Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
- 10th Percentile — Entry Level$64,800
- 25th Percentile — Junior$79,840
- 50th Percentile — Median$103,410
- 75th Percentile — Senior$139,380
- 90th Percentile — Top Earners$177,780
The top 10% of Medical Scientists earn $177,780 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $64,800, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii (est.) | $181,102 | +55.0% |
| California | $140,120 | +19.9% |
| New Jersey | $138,450 | +18.5% |
| Massachusetts | $133,550 | +14.3% |
| Oregon | $128,970 | +10.4% |
| Colorado (est.) | $128,524 | +10.0% |
| Virginia | $127,300 | +9.0% |
| Connecticut | $126,760 | +8.5% |
| Maine | $122,260 | +4.6% |
| Florida | $121,850 | +4.3% |
| Rhode Island | $121,140 | +3.7% |
| Pennsylvania | $120,600 | +3.2% |
| District of Columbia | $119,310 | +2.1% |
| Delaware | $118,280 | +1.2% |
| Alaska | $118,230 | +1.2% |
| Washington | $117,840 | +0.9% |
| Maryland | $115,930 | -0.8% |
| Arizona | $115,730 | -1.0% |
| Idaho | $112,420 | -3.8% |
| North Carolina | $112,360 | -3.8% |
| Georgia | $112,050 | -4.1% |
| Kansas | $110,210 | -5.7% |
| New York | $109,260 | -6.5% |
| Missouri | $108,870 | -6.8% |
| Wyoming (est.) | $108,661 | -7.0% |
| Tennessee | $108,390 | -7.2% |
| New Hampshire | $106,480 | -8.9% |
| Louisiana (est.) | $102,819 | -12.0% |
| South Carolina (est.) | $102,819 | -12.0% |
| Nevada | $102,580 | -12.2% |
| Minnesota | $100,870 | -13.7% |
| West Virginia | $100,220 | -14.2% |
| Indiana | $98,910 | -15.3% |
| Ohio | $98,090 | -16.0% |
| Montana | $97,050 | -16.9% |
| Utah | $96,700 | -17.2% |
| Iowa | $96,170 | -17.7% |
| Kentucky | $95,680 | -18.1% |
| Texas | $93,490 | -20.0% |
| Illinois | $93,230 | -20.2% |
| Michigan | $93,090 | -20.3% |
| Wisconsin | $91,070 | -22.1% |
| Arkansas | $90,290 | -22.7% |
| Vermont | $89,910 | -23.0% |
| Oklahoma | $89,160 | -23.7% |
| Nebraska | $84,250 | -27.9% |
| Alabama | $84,100 | -28.0% |
| South Dakota | $83,870 | -28.2% |
| North Dakota | $75,640 | -35.3% |
| New Mexico | $73,930 | -36.7% |
| Mississippi | $61,000 | -47.8% |
What Factors Affect Medical Scientists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
Pay for Medical Scientists is influenced by geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. Location alone is a large factor: California pays an average of $140,120, while Mississippi pays $61,000 — a gap of $79,120 per year.
The middle half of Medical Scientists earn between $79,840 and $139,380 per year. The lowest-paid 10% earn under $64,800, while the top 10% earn more than $177,780.
These figures are the wages employers report to BLS: base pay plus commissions, production bonuses and tips. They exclude overtime pay, shift differentials, year-end bonuses, benefits and self-employed workers, so total compensation can be higher than the numbers shown.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) · May 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this salary
What is the average salary for Medical Scientists?
The average salary for Medical Scientists in the United States is $116,840 per year, with a median of $103,410.
What is the starting salary for Medical Scientists?
Entry-level Medical Scientists typically earn between $64,800 and $79,840 per year depending on location and employer.
What state pays Medical Scientists the most?
California pays Medical Scientists the most at $140,120 per year on average, followed by New Jersey ($138,450) and Massachusetts ($133,550).
How much do Medical Scientists make per hour?
Based on the average annual salary of $116,840, Medical Scientists earn approximately $56.17 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
Is Medical Scientists a good career in 2026?
BLS counts 172,340 Medical Scientists jobs in the United States, with a mean annual wage of $116,840 and a median of $103,410 (OEWS May 2025). This site does not publish job-growth projections; the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook covers the outlook for each occupation.
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