Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (SOC 19-1042) earn a median $103,410 a year ($49.72 an hour) in the United States, with 172,340 employed as of May 2025; the highest-paying state is California.
What medical scientists, except epidemiologists do
Medical scientists conduct research aimed at understanding human disease and improving health. Their work includes clinical investigation and research and development, and the SOC definition counts physicians, dentists, pharmacologists, and medical pathologists who primarily conduct research. Typical tasks include planning and directing studies of human or animal disease and ways to prevent or treat it, evaluating the effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at different levels, and preparing and analyzing organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms. Because the work involves hazardous materials, medical scientists follow strict safety procedures to avoid contamination. The category excludes epidemiologists, who study disease patterns in populations, and it differs from physicians who see patients, from biochemists and biophysicists whose focus is basic cell chemistry and physics, and from clinical laboratory technologists, who perform routine diagnostic tests. They also develop methods, instruments, and procedures for medical application, publish articles in scientific journals, and write applications for research grants.
Typical entry: According to O*NET, the most commonly reported education level is a doctoral degree.
Also called: Cancer Researcher, Clinical Researcher, Anatomist, Clinical Analyst, Chemotherapist.
National wage percentiles, May 2025
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||
| United States | Hourly | $31.15 | $38.39 | $49.72 | $67.01 | $85.47 | $56.18 | 172,340 |
| Annual | $64,800 | $79,840 | $103,410 | $139,380 | $177,780 | $116,840 | ||
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 medical scientists, except epidemiologists 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 | ||||||
| California | Hourly | $39.10 | $52.68 | $65.86 | $77.90 | $86.57 | $67.36 | 29,830 | 1.64 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $81,320 | $109,570 | $136,990 | $162,020 | $180,060 | $140,120 | ||||
| New Jersey | Hourly | $37.28 | $45.92 | $62.16 | $79.29 | $104.16 | $66.56 | 6,120 | 1.43 | 1.29 |
| Annual | $77,540 | $95,520 | $129,280 | $164,930 | $216,650 | $138,450 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $37.40 | $46.88 | $61.64 | $80.74 | $100.24 | $64.21 | 17,100 | 4.70 | 4.24 |
| Annual | $77,790 | $97,520 | $128,210 | $167,940 | $208,490 | $133,550 | ||||
| Connecticut | Hourly | $32.77 | $40.90 | $56.25 | $67.51 | $90.05 | $60.94 | 2,410 | 1.42 | 1.28 |
| Annual | $68,160 | $85,070 | $116,990 | $140,420 | $187,310 | $126,760 | ||||
| Arizona | Hourly | $33.86 | $39.34 | $56.16 | $65.51 | $74.30 | $55.64 | 2,190 | 0.68 | 0.61 |
| Annual | $70,430 | $81,840 | $116,820 | $136,260 | $154,550 | $115,730 | ||||
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 | $39.10 | $52.68 | $65.86 | $77.90 | $86.57 | $67.36 | 29,830 | 1.64 | 1.48 |
| Annual | $81,320 | $109,570 | $136,990 | $162,020 | $180,060 | $140,120 | ||||
| Massachusetts | Hourly | $37.40 | $46.88 | $61.64 | $80.74 | $100.24 | $64.21 | 17,100 | 4.70 | 4.24 |
| Annual | $77,790 | $97,520 | $128,210 | $167,940 | $208,490 | $133,550 | ||||
| Pennsylvania | Hourly | $29.56 | $36.86 | $47.69 | $77.16 | $103.22 | $57.98 | 12,630 | 2.08 | 1.88 |
| Annual | $61,490 | $76,660 | $99,190 | $160,500 | $214,690 | $120,600 | ||||
| Texas | Hourly | $30.71 | $32.22 | $38.69 | $51.01 | $69.26 | $44.95 | 11,920 | 0.85 | 0.76 |
| Annual | $63,870 | $67,010 | $80,470 | $106,110 | $144,060 | $93,490 | ||||
| New York | Hourly | $32.45 | $38.92 | $42.19 | $62.75 | $85.34 | $52.53 | 7,690 | 0.79 | 0.72 |
| Annual | $67,490 | $80,960 | $87,760 | $130,510 | $177,510 | $109,260 | ||||
Five highest-paying metropolitan areas
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Vallejo, CA | Hourly | $62.37 | $75.22 | $81.18 | $84.33 | $86.92 | $78.29 | 130 | 0.93 | 0.84 |
| Annual | $129,730 | $156,450 | $168,860 | $175,410 | $180,790 | $162,840 | ||||
