 |
| Laboratory Analyst | $44,024 | $3,669 | $21.17 | 44,074 |
| Quality Control Chemist | $58,892 | $4,908 | $28.31 | 90,467 |
| Quality Control | $32,824 | $2,735 | $15.78 | 83,496 |
How would you rate the starting salaries for senior scientist, biologys, as well as the prospects for salary advancement?
Dr. Howard Whiteman
Professor of Biological Sciences, Director of the Watershed Studies Institute, Murray State University
Top companies hiring senior scientists, biology now:
Which companies pay senior scientists, biology the most?
Senior scientist, biology salaries at Theranos and Schrödinger are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average senior scientist, biology salary at companies like Entrada and Genentech are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Theranos | $116,893 | $56.20 |
| 2 | Schrödinger Inc | $110,668 | $53.21 |
| 3 | Entrada | $110,063 | $52.91 |
| 4 | Genentech | $108,151 | $52.00 |
| 5 | Natera | $107,596 | $51.73 |
| 6 | Amgen | $104,314 | $50.15 |
| 7 | Exelixis | $103,900 | $49.95 |
| 8 | AbbVie | $101,841 | $48.96 |
| 9 | Bristol-Myers Squibb | $101,057 | $48.59 |
| 10 | 23andMe | $101,008 | $48.56 |
| 11 | Eli Lilly and Company | $98,240 | $47.23 |
| 12 | Novartis | $97,848 | $47.04 |
| 13 | Merck | $96,477 | $46.38 |
| 14 | Allergan plc | $96,154 | $46.23 |
| 15 | Foundation Medicine | $94,034 | $45.21 |
| 16 | Catalent Pharma Solutions | $93,955 | $45.17 |
| 17 | Gilead Sciences | $92,475 | $44.46 |
| 18 | NantHealth | $92,184 | $44.32 |
| 19 | Thermo Fisher Scientific | $92,040 | $44.25 |
| 20 | Ionis Pharmaceuticals | $91,390 | $43.94 |
Wage gap by gender, race and education
Senior scientist, biology salary trends
The average senior scientist, biology salary has risen by $14,952 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average senior scientist, biology earned $74,013 annually, but today, they earn $88,965 a year. That works out to a 14% change in pay for senior scientists, biology over the last decade.
Compare senior scientist, biology salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Average senior scientist, biology salary over time
Compare senior scientist, biology salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
Senior scientist, biology salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $89,000 | $42.77 | +3.0% |
| 2024 | $86,300 | $41.50 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | $82,500 | $39.64 | +3.2% |
| 2022 | $79,800 | $38.37 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $78,300 | $37.64 | -2.1% |
Recently added senior scientist, biology salaries
Senior scientist, biology salary FAQs
Search for senior scientist, biology jobs