Salaries › Medical Scientist › California
Medical Scientist Salary in California (2026)
$65.86 per hour · take-home ≈ $96,235/year ($8,020/month) for a single filer
California is the highest-paying state in the country for Medical Scientists, with a median about 29% above the national average. Of the 29,830 Medical Scientist jobs BLS counts in California, the typical worker earns $136,990 a year — though pay ranges from $81,320 for newcomers to $180,060 at the top.
Medical Scientist pay range in California
| Percentile | Annual wage | Meaning |
| 10th percentile (entry) | $81,320 | Lowest-paid 10% earn less than this |
| 25th percentile | $109,570 | A quarter earn less |
| Median (50th) | $136,990 | Half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $162,020 | Top quarter starts here |
| 90th percentile (top) | $180,060 | Highest-paid 10% earn more than this |
BLS reports 29,830 Medical Scientist jobs in California (occupation code 19-1042, “Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists”).
Gross vs. take-home in California
A median Medical Scientist salary of $136,990 doesn’t all reach your bank account. After federal income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, plus California state income tax, a single filer keeps about $96,235 — an effective tax rate of 29.8%.
| Gross (median) | $136,990 |
| Federal income tax | −$21,612 |
| Social Security + Medicare | −$10,480 |
| California state income tax | −$8,663 |
| Take-home (annual) | $96,235 |
| Take-home (monthly) | $8,020 |
Want your exact numbers — married, 401(k), different salary? Use the free California paycheck calculator on PaycheckTally.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does a Medical Scientist make in California?
- The median Medical Scientist salary in California is $136,990 per year ($65.86 per hour) according to the latest BLS data. The middle 50% earn between $109,570 and $162,020.
- What is the take-home pay for a Medical Scientist in California?
- On the median salary of $136,990, a single filer in California takes home about $96,235 per year ($8,020 per month) after federal tax, FICA, and state income tax — an effective tax rate of 29.8%.
- How many Medical Scientist jobs are there in California?
- BLS counts 29,830 Medical Scientist jobs in California in the latest survey (May 2025).
Top-paying states for Medical Scientists
Other salaries in California
Sources and methodology
Wage and employment figures: BLS OEWS May 2025 (state file, released April 2026) — the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey, the most authoritative public salary dataset. Take-home estimate: 2026 federal brackets, FICA, and verified California state tax rules (single filer, standard deduction, no credits or local taxes). Estimates only — not financial advice.
- BLS OEWS — official occupational wage data.
- PaycheckTally — interactive 2026 take-home calculator for California.