📊 BLS Official Data · May 2025 Release
Medical Scientists Salary in the United States (2026)
Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data · Updated 2026 · Medium Demand
Average
$105,930
per year
Median
$101,310
per year
Hourly
$50.93
per hour
Salary Range & Percentiles
Pay distribution across experience levels
10th Percentile — Entry Level$62,666
25th Percentile — Junior$85,972
50th Percentile — Median$101,310
75th Percentile — Senior$138,411
90th Percentile — Top Earners$159,500
💡 The top 10% of Medical Scientistss earn $159,500 or more per year. Entry-level professionals can expect to start around $62,666, with significant growth over the first 5 years.
Salary Growth Trend (2021–2026)
Six-year compensation trajectory
$87.9k
2021
$91.2k
2022
$94.7k
2023
$98.3k
2024
$102.1k
2025
$105.9k
2026
📈 Medical Scientists salaries have grown 3.8% year-over-year. Since 2020, the average salary has increased by approximately $18,021.
Salary by State
Geographic salary comparison
| State | Avg Salary | vs National | Demand |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | $164,192 | +55.0% | Medium |
| District of Columbia | $161,014 | +52.0% | Medium |
| California | $150,421 | +42.0% | Medium |
| New York | $146,183 | +38.0% | Medium |
| Alaska | $139,828 | +32.0% | Medium |
| Massachusetts | $137,709 | +30.0% | Medium |
| New Jersey | $135,590 | +28.0% | Medium |
| Washington | $132,412 | +25.0% | Medium |
| Connecticut | $129,235 | +22.0% | Medium |
| Maryland | $121,819 | +15.0% | Medium |
| Rhode Island | $121,819 | +15.0% | Medium |
| New Hampshire | $120,760 | +14.0% | Medium |
| Oregon | $118,642 | +12.0% | Medium |
| Colorado | $116,523 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Virginia | $116,523 | +10.0% | Medium |
| Vermont | $114,404 | +8.0% | Medium |
| Delaware | $111,226 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Illinois | $111,226 | +5.0% | Medium |
| Maine | $108,049 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Nevada | $108,049 | +2.0% | Medium |
| Minnesota | $105,930 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Utah | $105,930 | +0.0% | Medium |
| Arizona | $104,871 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Pennsylvania | $104,871 | -1.0% | Medium |
| Florida | $103,811 | -2.0% | Medium |
| Montana | $100,634 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Texas | $100,634 | -5.0% | Medium |
| Georgia | $98,515 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Idaho | $98,515 | -7.0% | Medium |
| Wyoming | $98,515 | -7.0% | Medium |
| North Dakota | $97,456 | -8.0% | Medium |
| Wisconsin | $97,456 | -8.0% | Medium |
| North Carolina | $96,396 | -9.0% | Medium |
| Michigan | $95,337 | -10.0% | Medium |
| Louisiana | $93,218 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Nebraska | $93,218 | -12.0% | Medium |
| New Mexico | $93,218 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Ohio | $93,218 | -12.0% | Medium |
| South Carolina | $93,218 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Tennessee | $93,218 | -12.0% | Medium |
| Alabama | $92,159 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Missouri | $92,159 | -13.0% | Medium |
| South Dakota | $92,159 | -13.0% | Medium |
| Iowa | $91,100 | -14.0% | Medium |
| Indiana | $90,040 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Kansas | $90,040 | -15.0% | Medium |
| Oklahoma | $88,981 | -16.0% | Medium |
| Arkansas | $87,922 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Kentucky | $87,922 | -17.0% | Medium |
| Mississippi | $84,744 | -20.0% | Medium |
| West Virginia | $82,625 | -22.0% | Medium |
What Factors Affect Medical Scientists Salary?
Key factors affecting compensation
A Medical Scientists's salary is influenced by several key factors including geographic location, years of experience, employer type, and educational background. States with higher costs of living — such as California, New York, and Washington — typically offer 20–40% higher salaries than the national average to compensate for living expenses.
Experience plays a major role in compensation. Entry-level Medical Scientistss typically earn $62,666–$85,972 per year, while senior professionals with 10+ years of experience can command $138,411–$159,500 annually. Specialization and advanced certifications can further boost earning potential.
Employer size also matters. Large corporations and government agencies tend to offer more competitive packages including benefits, retirement plans, and bonuses. The Medical Scientists role currently has medium demand in the job market with a 3.8% growth rate, making it one of the steadily growing careers in the Science sector.
🏛️ 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 a Medical Scientists?The average salary for a Medical Scientists in the United States is $105,930 per year, with a median of $101,310.
-
What is the starting salary for a Medical Scientists?Entry-level Medical Scientistss typically earn between $62,666 and $85,972 per year depending on location and employer.
-
What state pays Medical Scientistss the most?California, New York, and Washington typically pay Medical Scientistss the highest salaries due to high cost of living and strong job markets.
-
How much does a Medical Scientists make per hour?Based on the average annual salary of $105,930, a Medical Scientists earns approximately $50.93 per hour (based on 2,080 working hours/year).
-
Is Medical Scientists a good career in 2026?Yes — the Medical Scientists role has medium demand with 3.8% year-over-year salary growth, indicating a strong and growing career path.
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