Life Scientists, All Other
Life Scientists, All Other (SOC 19-1099) earn a median $93,750 a year ($45.07 an hour) in the United States, with 7,460 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is South Carolina.
What life scientists, all other do
Life scientists, all other, is the residual category for life scientists whose work does not match any of the more specific classifications, such as biological scientists, agricultural and food scientists, conservation scientists, medical scientists, or epidemiologists. People here study living things and their processes, and their jobs may involve laboratory research, field collection and identification, or the analysis of biological evidence or specimens. Titles reported to O*NET under this heading include embryologists, forensic scientists, taxonomists who classify organisms, and people who collect specimens for aquariums, which shows the range of what falls here. Because the category is a catch-all, the tasks, the education required, and the pay depend on the specialty and the employer, and the data used for this page do not give a single set of tasks or a single education level for the group. Morphologist and olericulturist are also listed titles, and within the SOC the group covers any life scientist who has no more specific code.
Also called: Forensic Scientist, Embryologist, Life Science Taxonomist, Morphologist, Collector of Aquarium Specimens.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $28.21 | $33.17 | $45.07 | $63.42 | $89.55 | $51.86 | 7,460 |
| Annual | $58,670 | $68,990 | $93,750 | $131,910 | $186,260 | $107,860 | ||
Employment per 1,000 jobs and the location quotient are area measures; they appear in the state and metro tables below. To see what a wage in this range leaves after tax, use FastCalc's take-home pay calculator.
Where life scientists, all other earn and work most
Five highest-paying states
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| South Carolina | Hourly | $54.04 | $65.86 | $81.46 | $98.48 | $98.53 | $80.18 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $112,400 | $136,990 | $169,440 | $204,840 | $204,940 | $166,780 | ||||
| District of Columbia | Hourly | $42.15 | $68.08 | $80.60 | $115.99 | $116.01 | $83.76 | 50 | 0.08 | 1.57 |
| Annual | $87,670 | $141,610 | $167,640 | $241,260 | $241,300 | $174,210 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $40.00 | $45.00 | $60.22 | $85.21 | $93.84 | $63.37 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.55 |
| Annual | $83,200 | $93,600 | $125,260 | $177,250 | $195,190 | $131,800 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $50.48 | $52.36 | $58.93 | $59.74 | $94.33 | $61.64 | ** | ** | ** |
| Annual | $104,990 | $108,910 | $122,580 | $124,260 | $196,210 | $128,220 | ||||
| Oregon | Hourly | $36.78 | $40.49 | $54.55 | $62.25 | $89.45 | $57.44 | 160 | 0.08 | 1.65 |
| Annual | $76,510 | $84,220 | $113,450 | $129,480 | $186,050 | $119,470 | ||||
Five states with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $30.25 | $38.41 | $49.44 | $69.03 | $90.17 | $56.50 | 860 | 0.05 | 0.99 |
| Annual | $62,910 | $79,880 | $102,830 | $143,590 | $187,550 | $117,510 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $17.57 | $21.84 | $39.06 | $47.91 | $51.84 | $37.08 | 510 | 0.04 | 0.75 |
| Annual | $36,550 | $45,430 | $81,230 | $99,650 | $107,830 | $77,130 | ||||
| Louisiana | Hourly | $26.06 | $28.94 | $36.77 | $47.65 | $81.46 | $42.44 | 430 | 0.22 | 4.68 |
| Annual | $54,190 | $60,200 | $76,480 | $99,110 | $169,430 | $88,280 | ||||
| Maryland | Hourly | $39.98 | $45.13 | $52.74 | $65.51 | $82.22 | $58.61 | 420 | 0.15 | 3.14 |
| Annual | $83,160 | $93,870 | $109,700 | $136,250 | $171,020 | $121,910 | ||||
| Virginia | Hourly | $28.79 | $31.04 | $39.23 | $56.69 | $68.05 | $46.52 | 350 | 0.09 | 1.77 |
| Annual | $59,870 | $64,560 | $81,600 | $117,920 | $141,550 | $96,770 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $37.08 | $48.88 | $64.81 | $83.82 | $90.17 | $67.29 | 170 | 0.07 | 1.47 |
