Medical scientists
Salary, job outlook, AI risk & career information
Medical scientists in the United States earn a median salary of $103,410 per year — about $50 per hour, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Roughly 165K people work in this occupation nationwide, with projected employment growth of +9%.
AI & Automation Risk
Medical scientists perform high-level knowledge work including data analysis, grant writing, and literature reviews, all of which are highly susceptible to AI augmentation and automation. While physical laboratory work and clinical trials provide a buffer, the core of the profession is shifting toward computational biology and AI-driven drug discovery, significantly increasing productivity and reshaping research methodologies.
Salary by City — What You Actually Take Home
Real purchasing power = salary adjusted for cost of living. Higher = more money in your pocket.
| City | Local Salary | Cost of Living | Real Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka, KSBEST VALUE | $162,810 | Below avg (88.8) | $183,303 |
| Charleston-North Charleston, SC | $162,230 | Average (101.0) | $160,684 |
| Vallejo, CA | $168,860 | Above avg (108.5) | $155,661 |
| Chico, CA | $155,470 | Average (101.2) | $153,631 |
| Syracuse, NY | $138,940 | Below avg (95.7) | $145,119 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $159,300 | Above avg (110.4) | $144,263 |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $160,180 | Above avg (115.6) | $138,548 |
| Modesto, CA | $143,760 | Above avg (104.1) | $138,087 |
| Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT | $138,090 | Average (100.4) | $137,478 |
| Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA | $145,340 | Above avg (107.8) | $134,844 |
| Fresno, CA | $137,080 | Average (102.2) | $134,184 |
| Stockton-Lodi, CA | $138,050 | Above avg (105.1) | $131,365 |
| Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT Metropolitan Statistical Area | $140,300 | Above avg (106.9) | $131,288 |
| Bakersfield-Delano, CA | $132,110 | Average (100.9) | $130,950 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $138,390 | Above avg (106.4) | $130,014 |