Pay, demand and where to work, from BLS data with the year on every table.
low → high: location quotient
Click a state. States: Alabama · Alaska · Arizona · Arkansas · California · Colorado · Connecticut · Delaware · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Idaho · Illinois · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Mississippi · Missouri · Montana · Nebraska · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · North Dakota · Ohio · Oklahoma · Oregon · Pennsylvania · Rhode Island · South Carolina · South Dakota · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Vermont · Virginia · Washington · West Virginia · Wisconsin · Wyoming.
By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists (SOC 19-1042) employed 172,340 people in May 2025. The median pay is $103,410 a year ($49.72 an hour); the lowest-paid 10% earn under $64,800 and the highest-paid 10% more than $177,780. BLS projects its employment to change by +12.6% between 2025 and 2035 (about 10,500 openings a year including replacements). The typical way in: Doctoral or professional degree.
Highest median pay: California ($136,990), New Jersey ($129,280), Massachusetts ($128,210). Most jobs: California (29,830), Massachusetts (17,100), Pennsylvania (12,630).
| Measure ⇅ | Annual ⇅ | Hourly equivalent ⇅ |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $64,800 | $31.15 |
| 25th percentile | $79,840 | $38.38 |
| Median | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Mean | $116,840 | $56.17 |
| 75th percentile | $139,380 | $67.01 |
| 90th percentile (experienced) | $177,780 | $85.47 |
Estimate for a wage earner: 2026 federal brackets and standard deduction (IRS), Social Security 6.2% up to $184,500, Medicare 1.45% (+0.9% above $200,000 single / $250,000 married), and a state rate you set. It ignores credits, pre-tax deductions, local taxes and benefits. Sources: IRS: tax year 2026 inflation adjustments · SSA wage base per Federal Register notice 2025-19763.
Hourly equivalents divide by 2,080 hours. Pay above $239,200 is shown as "≥ $239,200" (BLS top code).
| Measure ⇅ | Value ⇅ |
|---|---|
| Jobs 2025 | 181,000 |
| Jobs 2035 (projected) | 203,700 |
| Change in jobs | 22,700 |
| Percent change | +12.6% |
| Openings a year (growth + replacements) | 10,500 |
| Self-employed share | n/a |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Work experience in a related occupation | None |
| Typical on-the-job training | None |
Licences and certifications are set by states and employers; the education shown is the usual entry requirement, not a legal one.
| State ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Median vs US ⇅ | Yearly rent as % of median pay ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | 260 | 0.73 | $104,930 | $78,000 | $156,850 | +1% | 17% |
| Arizona | 2,190 | 0.61 | $116,820 | $70,430 | $154,550 | +13% | 17% |
| Arkansas | 230 | 0.16 | $72,530 | $63,050 | $183,430 | -30% | 16% |
| California | 29,830 | 1.48 | $136,990 | $81,320 | $180,060 | +32% | 18% |
| Connecticut | 2,410 | 1.28 | $116,990 | $68,160 | $187,310 | +13% | 16% |
| Delaware | 270 | 0.50 | $100,190 | $65,520 | $214,040 | -3% | 18% |
