Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary - BLS OEWS Wage Benchmarks
SOC 19-1042 · National · May 2025 OEWS Data
Median Annual Salary
$103,418
$49.72/hr
Verified BLS OEWS data · Updated May 18, 2026
Source: BLS OEWS · Published May 15, 2026
Next refresh: May 2027
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The national median salary for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists is $103,418 per year ($49.72/hr) according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025. The middle 50% of earners make between $79,851 and $139,381 annually. Top earners at the 90th percentile reach $177,778 per year. There are approximately 172,340 medical scientists, except epidemiologists employed in the United States.
About This Role
BLS Standard Occupational Classification 2018
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities. Includes physicians, dentists, pharmacologists, and medical pathologists who primarily conduct research. Practitioners who primarily provide medical or dental care or dispense drugs are included in “Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners” (29-1000).
Career Outlook
BLS Employment Projections · 2024-2034
10-year growth
+8.7%
Much faster than average
Annual openings
10K
per year, on avg
Workforce today
165K
as of 2024
Why those openings exist
15% from new growth85% from people leaving the role
Most openings come from replacement, not growth. Retention matters more than recruiting here.
Typical entry requirements
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Industry Wage Breakdown
Top 5 industries by employment · median annual wage, sector-specific
Industry
Workforce
Median Pay
Scientific Research and Development Services
NAICS 541700
59K
$125,740
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals
NAICS 622100
36K
$96,760
Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools
NAICS 611300
29K
$80,210
Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories
NAICS 621500
11K
$81,910
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
NAICS 325400
7K
$106,800
Wage range across top 5 industries: $80,210 to $125,740 (57% spread)
Wage Percentiles
Hourly & annualized (2,080 hours)
Percentile
Hourly Rate
Annual Salary
P10
$31.15
$64,792
P25
$38.39
$79,851
P50MEDIAN
$49.72
$103,418
P75
$67.01
$139,381
P90
$85.47
$177,778
Market Context Signal
JOLTS · professional sector
Cooling
Openings Rate
4.2%
Quits Rate
2.0%
Professional & Business Services openings tumbled 318K in March -- the largest single-sector drop in this release. Openings rate fell from 5.5% to 4.2%. Layoffs jumped to 527K (+99K). White-collar demand has cooled abruptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary?
The national median salary for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists is $103,418 per year ($49.72/hr) according to BLS OEWS May 2025 data. The middle 50% earn between $79,851 and $139,381 annually.
How much do top-earning medical scientists, except epidemiologists make?
The 90th percentile salary for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists is $177,778 per year ($85.47/hr). The 75th percentile is $139,381 per year.
What is the entry-level salary for medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
Entry-level Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (10th percentile) earn approximately $64,792 per year ($31.15/hr). The 25th percentile is $79,851 per year.
Wage figures on this page come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2025 release. OEWS surveys roughly 1.1 million establishments annually. It is the most comprehensive employer-reported wage dataset in the United States.
P10 through P90 percentiles represent the wage distribution across all surveyed employers (not self-reported by workers). Geographic adjustments use BLS-derived cost multipliers calibrated from regional wage variation.
Wages are estimates. Individual compensation depends on experience, education, employer size, industry, and negotiation. Use this as benchmark context, not absolute ground truth.
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