The Salaries of Scientists by Discipline

      This page presents information of the pay scales of US scientists. The data, which is collected from salary.com, is summarized and tabulated here. Comparisons with some other selected employment sectors are provided at the bottom of this webpage.

The information is current as of July, 2015. Notably changes since our December, 2005 report are summarized below.

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Top-Ranking Science Salaries

Employee Type
Median Salary
Experienced Senior Physicist
$118,792
Experienced Senior Chemist
$109,867
Experienced Senior Geologist
$105,924
Experienced Astronomer
$103,647
Experienced Senior Biologist
$98,998
Experienced Clinical Researcher
$81,849
Experienced Academic Researcher
$76,312


Comments: Physicists are the best paid scientists. The salary figure for geologists benefits from the petroleum industry.


Comprensive Salary Table

Employee Type
25th Percentile Salary
Median Salary
75th Percentile Salary
Astronomer
$102,000
$103,647
$119,596
Biologist I
$41,219
$45,486
$51,262
Biologist II
$47,227
$54,081
$60,746
Biologist III
$58,737
$67,574
$78,999
Biologist IV
$79,541
$92,990
$108,482
Biologist V
$84,017
$98,998
$111,130
Biochemist I
$42,849
$48,480
$56,668
Biochemist II
$56,105
$61,575
$67,402
Biochemist III
$61,611
$66,683
$75,470
Biophysicist
$55,964
$61,458
$71,192
Chemist I
$45,383
$51,858
$59,545
Chemist II
$53,921
$61,889
$71,523
Chemist III
$66,220
$76,784
$89,341
Chemist IV
$78,631
$89,105
$102,950
Chemist V
$97,149
$109,867
$125,313
Clinical Researcher I
$49,610
$56,488
$61,046
Clinical Researcher II
$67,616
$76,663
$85,028
Clinical Researcher III
$70,894
$81,849
$94,164
Geologist I
$40,519
$41,960
$49,267
Geologist II
$48,396
$53,925
$68,949
Geologist III
$66,200
$69,089
$80,240
Geologist IV
$69,894
$82,628
$95,003
Geologist V
$87,931
$105,924
$116,179
Physicist I
$55,310
$60,022
$78,626
Physicist II
$64,732
$76,963
$102,098
Physicist III
$74,856
$87,961
$109,936
Physicist IV
$93,285
$109,177
$130,651
Physicist V
$108,228
$118,792
$142,708
Academic Researcher I
$45,434
$50,489
$61,391
Academic Researcher II
$57,847
$69,991
$81,483
Academic Researcher III
$65,377
$76,312
$88,383
Zoologist
$55,547
$67,821
$83,640

Notes: Tier I scientists have 0-2 years of experience and are considered to have an entry level job; Tier II scientists have 2-4 years; Tier III have 4-6 of experience; Tier IV have 6-8 years of experience; Tier V have 8 or more years of experience. Tier levels I and II require a bachelor's degree, while those of levels III-V require a graduate degree.


Pay Scales for Educators

Employee Type
25th Percentile Salary
Median Salary
75th Percentile Salary
High School Teacher
$44,696
$56,411
$66,260
Assistant Professor in Science
$45,285
$58,572
$79,112
Associate Professor in Science
$55,298
$69,909
$99,671
Full Professor in Science
$71,192
$93,231
$149,511



Pay Scales for Mathematicians

Employee Type
25th Percentile Salary
Median Salary
75th Percentile Salary
Mathematician
$56,465
$72,927
$85,824
Senior Mathematician
$80,203
$100,851
$115,008



Salaries of Engineers in Scientifically Related Fields

Employee Type
25th Percentile Salary
Median Salary
75th Percentile Salary
Chemical Engineer I
$61,139
$67,667
$75,529
Chemical Engineer II
$70,590
$77,664
$85,263
Chemical Engineer III
$81,838
$91,988
$102,456
Chemical Engineer IV
$99,078
$110,191
$123,093
Chemical Engineer V
$111,360
$122,648
$134,481
Electrical Engineer I
$60,426
$64,966
$70,212
Electrical Engineer II
$70,934
$77,476
$85,533
Electrical Engineer III
$83,975
$93,447
$102,651
Electrical Engineer IV
$99,342
$108,500
$119,471
Electrical Engineer V
$113,896
$125,127
$137,526
Materials Engineer I
$56,517
$62,155
$66,677
Materials Engineer II
$65,609
$73,066
$82,28
Materials Engineer III
$75,702
$85,129
$95,664
Materials Engineer IV
$88,813
$101,478
$114,567
Materials Engineer V
$104,715
$121,221
$144,662
Mechanical Engineer I
$58,175
$63,248
$69,336
Mechanical Engineer II
$69,252
$75,891
$84,247
Mechanical Engineer III
$83,582
$92,540
$102,210
Mechanical Engineer IV
$96,059
$105,923
$117,332
Mechanical Engineer V
$113,497
$125,421
$137,312
Nuclear Engineer I
$64,786
$67,770
$82,140
Nuclear Engineer II
$80,086
$91,481
$100,424
Nuclear Engineer III
$92,085
$104,484
$115,444
Nuclear Engineer IV
$96,091
$103,982
$115,330
Nuclear Engineer V
$108,507
$122,691
$137,895



Selected Salaries of Other Sectors for Comparative Purposes

Employee Type
25th Percentile Salary
Median Salary
75th Percentile Salary
Orthopedic Surgeon
$346,131
$438,456
$567,064
Physician (generalist)
$159,691
$185,647
$208,047
Entry Level Attorney
$72,238
$84,218
$97,351
Intermediate Level Attorney
$95,406
$111,377
$128,489
Senior Attorney
$130,404
$150,585
$170,806
Computer Web Designer
$56,583
$65,299
$75,690
Senior Systems Administrator
$81,235
$91,858
$101,319
Clinical Pharmacist
$104,281
$111,173
$118,824
Corporate Economist
$97,495
$119,530
$147,329
Stock Broker
$51,079
$58,752
$63,602


Notable Changes:

Compared to December, 2005 (9.5 years ago) (see the previous report), scientist's salaries generally have lost ground to inflation. The CPI index during the past 9.5 years grew by 21% but the salaries of scientists very roughly has increase by only 16%. According to data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, hourly wages have somewhat outpaced inflation during this period, increasing by 28%. Hence, the salaries of scientists have lost ground to the salaries of other employees.

The salaries of entry level geologists and Tier I academic researchers only went up a few percent in the last 9.5 years. Other losers were: less experienced biologists (Tiers I-II) and clinical researchers, whose salaries increased only by about 10%. Among the scientists, physicists have fared the best. Their salaries have just about matched inflation.

Here are the salary increases for those who teach: High school teachers, assistant professors in science, and associate professors have witnessed increases of 17%, while full professors in science have lost ground with salaries going up only 10%.

As a group, the salaries of the above engineers have increased by 24%. On average, mathematicians have seen an increase of 38%. So these groups have done well.


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