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Occupation · SOC 19-1042

Medical Scientists, except Epidemiologists

There are 172,340 jobs in the U.S. Median pay is $103,410 a year. The most jobs are in Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH.

ScienceTypical education: Doctoral or professional degree
172,340
Jobs in the U.S.
People employed, May 2025
$103,410
Median pay a year
Middle half: $79,840–$139,380
10,500
Annual openings
10-year change: +12.6%
5,410
LCA filings, last 4 quarters
+17.7% from the prior 4 quarters

Metro areas with the highest employment

10 of 174 metro areas with BLS data for this occupation. LCA filings: Apr 2025–Mar 2026.

Metro areaEmploymentMedian payLCA filings
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHMedian pay $129,500 · LCA filings 56116,060$129,500561
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJMedian pay $103,360 · LCA filings 82510,090$103,360825
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CAMedian pay $134,890 · LCA filings 1348,520$134,890134
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDMedian pay $102,950 · LCA filings 2838,020$102,950283
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAMedian pay $160,180 · LCA filings 1367,310$160,180136
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXMedian pay $80,470 · LCA filings 3346,090$80,470334
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVMedian pay $107,110 · LCA filings 1915,980$107,110191
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WAMedian pay $105,430 · LCA filings 705,480$105,43070
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CAMedian pay $130,980 · LCA filings 764,960$130,98076
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INMedian pay $83,240 · LCA filings 1913,810$83,240191

Metro areas with the highest median pay

Median pay for this occupation in each metro area, May 2025.

Metro areaMedian payEmploymentLCA filings
Vallejo, CAEmployment 130 · LCA filings 0$168,8601300
Topeka, KSEmployment 80 · LCA filings 0$162,810800
Charleston–North Charleston, SCEmployment 200 · LCA filings 8$162,2302008
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CAEmployment 7,310 · LCA filings 136$160,1807,310136
San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CAEmployment 2,150 · LCA filings 42$159,3002,15042

Metro areas with the most LCA filings

Labor Condition Applications filed by employers with the U.S. Department of Labor, Apr 2025–Mar 2026. They’re used in the H-1B process and show filing history, not hires or current job openings.

Metro areaLCA filingsEmployers with LCA filingsEmployment
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJEmployers with LCA filings 89 · Employment 10,0908258910,090
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHEmployers with LCA filings 112 · Employment 16,06056111216,060
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXEmployers with LCA filings 15 · Employment 6,090334156,090
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDEmployers with LCA filings 29 · Employment 8,020283298,020
St. Louis, MO–ILEmployers with LCA filings 7 · Employment 2,56024672,560

Prevailing wage levels (H-1B and PERM)

The minimum yearly wage by level. Level I is entry level and Level IV is fully competent; an H-1B employer must pay at least the level that fits the job.

Metro areaLevel ILevel IILevel IIILevel IV
Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NHLevel II $109,533 · Level III $133,494 · Level IV $157,477$85,550$109,533$133,494$157,477
New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJLevel II $98,800 · Level III $121,202 · Level IV $143,582$76,419$98,800$121,202$143,582
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim, CALevel II $111,488 · Level III $131,664 · Level IV $151,840$91,312$111,488$131,664$151,840
Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington, PA–NJ–DE–MDLevel II $95,160 · Level III $122,512 · Level IV $149,843$67,829$95,160$122,512$149,843
San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CALevel II $133,099 · Level III $157,310 · Level IV $181,501$108,909$133,099$157,310$181,501
Houston–Pasadena–The Woodlands, TXLevel II $77,813 · Level III $92,435 · Level IV $107,058$63,190$77,813$92,435$107,058
Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WVLevel II $99,757 · Level III $122,637 · Level IV $145,496$76,898$99,757$122,637$145,496
Seattle–Tacoma–Bellevue, WALevel II $96,720 · Level III $117,790 · Level IV $138,861$75,650$96,720$117,790$138,861
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad, CALevel II $108,160 · Level III $128,856 · Level IV $149,552$87,464$108,160$128,856$149,552
Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL–INLevel II $78,458 · Level III $94,078 · Level IV $109,699$62,837$78,458$94,078$109,699
St. Louis, MO–ILLevel II $94,494 · Level III $112,944 · Level IV $131,414$76,024$94,494$112,944$131,414

Source: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027.

Related majors

Majors most closely related to this occupation. International graduates: 2024–25 academic year.

MajorInternational graduatesSTEM OPT
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical SciencesCIP 26.04STEM OPT · up to 36 months619STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical StudiesCIP 51.14Varies by program144Varies by program
Microbiological Sciences and ImmunologyCIP 26.05 · Usually needs more educationSTEM OPT · up to 36 months388STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Pharmacology and ToxicologyCIP 26.10STEM OPT · up to 36 months266STEM OPT · up to 36 months
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologyCIP 26.02 · Usually needs more educationSTEM OPT · up to 36 months1,304STEM OPT · up to 36 months

See Medical Scientists, except Epidemiologists in every metro area

All 174 metro areas, pay in each, related majors, schools in each job market, and employers with LCA filing history.

Employers with LCA filings for this occupation

See every metro area →

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Sources: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · BLS Employment Projections 2025-35 · U.S. Department of Labor LCA disclosure data, Apr 2025–Mar 2026 · IPEDS 2024–25. Prevailing wages: U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC Online Wage Library, July 2026–June 2027. Methodology