| District of Columbia | 670 | 0.86 | $101,940 | $66,100 | $195,190 | -1% | 23% |
| Florida | 6,490 | 0.59 | $94,940 | $64,630 | $208,090 | -8% | 23% |
| Georgia | 1,910 | 0.35 | $92,450 | $61,640 | $208,000 | -11% | 20% |
| Idaho | 380 | 0.40 | $83,010 | $59,680 | $288,280 | -20% | 20% |
| Illinois | 4,700 | 0.70 | $82,330 | $59,550 | $143,890 | -20% | 19% |
| Indiana | 2,010 | 0.57 | $81,110 | $63,510 | $151,510 | -22% | 16% |
| Iowa | 1,060 | 0.61 | $83,850 | $59,580 | $142,140 | -19% | 14% |
| Kansas | 1,070 | 0.67 | $84,490 | $62,190 | $219,100 | -18% | 15% |
| Kentucky | 670 | 0.30 | $77,580 | $55,320 | $162,590 | -25% | 15% |
| Maine | 100 | 0.15 | $93,730 | $62,970 | $216,940 | -9% | 15% |
| Maryland | 6,760 | 2.21 | $106,000 | $71,150 | $172,520 | +3% | 19% |
| Massachusetts | 17,100 | 4.24 | $128,210 | $77,790 | $208,490 | +24% | 17% |
| Michigan | 2,370 | 0.49 | $84,310 | $63,590 | $144,530 | -18% | 17% |
| Minnesota | 6,760 | 2.07 | $89,950 | $65,140 | $141,070 | -13% | 17% |
| Mississippi | 440 | 0.34 | $54,040 | $41,360 | $84,350 | -48% | 22% |
| Missouri | 3,650 | 1.12 | $102,540 | $64,160 | $173,480 | -1% | 12% |
| Montana | 320 | 0.57 | $101,950 | $63,820 | $139,770 | -1% | 14% |
| Nebraska | 620 | 0.54 | $80,970 | $52,330 | $111,020 | -22% | 16% |
| Nevada | 530 | 0.31 | $98,560 | $77,990 | $125,100 | -5% | 21% |
| New Hampshire | 210 | 0.28 | $100,650 | $70,090 | $150,030 | -3% | 19% |
| New Jersey | 6,120 | 1.29 | $129,280 | $77,540 | $216,650 | +25% | 17% |
| New Mexico | 340 | 0.36 | $67,100 | $40,660 | $104,710 | -35% | 20% |
| New York | 7,690 | 0.72 | $87,760 | $67,490 | $177,510 | -15% | 22% |
| North Carolina | 5,730 | 1.05 | $102,980 | $63,800 | $171,170 | -0% | 16% |
| North Dakota | 250 | 0.53 | $64,470 | $51,170 | $103,220 | -38% | 18% |
| Ohio | 4,840 | 0.79 | $83,910 | $60,080 | $173,450 | -19% | 16% |
| Oklahoma | 920 | 0.48 | $76,480 | $60,670 | $140,020 | -26% | 16% |
| Oregon | 1,030 | 0.47 | $111,030 | $69,720 | $205,870 | +7% | 17% |
| Pennsylvania | 12,630 | 1.88 | $99,190 | $61,490 | $214,690 | -4% | 15% |
| Rhode Island | 670 | 1.21 | $103,370 | $66,370 | $218,940 | -0% | 16% |
| South Carolina | 1,020 | 0.40 | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| South Dakota | 140 | 0.28 | $80,890 | $59,470 | $127,120 | -22% | 15% |
| Tennessee | 4,020 | 1.11 | $102,720 | $63,500 | $155,100 | -1% | 15% |
| Texas | 11,920 | 0.76 | $80,470 | $63,870 | $144,060 | -22% | 22% |
| Utah | 1,560 | 0.81 | $82,940 | $65,310 | $139,050 | -20% | 23% |
| Vermont | 110 | 0.33 | $66,500 | $66,500 | $115,020 | -36% | 24% |
| Virginia | 4,560 | 1.00 | $93,620 | $65,540 | $186,810 | -9% | 21% |
| Washington | 6,150 | 1.56 | $105,680 | $69,500 | $173,140 | +2% | 21% |
| West Virginia | 330 | 0.42 | $82,690 | $61,950 | $173,900 | -20% | 13% |
| Wisconsin | 2,970 | 0.91 | $82,530 | $62,850 | $128,680 | -20% | 17% |
Location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in the state than in the nation. "n/a" means BLS suppressed the figure. Rent uses the state median gross rent (ACS).
The 60 highest-paying metropolitan areas among those with at least 300 jobs in this occupation.