| Topeka, KS | Hourly | $30.32 | $49.23 | $78.27 | $105.25 | $105.34 | $78.20 | 80 | 0.68 | 0.62 |
| Annual | $63,060 | $102,390 | $162,810 | $218,920 | $219,100 | $162,650 | ||||
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | Hourly | $30.67 | $38.13 | $78.00 | $101.62 | $171.68 | $77.23 | 200 | 0.51 | 0.46 |
| Annual | $63,790 | $79,310 | $162,230 | $211,360 | $357,080 | $160,640 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $47.55 | $62.06 | $77.01 | $83.63 | $102.42 | $75.74 | 7,310 | 3.08 | 2.78 |
| Annual | $98,910 | $129,090 | $160,180 | $173,960 | $213,030 | $157,540 | ||||
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | Hourly | $43.62 | $58.72 | $76.59 | $85.98 | $98.22 | $74.24 | 2,150 | 1.89 | 1.71 |
| Annual | $90,730 | $122,130 | $159,300 | $178,840 | $204,290 | $154,410 | ||||
Five metropolitan areas with the most jobs
| Area | Basis | Percentile wage | Mean | Employment | Jobs per 1,000 | Location quotient | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th | ||||||
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | Hourly | $37.39 | $46.88 | $62.26 | $80.78 | $100.73 | $64.30 | 16,060 | 5.94 | 5.36 |
| Annual | $77,770 | $97,520 | $129,500 | $168,020 | $209,520 | $133,740 | ||||
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | Hourly | $35.98 | $39.14 | $49.69 | $67.87 | $87.97 | $58.37 | 10,090 | 1.06 | 0.96 |
| Annual | $74,840 | $81,420 | $103,360 | $141,170 | $182,980 | $121,410 | ||||
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | Hourly | $37.63 | $51.62 | $64.85 | $71.39 | $79.49 | $63.40 | 8,520 | 1.36 | 1.23 |
| Annual | $78,270 | $107,380 | $134,890 | $148,480 | $165,330 | $131,870 | ||||
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | Hourly | $30.40 | $39.04 | $49.49 | $78.24 | $101.03 | $59.03 | 8,020 | 2.77 | 2.50 |
| Annual | $63,230 | $81,200 | $102,950 | $162,730 | $210,130 | $122,780 | ||||
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | Hourly | $47.55 | $62.06 | $77.01 | $83.63 | $102.42 | $75.74 | 7,310 | 3.08 | 2.78 |
| Annual | $98,910 | $129,090 | $160,180 | $173,960 | $213,030 | $157,540 | ||||
Top industries employing medical scientists, except epidemiologists
Scientific Research and Development Services employ 34.1% of medical scientists, except epidemiologists nationally (58,820 jobs) at a median $125,740 a year ($60.45 an hour), followed by General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (20.9%) and Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (16.8%).
| Industry | Employment | Share of occupation | Median annual | Median hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Research and Development Services NAICS 541700 | 58,820 | 34.1% | $125,740 | $60.45 |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals NAICS 622100 | 35,950 | 20.9% | $96,760 | $46.52 |
| Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools NAICS 611300 | 28,940 | 16.8% | $80,210 | $38.56 |
| Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories NAICS 621500 | 10,940 | 6.3% | $81,910 | $39.38 |
| Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing NAICS 325400 | 6,940 | 4.0% | $106,800 | $51.35 |
Share is the industry's employment over the occupation's national employment (172,340). Industries whose employment BLS withheld are not ranked.
Published medians, May 2021 to May 2025
BLS published a median annual wage of $95,310 for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in May 2021 and $103,410 in May 2025, with employment of 108,550 and 172,340.
| Release | Median annual | Median hourly | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2021 | $95,310 | $45.82 | 108,550 |
| May 2022 | $99,930 | $48.04 | 110,550 |
| May 2023 | $100,890 | $48.50 | 136,620 |
| May 2024 | $100,590 | $48.36 | 156,300 |
| May 2025 | $103,410 | $49.72 | 172,340 |
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
47 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 | California profile | $65.86 | $136,990 | $81,320 | $180,060 | 29,830 | 1.64 | 1.48 |
| 2 | New Jersey profile | $62.16 | $129,280 | $77,540 | $216,650 | 6,120 | 1.43 | 1.29 |
| 3 | Massachusetts profile | $61.64 | $128,210 | $77,790 | $208,490 | 17,100 | 4.70 | 4.24 |
| 4 | Connecticut profile | $56.25 | $116,990 | $68,160 | $187,310 | 2,410 | 1.42 | 1.28 |