| Annual | $77,120 | $101,670 | $134,810 | $174,350 | $187,550 | $139,970 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $43.57 | $49.87 | $60.63 | $78.01 | $115.99 | $66.87 | 340 | 0.11 | 2.24 |
| Annual | $90,620 | $103,740 | $126,120 | $162,260 | $241,260 | $139,090 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $33.93 | $44.74 | $60.30 | $94.11 | $129.85 | $73.28 | 60 | 0.05 | 1.12 |
| Annual | $70,570 | $93,070 | $125,430 | $195,740 | $270,090 | $152,410 | ||||
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | Hourly | $51.85 | $56.34 | $59.74 | $59.74 | $95.01 | $65.18 | 70 | 0.03 | 0.60 |
| Annual | $107,840 | $117,200 | $124,260 | $124,260 | $197,620 | $135,570 | ||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $39.17 | $44.19 | $55.40 | $75.72 | $88.15 | $60.78 | 100 | 0.04 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $81,470 | $91,920 | $115,230 | $157,500 | $183,350 | $126,430 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | Hourly | $30.74 | $39.42 | $50.89 | $72.21 | $83.77 | $57.37 | 460 | 1.34 | 28.02 |
| Annual | $63,940 | $81,990 | $105,850 | $150,190 | $174,250 | $119,330 | ||||
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | Hourly | $43.57 | $49.87 | $60.63 | $78.01 | $115.99 | $66.87 | 340 | 0.11 | 2.24 |
| Annual | $90,620 | $103,740 | $126,120 | $162,260 | $241,260 | $139,090 | ||||
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | Hourly | $23.29 | $28.94 | $28.94 | $39.14 | $58.07 | $37.67 | 270 | 0.61 | 12.60 |
| Annual | $48,450 | $60,200 | $60,200 | $81,410 | $120,780 | $78,360 | ||||
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | Hourly | $17.57 | $17.57 | $29.54 | $49.46 | $49.46 | $33.11 | 230 | 0.07 | 1.44 |
| Annual | $36,550 | $36,550 | $61,440 | $102,880 | $102,880 | $68,880 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $28.94 | $41.34 | $50.36 | $76.68 | $112.79 | $60.76 | 230 | 0.04 | 0.78 |
| Annual | $60,200 | $85,990 | $104,740 | $159,490 | $234,590 | $126,380 | ||||
Top industries employing life scientists, all other
Scientific Research and Development Services employ 21.4% of life scientists, all other nationally (1,600 jobs) at a median $110,150 a year ($52.96 an hour), followed by Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (20.0%) and State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) (13.9%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 1,600 | 21.4% | $110,150 | $52.96 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 1,490 | 20.0% | $74,710 | $35.92 |
| State Government, excluding Schools and Hospitals (OEWS Designation) NAICS 999200 | 1,040 | 13.9% | $79,800 | $38.37 |
| Employment Services NAICS 561300 | 680 | 9.1% | $96,360 | $46.33 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing NAICS 325400 | 340 | 4.6% | $96,490 | $46.39 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (7,460). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $81,500 for life scientists, all other in May 2021 and $93,750 in May 2025, with employment of 6,820 and 7,460.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $81,500 | $39.18 | 6,820 |
| May 2022 | $83,930 | $40.35 | 8,320 |
| May 2023 | $86,950 | $41.80 | 7,490 |
| May 2024 | $87,800 | $42.21 | 7,320 |
| May 2025 | $93,750 | $45.07 | 7,460 |
BLS does not design OEWS as a time series: each release pools three years of samples, and occupational classifications, area definitions and estimation methods change between releases, so a difference between two releases is not a measure of change over time. The figures are shown as published, side by side, and nothing is computed from them. See how often OEWS is updated.
Every state, by median wage
33 states and DC publish a row for this occupation. A linked state has its own page with the within-state metro table and comparison; the others appear here only.
