Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary in Boston, MA (2024)
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn a median of $129,230 per year ($62.13 per hour) based on 15,330 jobs counted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2024. That is +28.5% against the national median of $100,590 for this occupation.
Pay distribution
The median is a single point on a wide curve. The table below shows where medical scientists, except epidemiologists actually sit across the pay range in Boston, MA, from the bottom decile to the top.
| Percentile | Hourly | Annual | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38.55 | $80,180 | |
| 25th percentile | $46.98 | $97,720 | |
| Median | $62.13 | $129,230 | half earn more, half earn less |
| 75th percentile | $78.71 | $163,720 | |
| 90th percentile | $87.17 | $181,310 | |
| Average (mean) | $62.04 | $129,040 |
How Boston, MA compares
The local median of $129,230 runs +28.5% above the US median of $100,590 for this occupation; it pays 100.0% more than the metro-wide median across all jobs ($64,620); within the metro it ranks 62nd of 688 detailed occupations by median pay.
| Benchmark | Median annual | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA — this occupation | $129,230 | — |
| US median, same occupation (all areas) | $100,590 | +28.5% |
| Boston, MA — all occupations | $64,620 | +100.0% |
| Highest metro in the US for this job | $142,540 | -9.3% |
Boston, MA has an unusually deep bench in this occupation — the location quotient of 5.58 means the job is roughly 558% as common here as it is nationally, which usually reflects a specialised local industry cluster.
High confidence The relative standard error on this estimate is 1.5%, which is a tight margin — the figure is stable enough to plan around.
Ranked 62nd of 688 detailed occupations in the metro by median annual wage.
Highest-paying jobs in Boston, MA
To put $129,230 in context, these are the best-paid detailed occupations in the same metro area. This occupation sits 62nd.
| Occupation | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| Neurologists | $228,070 | 180 |
| Physicians, Pathologists | $228,050 | 200 |
| Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates | $221,710 | 430 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $219,380 | 7,670 |
| Pediatricians, General | $213,240 | 2,360 |
| Physicians, All Other | $212,030 | 6,650 |
| Computer and Information Systems Managers | $207,150 | 22,280 |
| Marketing Managers | $200,010 | 11,440 |
| Lawyers | $194,740 | 18,900 |
| Astronomers | $189,430 | 60 |
Where medical scientists, except epidemiologists earn the most
Across the 22 metro areas with released data for this occupation, medians run from $76,860 to $142,540. These are the top markets.
| Metro area | Median annual | Employment |
|---|---|---|
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $142,540 | 6,870 |
| Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $129,230 | 15,330 |
| Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | $128,890 | 990 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $128,470 | 6,600 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $128,270 | 4,240 |
| Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $125,420 | 300 |
| Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $112,120 | 5,830 |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | $104,660 | 1,430 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $102,440 | 10,640 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $102,250 | 1,010 |
See the full national picture on the Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary by metro page.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median salary for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Boston, MA?
The median annual wage is $129,230, or $62 per hour. That means half of the medical scientists, except epidemiologists working in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area earn more than this figure and half earn less. The average is $129,040.
What do the highest and lowest paid medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Boston, MA earn?
The bottom 10% earn $80,180 or less, while the top 10% earn $181,310 or more — a spread of $101,130 between the two ends of the distribution. The middle half of workers sit between $97,720 and $163,720.
Is medical scientists, except epidemiologists pay in Boston, MA above the local average?
Yes, it is 100.0% above the all-occupation median for the metro, which is $64,620. That comparison is the fairer one for judging local purchasing power, because it holds the metro's overall cost and wage level constant.
How does Boston, MA pay compare with the rest of the US for this job?
At $129,230 the metro median is 28.5% higher than the US median of $100,590 for medical scientists, except epidemiologists. Across the 22 metro areas covered here, this occupation ranges from $76,860 to $142,540.
How many medical scientists, except epidemiologists work in Boston, MA?
BLS counts about 15,330 people in this occupation in the metro area, or 5.66 jobs per 1,000 total jobs. Boston, MA has an unusually deep bench in this occupation — the location quotient of 5.58 means the job is roughly 558% as common here as it is nationally, which usually reflects a specialised local industry cluster.
About these figures
Figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey for 2024 (employment relative standard error 3.4%). OEWS measures what employers pay, not what any individual earns; it excludes self-employed workers, and it does not adjust for local cost of living.
Read the full methodology, or the original data at bls.gov/oes.