Medical Scientist salary
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
A medical scientist earns a median of $103,410 a year ($49.72 an hour) in the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The average is $116,840. About 172,340 people work in this job.
Take-home pay on $103,410
- Gross pay
- $3,977.31
- Federal income tax
- −$535.39
- Social Security (6.2%)
- −$246.59
- Medicare (1.45%)
- −$57.67
- Texas income tax
- $0.00No state income tax on wages
- Take-home pay
- $3,137.65
Annual breakdown
- Gross
- $103,410
- Federal
- $13,920
- FICA
- $7,911
- State + local
- $0
- Net
- $81,579
- Marginal federal rate
- 22.0%
- Marginal state rate
- 0.0%
2026 federal brackets (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) and 2026 state rules. Estimates assume wages are your only income and use annual liability, so your actual withholding can differ slightly.
Medical Scientist salary by state
| State | Median salary | Average | Employed |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | $136,990 | $140,120 | 29,830 |
| New Jersey | $129,280 | $138,450 | 6,120 |
| Massachusetts | $128,210 | $133,550 | 17,100 |
| Connecticut | $116,990 | $126,760 | 2,410 |
| Arizona | $116,820 | $115,730 | 2,190 |
| Oregon | $111,030 | $128,970 | 1,030 |
| Maryland | $106,000 | $115,930 | 6,760 |
| Washington | $105,680 | $117,840 | 6,150 |
| Alaska | $104,930 | $118,230 | 260 |
| Rhode Island | $103,370 | $121,140 | 670 |
| North Carolina | $102,980 | $112,360 | 5,730 |
| Tennessee | $102,720 | $108,390 | 4,020 |
| Missouri | $102,540 | $108,870 | 3,650 |
| Montana | $101,950 | $97,050 | 320 |
| District of Columbia | $101,940 | $119,310 | 670 |
| New Hampshire | $100,650 | $106,480 | 210 |
| Delaware | $100,190 | $118,280 | 270 |
| Pennsylvania | $99,190 | $120,600 | 12,630 |
| Nevada | $98,560 | $102,580 | 530 |
| Florida | $94,940 | $121,850 | 6,490 |
| Maine | $93,730 | $122,260 | 100 |
| Virginia | $93,620 | $127,300 | 4,560 |
| Georgia | $92,450 | $112,050 | 1,910 |
| Minnesota | $89,950 | $100,870 | 6,760 |
| New York | $87,760 | $109,260 | 7,690 |
| Kansas | $84,490 | $110,210 | 1,070 |
| Michigan | $84,310 | $93,090 | 2,370 |
| Ohio | $83,910 | $98,090 | 4,840 |
| Iowa | $83,850 | $96,170 | 1,060 |
| Idaho | $83,010 | $112,420 | 380 |
| Utah | $82,940 | $96,700 | 1,560 |
| West Virginia | $82,690 | $100,220 | 330 |
| Wisconsin | $82,530 | $91,070 | 2,970 |
| Illinois | $82,330 | $93,230 | 4,700 |
| Indiana | $81,110 | $98,910 | 2,010 |
| Nebraska | $80,970 | $84,250 | 620 |
| South Dakota | $80,890 | $83,870 | 140 |
| Texas | $80,470 | $93,490 | 11,920 |
| Kentucky | $77,580 | $95,680 | 670 |
| Oklahoma | $76,480 | $89,160 | 920 |
| Arkansas | $72,530 | $90,290 | 230 |
| Alabama | $68,490 | $84,100 | — |
| New Mexico | $67,100 | $73,930 | 340 |
| Vermont | $66,500 | $89,910 | 110 |
| North Dakota | $64,470 | $75,640 | 250 |
| Mississippi | $54,040 | $61,000 | 440 |
Similar jobs
- Geographer: $102,040
- Geoscientist: $101,920
- Social Scientist and Related Worker: $101,110
- Sociologist: $106,030
- Clinical and Counseling Psychologist: $100,580
- Atmospheric and Space Scientist: $99,070
- Biological Scientist: $98,920
- Hydrologist: $96,600
BLS occupation: Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 (SOC 19-1042). Excludes the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical scientist make an hour?
The median hourly wage is $49.72; the average is $56.18.
Which state pays medical scientists the most?
California ($136,990 median), followed by New Jersey and Massachusetts.
What is the salary range for a medical scientist?
The bottom 10% earn under $64,800 and the top 10% earn over $177,780 a year.
How much is $103,410 after taxes?
About $81,579 a year in Texas (no state income tax) or $74,862 in California for a single filer in 2026.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.