| Rank | State | Median hourly | Median annual | 10th pct (annual) | 90th pct (annual) | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina profile | $81.46 | $169,440 | $112,400 | $204,940 | ** | ** | ** |
| 2 | District of Columbia profile | $80.60 | $167,640 | $87,670 | $241,300 | 50 | 0.08 | 1.57 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $60.22 | $125,260 | $83,200 | $195,190 | 100 | 0.03 | 0.55 |
| 4 | Arizona profile | $58.93 | $122,580 | $104,990 | $196,210 | ** | ** | ** |
| 5 | Oregon profile | $54.55 | $113,450 | $76,510 | $186,050 | 160 | 0.08 | 1.65 |
| 6 | Alabama profile | $53.15 | $110,560 | $80,110 | $148,920 | 50 | 0.03 | 0.51 |
| 7 | Maryland profile | $52.74 | $109,700 | $83,160 | $171,020 | 420 | 0.15 | 3.14 |
| 8 | Tennessee profile | $52.30 | $108,770 | $98,020 | $121,330 | 40 | 0.01 | 0.24 |
| 9 | New Jersey profile | $49.95 | $103,890 | $83,200 | $146,490 | 110 | 0.03 | 0.53 |
| 10 | California profile | $49.44 | $102,830 | $62,910 | $187,550 | 860 | 0.05 | 0.99 |
| 11 | Washington profile | $48.28 | $100,420 | $64,740 | $125,460 | 240 | 0.07 | 1.40 |
| 12 | Florida profile | $44.18 | $91,900 | $62,810 | $174,990 | 80 | 0.01 | 0.16 |
| 13 | New York profile | $41.73 | $86,790 | $61,970 | $159,970 | 250 | 0.03 | 0.53 |
| 14 | Wisconsin profile | $40.91 | $85,080 | $67,380 | $143,440 | ** | ** | ** |
| 15 | Georgia profile | $40.38 | $83,990 | $48,980 | $110,950 | 170 | 0.03 | 0.70 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania profile | $40.23 | $83,680 | $62,400 | $167,380 | 290 | 0.05 | 0.99 |
| 17 | Alaska profile | $39.53 | $82,220 | $55,300 | $123,910 | 40 | 0.14 | 2.84 |
| 18 | New Hampshire profile | $39.24 | $81,610 | $63,860 | $104,990 | 90 | 0.14 | 2.87 |
| 19 | Virginia profile | $39.23 | $81,600 | $59,870 | $141,550 | 350 | 0.09 | 1.77 |
| 20 | Texas profile | $39.06 | $81,230 | $36,550 | $107,830 | 510 | 0.04 | 0.75 |
| 21 | Missouri profile | $38.36 | $79,780 | $66,720 | $113,560 | 190 | 0.06 | 1.32 |
| 22 | Louisiana profile | $36.77 | $76,480 | $54,190 | $169,430 | 430 | 0.22 | 4.68 |
| 23 | Kentucky profile | $36.38 | $75,670 | $68,190 | $87,330 | 100 | 0.05 | 1.03 |
| 24 | Hawaii profile | $34.61 | $71,990 | $62,020 | $98,990 | 50 | 0.08 | 1.66 |
| 25 | Indiana profile | $33.37 | $69,410 | $42,280 | $127,350 | 30 | 0.01 | 0.21 |
| 26 | Idaho profile | $33.17 | $68,990 | $54,690 | $106,720 | 80 | 0.09 | 1.85 |
| 27 | Colorado profile | $31.85 | $66,250 | $42,140 | $161,990 | 40 | 0.02 | 0.31 |
| 28 | Illinois profile | $31.82 | $66,190 | $52,790 | $75,460 | 160 | 0.03 | 0.53 |
| 29 | Minnesota profile | $31.06 | $64,610 | $41,120 | $102,950 | ** | ** | ** |
| 30 | Iowa profile | $30.90 | $64,270 | $63,160 | $100,500 | 110 | 0.07 | 1.47 |
| 31 | Michigan profile | $30.75 | $63,960 | $63,960 | $97,630 | 90 | 0.02 | 0.43 |
| 32 | Ohio profile | $30.26 | $62,950 | $46,550 | $162,690 | 50 | 0.01 | 0.18 |
| – | Rhode Island profile | * | * | * | * | 90 | 0.19 | 3.89 |
Part of Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations. Compare any area in the wage explorer.
Source and notes
Data: BLS OEWS May 2025, released 2026-05-15. Cross-industry estimates, all ownerships. BLS page: OEWS 19-1099 Life Scientists, All Other.
*- Wage estimate not available.
**- Employment estimate not available.
- Annual wages assume 2,080 hours a year at the hourly rate; occupations BLS publishes on one basis only show an en dash (–) on the other.
- Employment is rounded to the nearest 10 by BLS. Where BLS withholds a cell, nothing is estimated in its place.
- Top industries: nat4d_M2025_dl.xlsx in oesm25in4.zip (BLS OEWS May 2025, national, 4-digit NAICS, cross-ownership). Employment is the industry's rounded total for this occupation; industries whose employment BLS withheld (**) are not ranked.
- Published medians: national_M2021_dl.xlsx to national_M2024_dl.xlsx in oesm21nat.zip to oesm24nat.zip (BLS OEWS May 2021 to May 2024, national, cross-industry, all ownerships) and the May 2025 spine. Each release is shown as published; nothing is computed between them.
Sources
- BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018, definition of 19-1099, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-1099.00, National Center for O*NET Development, USDOL/ETA (CC BY 4.0).
- OEWS May 2025 national industry-specific estimates, 4-digit NAICS (oesm25in4.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2021 national estimates (oesm21nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2022 national estimates (oesm22nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2023 national estimates (oesm23nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2024 national estimates (oesm24nat.zip), US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- OEWS May 2025 national estimates (oesm25nat.zip), the site's data spine, US Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
Includes information from O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 license.
Description written 2026-10-17 in our own words from the sources above.