Life Scientists, All Other salary in the U.S.
Life Scientists, All Other in the U.S. earn a median of $93,750 a year ($45.07 an hour), based on BLS data for 7,460 workers.
Pay ranges from $58,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $186,260 for the top 10%. The average (mean) salary is $107,860, above the median because a few high earners pull it up.
Pay range for life scientists, all other in the U.S.
| Pay level | Yearly | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $58,670 | $28.21 |
| 25th percentile | $68,990 | $33.17 |
| Median | $93,750 | $45.07 |
| 75th percentile | $131,910 | $63.42 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $186,260 | $89.55 |
| Average (mean) | $107,860 | $51.86 |
Half of life scientists, all other earn more than the median and half earn less. Percentiles show the spread: 10% earn less than the 10th percentile, and 10% earn more than the 90th.
Median paycheck, before taxes
| Pay period | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly | $7,812.50 |
| Semi-monthly (24 a year) | $3,906.25 |
| Biweekly (26 a year) | $3,605.77 |
| Weekly | $1,802.88 |
| Hourly | $45.07 |
Based on a full-time year of 2,080 hours. Convert any amount with the hourly to salary converter.
Life Scientists, All Other salary by state
| State | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | $169,440 | n/a |
| District of Columbia | $167,640 | 50 |
| Massachusetts | $125,260 | 100 |
| Arizona | $122,580 | n/a |
| Oregon | $113,450 | 160 |
| Alabama | $110,560 | 50 |
| Maryland | $109,700 | 420 |
| Tennessee | $108,770 | 40 |
| New Jersey | $103,890 | 110 |
| California | $102,830 | 860 |
| Washington | $100,420 | 240 |
| Florida | $91,900 | 80 |
| New York | $86,790 | 250 |
| Wisconsin | $85,080 | n/a |
| Georgia | $83,990 | 170 |
| Pennsylvania | $83,680 | 290 |
| Alaska | $82,220 | 40 |
| New Hampshire | $81,610 | 90 |
| Virginia | $81,600 | 350 |
| Texas | $81,230 | 510 |
| Missouri | $79,780 | 190 |
| Louisiana | $76,480 | 430 |
| Kentucky | $75,670 | 100 |
| Hawaii | $71,990 | 50 |
| Indiana | $69,410 | 30 |
| Idaho | $68,990 | 80 |
| Colorado | $66,250 | 40 |
| Illinois | $66,190 | 160 |
| Minnesota | $64,610 | n/a |
| Iowa | $64,270 | 110 |
| Michigan | $63,960 | 90 |
| Ohio | $62,950 | 50 |
| Puerto Rico | $38,430 | n/a |
Best-paying metro areas for life scientists, all other
| Metro area | Median salary | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,810 | 170 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $126,120 | 340 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $125,430 | 60 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $124,260 | 70 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $115,230 | 100 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $109,580 | 120 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $105,900 | 170 |
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $105,850 | 460 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $105,370 | 60 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,740 | 230 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $103,000 | 140 |
| Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $100,720 | 50 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,600 | 220 |
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $96,030 | 100 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $89,640 | n/a |
Metro areas with the most life scientists, all other
| Metro area | Workers | Median salary |
|---|---|---|
| Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | 460 | $105,850 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 340 | $126,120 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 270 | $60,200 |
| Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 230 | $61,440 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 230 | $104,740 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 220 | $100,600 |
| Richmond, VA | 210 | $70,050 |
| Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 170 | $105,900 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 170 | $134,810 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 160 | $80,120 |
| Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 140 | $103,000 |
| St. Louis, MO-IL | 130 | $75,300 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 120 | $109,580 |
| Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 110 | $70,690 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 100 | $115,230 |
Related jobs in the U.S.
| Job | Median salary | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | $49.72 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $127,410 | $61.26 |
| Conservation Scientist | $73,010 | $35.10 |
| Microbiologist | $87,990 | $42.30 |
| Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists | $76,780 | $36.91 |
| Soil and Plant Scientists | $78,850 | $37.91 |
| Food Scientists and Technologists | $88,720 | $42.65 |
| Epidemiologist | $87,220 | $41.93 |
| Forester | $76,400 | $36.73 |
| Animal Scientist | $68,940 | $33.14 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | $90,150 | $43.34 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | $82,220 | $39.53 |
| Chemist | $91,240 | $43.87 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 estimates, occupation code 19-1099. Wages include base pay, tips, commissions and shift pay, but not overtime, bonuses or benefits, and exclude the self-employed.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a life scientists, all other make in the U.S.?
The median salary for life scientists, all other in the U.S. is $93,750 a year, or $45.07 an hour. Pay ranges from $58,670 for the lowest-paid 10% to $186,260 for the top 10%.
How much do the highest-paid life scientists, all other make in the U.S.?
The top 10% of life scientists, all other in the U.S. earn at least $186,260 a year. The top 25% earn $131,910 or more.
What is the starting pay for life scientists, all other in the U.S.?
Entry-level pay (the 10th percentile) is about $58,670 a year, and a quarter of life scientists, all other earn $68,990 or less.
How many life scientists, all other work in the U.S.?
About 7,460 life scientists, all other are employed in the U.S., not counting the self-employed.