| 5 | Arizona profile | $56.16 | $116,820 | $70,430 | $154,550 | 2,190 | 0.68 | 0.61 |
| 6 | Oregon profile | $53.38 | $111,030 | $69,720 | $205,870 | 1,030 | 0.53 | 0.47 |
| 7 | Maryland profile | $50.96 | $106,000 | $71,150 | $172,520 | 6,760 | 2.45 | 2.21 |
| 8 | Washington profile | $50.81 | $105,680 | $69,500 | $173,140 | 6,150 | 1.73 | 1.56 |
| 9 | Alaska profile | $50.45 | $104,930 | $78,000 | $156,850 | 260 | 0.81 | 0.73 |
| 10 | Rhode Island profile | $49.70 | $103,370 | $66,370 | $218,940 | 670 | 1.35 | 1.21 |
| 11 | North Carolina profile | $49.51 | $102,980 | $63,800 | $171,170 | 5,730 | 1.16 | 1.05 |
| 12 | Tennessee profile | $49.39 | $102,720 | $63,500 | $155,100 | 4,020 | 1.23 | 1.11 |
| 13 | Missouri profile | $49.30 | $102,540 | $64,160 | $173,480 | 3,650 | 1.24 | 1.12 |
| 14 | Montana profile | $49.02 | $101,950 | $63,820 | $139,770 | 320 | 0.63 | 0.57 |
| 15 | District of Columbia profile | $49.01 | $101,940 | $66,100 | $195,190 | 670 | 0.96 | 0.86 |
| 16 | New Hampshire profile | $48.39 | $100,650 | $70,090 | $150,030 | 210 | 0.31 | 0.28 |
| 17 | Delaware profile | $48.17 | $100,190 | $65,520 | $214,040 | 270 | 0.56 | 0.50 |
| 18 | Pennsylvania profile | $47.69 | $99,190 | $61,490 | $214,690 | 12,630 | 2.08 | 1.88 |
| 19 | Nevada profile | $47.38 | $98,560 | $77,990 | $125,100 | 530 | 0.34 | 0.31 |
| 20 | Florida profile | $45.65 | $94,940 | $64,630 | $208,090 | 6,490 | 0.65 | 0.59 |
| 21 | Maine profile | $45.06 | $93,730 | $62,970 | $216,940 | 100 | 0.16 | 0.15 |
| 22 | Virginia profile | $45.01 | $93,620 | $65,540 | $186,810 | 4,560 | 1.11 | 1.00 |
| 23 | Georgia profile | $44.45 | $92,450 | $61,640 | $208,000 | 1,910 | 0.39 | 0.35 |
| 24 | Minnesota profile | $43.25 | $89,950 | $65,140 | $141,070 | 6,760 | 2.29 | 2.07 |
| 25 | New York profile | $42.19 | $87,760 | $67,490 | $177,510 | 7,690 | 0.79 | 0.72 |
| 26 | Kansas profile | $40.62 | $84,490 | $62,190 | $219,100 | 1,070 | 0.75 | 0.67 |
| 27 | Michigan profile | $40.53 | $84,310 | $63,590 | $144,530 | 2,370 | 0.54 | 0.49 |
| 28 | Ohio profile | $40.34 | $83,910 | $60,080 | $173,450 | 4,840 | 0.87 | 0.79 |
| 29 | Iowa profile | $40.31 | $83,850 | $59,580 | $142,140 | 1,060 | 0.68 | 0.61 |
| 30 | Idaho profile | $39.91 | $83,010 | $59,680 | $288,280 | 380 | 0.45 | 0.40 |
| 31 | Utah profile | $39.88 | $82,940 | $65,310 | $139,050 | 1,560 | 0.90 | 0.81 |
| 32 | West Virginia profile | $39.76 | $82,690 | $61,950 | $173,900 | 330 | 0.47 | 0.42 |
| 33 | Wisconsin profile | $39.68 | $82,530 | $62,850 | $128,680 | 2,970 | 1.01 | 0.91 |
| 34 | Illinois profile | $39.58 | $82,330 | $59,550 | $143,890 | 4,700 | 0.77 | 0.70 |
| 35 | Indiana profile | $39.00 | $81,110 | $63,510 | $151,510 | 2,010 | 0.63 | 0.57 |
| 36 | Nebraska profile | $38.93 | $80,970 | $52,330 | $111,020 | 620 | 0.60 | 0.54 |
| 37 | South Dakota profile | $38.89 | $80,890 | $59,470 | $127,120 | 140 | 0.31 | 0.28 |
| 38 | Texas profile | $38.69 | $80,470 | $63,870 | $144,060 | 11,920 | 0.85 | 0.76 |
| 39 | Kentucky profile | $37.30 | $77,580 | $55,320 | $162,590 | 670 | 0.33 | 0.30 |
| 40 | Oklahoma profile | $36.77 | $76,480 | $60,670 | $140,020 | 920 | 0.54 | 0.48 |
| 41 | Arkansas profile | $34.87 | $72,530 | $63,050 | $183,430 | 230 | 0.18 | 0.16 |
| 42 | Alabama profile | $32.93 | $68,490 | $51,140 | $135,150 | ** | ** | ** |
| 43 | New Mexico profile | $32.26 | $67,100 | $40,660 | $104,710 | 340 | 0.39 | 0.36 |
| 44 | Vermont profile | $31.97 | $66,500 | $66,500 | $115,020 | 110 | 0.37 | 0.33 |
| 45 | North Dakota profile | $31.00 | $64,470 | $51,170 | $103,220 | 250 | 0.59 | 0.53 |
| 46 | Mississippi profile | $25.98 | $54,040 | $41,360 | $84,350 | 440 | 0.38 | 0.34 |
| – | South Carolina profile | * | * | * | * | 1,020 | 0.44 | 0.40 |
Related occupations
Occupations in the same SOC broad group (19-1040), with their national median annual wage.
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 19-1042 Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists.
*- 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 19-1042, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (public domain).
- O*NET 30.1 Database, 19-1042.00, 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.