Science40% remote-eligible+4.5% YoY growth
Research Scientist Salary
by City (2026)
Conduct original research to advance knowledge in a specific scientific discipline. National median: $98K/year. See how your city compares.
National median
$98K
Top 10% earn
$175K
Entry level
$72K
Salary growth
+4.5%/yr
Research Scientist salary by city
Sorted by median salary| City | Entry | Median | Senior | COL | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $104K | $142K | $191K | 224 | 9.3% |
| San Jose, CA | $102K | $139K | $187K | 210 | 9.3% |
| Oakland, CA | $97K | $132K | $178K | 185 | 9.3% |
| Boston, MA | $97K | $132K | $178K | 162 | 5% |
| Washington, DC | $95K | $129K | $174K | 152 | 8.5% |
| San Diego, CA | $92K | $125K | $169K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Los Angeles, CA | $90K | $123K | $165K | 163 | 9.3% |
| Seattle, WA | $90K | $123K | $165K | 150 | None ✓ |
| Arlington, VA | $90K | $123K | $165K | 148 | 5.75% |
| Jersey City, NJ | $90K | $123K | $165K | 162 | 10.75% |
| Newark, NJ | $88K | $120K | $161K | 155 | 10.75% |
| Sacramento, CA | $85K | $116K | $156K | 128 | 9.3% |
| Long Beach, CA | $85K | $116K | $156K | 155 | 9.3% |
| Worcester, MA | $85K | $116K | $156K | 120 | 5% |
| Philadelphia, PA | $85K | $116K | $156K | 110 | 3.07% |
| Baltimore, MD | $85K | $116K | $156K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Durham, NC | $83K | $113K | $152K | 100 | 4.75% |
| Denver, CO | $81K | $110K | $148K | 118 | 4.55% |
| Portland, OR | $81K | $110K | $148K | 130 | 9.9% |
| Honolulu, HI | $81K | $110K | $148K | 192 | 11% |
| Anchorage, AK | $81K | $110K | $148K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Austin, TX | $79K | $108K | $145K | 110 | None ✓ |
| Chicago, IL | $79K | $108K | $145K | 107 | 4.95% |
| Raleigh, NC | $79K | $108K | $145K | 102 | 4.75% |
| Hartford, CT | $79K | $108K | $145K | 118 | 6.99% |
| Tacoma, WA | $78K | $106K | $143K | 128 | None ✓ |
| Pittsburgh, PA | $78K | $106K | $143K | 90 | 3.07% |
| Minneapolis, MN | $78K | $106K | $143K | 106 | 6.8% |
| Huntsville, AL | $78K | $106K | $143K | 88 | 5% |
| Houston, TX | $76K | $103K | $139K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Dallas, TX | $76K | $103K | $139K | 96 | None ✓ |
| Plano, TX | $76K | $103K | $139K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Miami, FL | $76K | $103K | $139K | 123 | None ✓ |
| Scottsdale, AZ | $76K | $103K | $139K | 118 | 2.5% |
| Aurora, CO | $76K | $103K | $139K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Atlanta, GA | $76K | $103K | $139K | 99 | 5.75% |
| Madison, WI | $76K | $103K | $139K | 102 | 5.3% |
| St. Paul, MN | $76K | $103K | $139K | 104 | 6.8% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $76K | $103K | $139K | 105 | 4.85% |
| McKinney, TX | $73K | $100K | $135K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Chandler, AZ | $73K | $100K | $135K | 105 | 2.5% |
| Provo, UT | $73K | $100K | $135K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Fort Worth, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 93 | None ✓ |
| Irving, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 97 | None ✓ |
| Amarillo, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Grand Prairie, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Frisco, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Brownsville, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 75 | None ✓ |
| Pasadena, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Mesquite, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Killeen, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | None ✓ |
| Midland, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Waco, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Abilene, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Beaumont, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Round Rock, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 108 | None ✓ |
| Denton, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Odessa, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Carrollton, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Tyler, TX | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Bakersfield, CA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 95 | 9.3% |
| Anaheim, CA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 148 | 9.3% |
| Santa Ana, CA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 150 | 9.3% |
| Riverside, CA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | 9.3% |
| Stockton, CA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 105 | 9.3% |
| Chula Vista, CA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 138 | 9.3% |
| Irvine, CA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 172 | 9.3% |
| San Bernardino, CA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 100 | 9.3% |
| New York City, NY | $72K | $98K | $132K | 187 | 6.85% |
| Yonkers, NY | $72K | $98K | $132K | 165 | 6.85% |
| Syracuse, NY | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Albany, NY | $72K | $98K | $132K | 98 | 6.85% |
| Tampa, FL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Hialeah, FL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Port St. Lucie, FL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 98 | None ✓ |
| Cape Coral, FL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Fort Lauderdale, FL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Tallahassee, FL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 90 | None ✓ |
| Pembroke Pines, FL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 112 | None ✓ |
| Hollywood, FL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Gainesville, FL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Aurora, IL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 95 | 4.95% |
| Joliet, IL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 90 | 4.95% |
| Naperville, IL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | 4.95% |
| Rockford, IL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 4.95% |
| Vancouver, WA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Bellevue, WA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 175 | None ✓ |
| Kirkland, WA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 162 | None ✓ |
| Phoenix, AZ | $72K | $98K | $132K | 100 | 2.5% |
| Glendale, AZ | $72K | $98K | $132K | 95 | 2.5% |
| Gilbert, AZ | $72K | $98K | $132K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Tempe, AZ | $72K | $98K | $132K | 108 | 2.5% |
