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Medical Scientist Salary by State (2026)
How much does a Medical Scientist make? The median Medical Scientist salary in the US is about $106,230 per year (roughly $51.00 an hour), across 166,010 jobs (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). But pay swings widely by state — the median ranges from $54,040 in Mississippi to $136,990 in California. Pick your state below for the full pay range and an estimated take-home after taxes.
Median Medical Scientist salary in every state
| State | Median salary | Jobs |
| 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 |
| North Carolina | $102,980 | 5,730 |
| Tennessee | $102,720 | 4,020 |
| Missouri | $102,540 | 3,650 |
| Montana | $101,950 | 320 |
| District of Columbia | $101,940 | 670 |
| New Hampshire | $100,650 | 210 |
| Delaware | $100,190 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $99,190 | 12,630 |
| Nevada | $98,560 | 530 |
| Florida | $94,940 | 6,490 |
| Maine | $93,730 | 100 |
| Virginia | $93,620 | 4,560 |
| Georgia | $92,450 | 1,910 |
| Minnesota | $89,950 | 6,760 |
| New York | $87,760 | 7,690 |
| Kansas | $84,490 | 1,070 |
| Michigan | $84,310 | 2,370 |
| Ohio | $83,910 | 4,840 |
| Iowa | $83,850 | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $83,010 | 380 |
| Utah | $82,940 | 1,560 |
| West Virginia | $82,690 | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $82,530 | 2,970 |
| Illinois | $82,330 | 4,700 |
| Indiana | $81,110 | 2,010 |
| Nebraska | $80,970 | 620 |
| South Dakota | $80,890 | 140 |
| Texas | $80,470 | 11,920 |
| Kentucky | $77,580 | 670 |
| Oklahoma | $76,480 | 920 |
| Arkansas | $72,530 | 230 |
| Alabama | $68,490 | 0 |
| New Mexico | $67,100 | 340 |
| Vermont | $66,500 | 110 |
| North Dakota | $64,470 | 250 |
| Mississippi | $54,040 | 440 |
| South Carolina | — | 1,020 |
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Scientist make?
- A Medical Scientist makes a median of about $106,230 per year in the US (roughly $51.00 per hour), according to the latest BLS data. Pay ranges from $54,040 in Mississippi to $136,990 in California depending on the state.
- What is the average Medical Scientist salary in the US?
- The typical (employment-weighted median) Medical Scientist salary in the US is about $106,230 per year, based on the latest BLS data covering 166,010 jobs nationwide.
- Which state pays Medical Scientists the most?
- California has the highest median Medical Scientist salary at $136,990 per year. Remember that taxes and cost of living vary — a high gross salary can shrink after state taxes.
- Which state pays Medical Scientists the least?
- Mississippi has the lowest median at $54,040 per year. Lower-paying states often also have lower living costs and, in some cases, no state income tax.
Sources and methodology
All figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, code 19-1042). “Typical pay” is the employment-weighted average of state medians. Take-home estimates on state pages use 2026 federal and verified state tax rules from our PaycheckTally engine.