Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists Salary: How Much Do They Make? (2026)

Median pay, hourly rates, salary ranges, and best-paying states for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists — from official U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Official BLS wage data · Unknown vintage
Median Salary
$103,410
per year, national
Hourly Rate
$49.72
based on 2,080 hrs/yr
Top 10% Earn
$177,780
entry level starts ~$64,800
Pay Grade
A
excellent pay · 172,000 employed

How much does a Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists make?

A Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists earns a median annual salary of $103,410 in the United States, which works out to roughly $49.72 per hour for full-time work. Most Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earn between $64,800 at the entry level and $177,780 at the senior end, with the middle 50% taking home between $79,840 and $139,380 a year.

That is $42,020 more than the median across all occupations in BLS data ($61,390).

Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists salary range by percentile

Half of all Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earn between $79,840 and $139,380 a year.

Pay levelAnnual salaryHourly rate
10th percentile (entry level)$64,800$31.15
25th percentile (early career)$79,840$38.38
50th percentile (median)$103,410$49.72
75th percentile (experienced)$139,380$67.01
90th percentile (top earners)$177,780$85.47

Highest-paying states for Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists

Where you work matters more than almost anything else. California leads the country for Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists pay at $136,990 a year, followed by New Jersey ($129,280) and Massachusetts ($128,210). At the other end, Mississippi posts the lowest median at $54,040 — a gap of $82,950 for the same job, driven by local demand, industry mix, and cost of living.

#StateMedian salaryHourlyvs national
1California$136,990$65.86+32%
2New Jersey$129,280$62.15+25%
3Massachusetts$128,210$61.64+24%
4Connecticut$116,990$56.25+13%
5Arizona$116,820$56.16+13%

Workforce and education

About 172,000 people work as Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the United States. The mean (average) wage is $116,840 — above the median, which means high earners pull the average up. On qualifications: a doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required, per O*NET occupation data.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists make in the United States?
The median Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists salary in the United States is $103,410 per year, or about $49.72 per hour, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates. Entry-level pay (10th percentile) starts around $64,800, while the top 10% of earners make $177,780 or more.
How does Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists pay compare to other jobs?
With a pay grade of A (excellent pay), the Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists median of $103,410 is above the national median across all occupations tracked in BLS data ($61,390).
Which state pays Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists the most?
California is the highest-paying state for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, with a median salary of $136,990 per year, based on official state-level BLS wage estimates.
How long does it take to become a Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists?
Becoming a Medical Scientist, Except Epidemiologists typically requires 8 or more years of higher education. A doctoral or professional degree (8 or more years of higher education) is required.
How many Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists work in the United States?
About 172,000 people were employed as Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the United States in the latest BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics estimates.

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Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), Unknown vintage. Education requirements: O*NET (U.S. Department of Labor). Percentiles, employment, and state figures are official BLS estimates; hourly figures assume 2,080 hours/year. Individual pay varies by employer, experience, and location.