Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary in the United States
The median annual wage for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in the U.S. is $103,410 ($49.72 per hour), according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program, May 2025 estimates.
- Median annual wage
- $103,410
- Mean annual wage
- $116,840
- Median hourly wage
- $49.72
- Employment
- 172,340
172,340 employed
Wage percentiles
| Percentile | Annual wage | Hourly wage |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $64,800 | $31.15 |
| 25th percentile | $79,840 | $38.39 |
| Median (50th) | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| 75th percentile | $139,380 | $67.01 |
| 90th percentile | $177,780 | $85.47 |
Highest-paying states for medical scientists, except epidemiologists
| State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| California | $136,990 | 29,830 |
| New Jersey | $129,280 | 6,120 |
| Massachusetts | $128,210 | 17,100 |
| Connecticut | $116,990 | 2,410 |
| Arizona | $116,820 | 2,190 |
| Oregon | $111,030 | 1,030 |
| Maryland | $106,000 | 6,760 |
| Washington | $105,680 | 6,150 |
| Alaska | $104,930 | 260 |
| Rhode Island | $103,370 | 670 |
Lowest-paying states
- Mississippi: $54,040 median annual wage
- North Dakota: $64,470 median annual wage
- Vermont: $66,500 median annual wage
- New Mexico: $67,100 median annual wage
- Alabama: $68,490 median annual wage
About this occupation
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.
Typical tasks
- Study animal and human health and physiological processes.
- Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
- Confer with health departments, industry personnel, physicians, and others to develop health safety standards and public health improvement programs.
- Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
- Write and publish articles in scientific journals.
- Investigate cause, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission of diseases or parasites.
Education of the current workforce — typical entry: Doctoral or professional degree
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Less than high school diploma | 0.2% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.7% |
| Some college, no degree | 0.5% |
| Associate's degree | 1.1% |
| Bachelor's degree | 28.0% |
| Master's degree | 26.6% |
| Doctoral or professional degree | 42.9% |
Occupation profile data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Related occupations
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$90,150
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health$82,220
- Chemists$91,240
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologists$100,580
- Life, Physical, and Social Science Technicians, All Other$62,280
- Biological Technicians$57,510
- School Psychologists$95,990
- Chemical Technicians$60,390
About this data
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — data period May 2025, retrieved August 13, 2026.
- CareerOneStop Occupation Profiles — data period 2026-08, retrieved August 14, 2026.
Figures are shown exactly as published by the source or derived by the documented formulas on our methodology page. Where a source suppresses an estimate, we show “—” rather than a substitute value.