| Metropolitan area ⇅ | Jobs ⇅ | Median pay ⇅ | Entry (10th pct.) ⇅ | Top (90th pct.) ⇅ | Location quotient ⇅ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 7,310 | $160,180 | $98,910 | $213,030 | 2.78 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 2,150 | $159,300 | $90,730 | $204,290 | 1.71 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT | 810 | $140,300 | $68,160 | $187,310 | 1.80 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 1,150 | $138,390 | $104,070 | $156,210 | 0.61 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | 480 | $138,090 | $84,650 | $222,050 | 3.43 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 1,120 | $137,640 | $78,620 | $169,140 | 0.93 |
| Fresno, CA | 360 | $137,080 | $99,270 | $154,300 | 0.69 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 8,520 | $134,890 | $78,270 | $165,330 | 1.23 |
| Trenton-Princeton, NJ | 700 | $133,870 | $91,970 | $172,830 | 2.61 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 4,960 | $130,980 | $78,730 | $166,920 | 2.91 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 16,060 | $129,500 | $77,770 | $209,520 | 5.36 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 820 | $112,640 | $64,600 | $192,230 | 0.62 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 1,700 | $108,390 | $74,500 | $155,380 | 0.65 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 5,980 | $107,110 | $77,120 | $188,070 | 1.72 |
| Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 730 | $106,670 | $66,460 | $215,660 | 0.93 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 5,480 | $105,430 | $71,490 | $173,140 | 2.37 |
| Worcester, MA | 620 | $105,310 | $78,070 | $189,220 | 1.61 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 380 | $104,610 | $62,720 | $218,490 | 0.45 |
| Raleigh-Cary, NC | 1,110 | $104,500 | $65,210 | $167,250 | 1.35 |
| New Haven, CT | 650 | $104,310 | $78,380 | $174,950 | 2.09 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 2,560 | $103,410 | $76,750 | $173,480 | 1.72 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 10,090 | $103,360 | $74,840 | $182,980 | 0.96 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 8,020 | $102,950 | $63,230 | $210,130 | 2.50 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3,400 | $102,940 | $66,510 | $170,230 | 1.57 |
| Knoxville, TN | 640 | $102,720 | $59,680 | $153,770 | 1.36 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 350 | $101,390 | $67,240 | $177,090 | 0.60 |
| Wilmington, NC | 360 | $99,070 | $79,780 | $157,020 | 1.68 |
| Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 980 | $97,530 | $55,240 | $162,360 | 0.68 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 450 | $97,440 | $57,890 | $212,140 | 0.30 |
| Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 360 | $96,640 | $64,580 | $177,470 | 0.54 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 350 | $96,640 | $75,330 | $131,290 | 0.28 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 2,240 | $96,430 | $64,800 | $173,310 | 5.88 |
| Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 1,820 | $96,190 | $51,230 | $176,100 | 1.49 |
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 410 | $95,800 | $67,370 | $158,990 | 0.82 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 1,470 | $95,770 | $64,040 | $207,970 | 0.47 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 2,520 | $88,980 | $67,450 | $139,220 | 1.67 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 1,240 | $87,490 | $62,910 | $207,210 | 0.39 |
| Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 1,490 | $86,890 | $64,860 | $166,350 | 0.93 |
| Madison, WI | 1,920 | $85,570 | $62,850 | $133,770 | 4.24 |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 380 | $85,120 | $54,960 | $174,780 | 1.55 |
| Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 1,120 | $84,310 | $67,760 | $101,420 | 0.53 |
| Columbus, OH | 670 | $84,300 | $52,290 | $181,470 | 0.55 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3,810 | $83,240 | $64,500 | $143,510 | 0.76 |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | 1,330 | $82,940 | $68,860 | $134,090 | 1.46 |
| Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 400 | $82,880 | $64,160 | $130,260 | 0.44 |
| Huntsville, AL | 310 | $82,400 | $58,460 | $168,680 | 1.04 |
| Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 670 | $82,120 | $61,760 | $170,590 | 0.43 |
| Iowa City, IA | 470 | $81,580 | $67,190 | $102,760 | 4.48 |
| Omaha, NE-IA | 500 | $81,500 | $52,330 | $111,020 | 0.91 |
| Kansas City, MO-KS | 1,320 | $81,250 | $62,190 | $192,880 | 1.09 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 6,090 | $80,470 | $64,810 | $133,650 | 1.67 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ | 490 | $80,280 | $42,800 | $199,780 | 1.17 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,630 | $79,470 | $66,410 | $135,210 | 0.59 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 920 | $79,310 | $62,390 | $141,950 | 0.76 |
| Cleveland, OH | 1,310 | $78,800 | $66,390 | $103,780 | 1.15 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 750 | $77,720 | $60,220 | $134,270 | 0.60 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | 650 | $75,910 | $60,670 | $135,370 | 0.87 |
| Lansing-East Lansing, MI | 300 | $68,470 | $55,740 | $82,350 | 1.24 |
| Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | 320 | $66,420 | $44,150 | $107,890 | 1.69 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 730 | $65,540 | $55,240 | $134,940 | 5.74 |
The median is $103,410 a year ($49.72 an hour); the lowest-paid tenth earn under $64,800 and the highest-paid tenth over $177,780 (BLS OEWS, May 2025).
172,340 in May 2025, and BLS projects +12.6% growth to 2035.
The typical entry education is: Doctoral or professional degree (BLS).
California, with a median of $136,990 (among states with published figures).