| Peoria, AZ | $72K | $98K | $132K | 100 | 2.5% |
| Fort Collins, CO | $72K | $98K | $132K | 112 | 4.55% |
| Lakewood, CO | $72K | $98K | $132K | 115 | 4.55% |
| Thornton, CO | $72K | $98K | $132K | 108 | 4.55% |
| Pueblo, CO | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | 4.55% |
| Columbus, GA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Augusta, GA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | 5.75% |
| Athens, GA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Macon, GA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 5.75% |
| Springfield, MA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 105 | 5% |
| Cambridge, MA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 185 | 5% |
| Lowell, MA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | 5% |
| Charlotte, NC | $72K | $98K | $132K | 100 | 4.75% |
| Greensboro, NC | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | 4.75% |
| Winston-Salem, NC | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | 4.75% |
| Fayetteville, NC | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Cary, NC | $72K | $98K | $132K | 112 | 4.75% |
| Virginia Beach, VA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Norfolk, VA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Chesapeake, VA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Newport News, VA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 95 | 5.75% |
| Alexandria, VA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 145 | 5.75% |
| Nashville, TN | $72K | $98K | $132K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Chattanooga, TN | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Clarksville, TN | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Toledo, OH | $72K | $98K | $132K | 78 | 3.99% |
| Akron, OH | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Dayton, OH | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 3.99% |
| Warren, MI | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Sterling Heights, MI | $72K | $98K | $132K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | $72K | $98K | $132K | 115 | 4.25% |
| Lansing, MI | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | 4.25% |
| Allentown, PA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 95 | 3.07% |
| Erie, PA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 3.07% |
| Springfield, MO | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 5.3% |
| Independence, MO | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | 5.3% |
| Fort Wayne, IN | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 3.23% |
| Evansville, IN | $72K | $98K | $132K | 78 | 3.23% |
| South Bend, IN | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | 3.23% |
| Green Bay, WI | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | 5.3% |
| Kenosha, WI | $72K | $98K | $132K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Rochester, MN | $72K | $98K | $132K | 100 | 6.8% |
| Duluth, MN | $72K | $98K | $132K | 92 | 6.8% |
| Salem, OR | $72K | $98K | $132K | 105 | 9.9% |
| Eugene, OR | $72K | $98K | $132K | 110 | 9.9% |
| Gresham, OR | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | 9.9% |
| Henderson, NV | $72K | $98K | $132K | 105 | None ✓ |
| North Las Vegas, NV | $72K | $98K | $132K | 98 | None ✓ |
| West Valley City, UT | $72K | $98K | $132K | 98 | 4.85% |
| West Jordan, UT | $72K | $98K | $132K | 100 | 4.85% |
| Orem, UT | $72K | $98K | $132K | 98 | 4.85% |
| Lexington, KY | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | 5% |
| Bowling Green, KY | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 5% |
| Montgomery, AL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 5% |
| Mobile, AL | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | 5% |
| North Charleston, SC | $72K | $98K | $132K | 95 | 6.5% |
| Greenville, SC | $72K | $98K | $132K | 92 | 6.5% |
| Norman, OK | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 4.75% |
| Broken Arrow, OK | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Shreveport, LA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 78 | 6% |
| Lafayette, LA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | 6% |
| Frederick, MD | $72K | $98K | $132K | 115 | 5.75% |
| Rockville, MD | $72K | $98K | $132K | 148 | 5.75% |
| Paterson, NJ | $72K | $98K | $132K | 140 | 10.75% |
| Elizabeth, NJ | $72K | $98K | $132K | 145 | 10.75% |
| Edison, NJ | $72K | $98K | $132K | 138 | 10.75% |
| Bridgeport, CT | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | 6.99% |
| New Haven, CT | $72K | $98K | $132K | 122 | 6.99% |
| Stamford, CT | $72K | $98K | $132K | 158 | 6.99% |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | 4.82% |
| Davenport, IA | $72K | $98K | $132K | 82 | 4.82% |
| Overland Park, KS | $72K | $98K | $132K | 100 | 5.7% |
| Kansas City, KS | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | 5.7% |
| Lincoln, NE | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | 5.84% |
| Las Cruces, NM | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 5.9% |
| Rio Rancho, NM | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | 5.9% |
| Boise, ID | $72K | $98K | $132K | 108 | 5.8% |
| Meridian, ID | $72K | $98K | $132K | 105 | 5.8% |
| Nampa, ID | $72K | $98K | $132K | 98 | 5.8% |
| Billings, MT | $72K | $98K | $132K | 98 | 6.75% |
| Missoula, MT | $72K | $98K | $132K | 102 | 6.75% |
| Great Falls, MT | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | 6.75% |
| Cheyenne, WY | $72K | $98K | $132K | 92 | None ✓ |
| Casper, WY | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Fargo, ND | $72K | $98K | $132K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Bismarck, ND | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | 2.5% |
| Sioux Falls, SD | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Rapid City, SD | $72K | $98K | $132K | 88 | None ✓ |
| Jackson, MS | $72K | $98K | $132K | 78 | 5% |
| Gulfport, MS | $72K | $98K | $132K | 80 | 5% |
| Fort Smith, AR | $72K | $98K | $132K | 75 | 4.9% |
| Fayetteville, AR | $72K | $98K | $132K | 85 | 4.9% |
| Charleston, WV | $72K | $98K | $132K | 78 | 6.5% |
| Huntington, WV | $72K | $98K | $132K | 75 | 6.5% |
| Portland, ME | $72K | $98K | $132K | 115 | 7.15% |
| Lewiston, ME | $72K | $98K | $132K | 98 | 7.15% |
| Manchester, NH | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | None ✓ |
| Nashua, NH | $72K | $98K | $132K | 120 | None ✓ |
| Concord, NH | $72K | $98K | $132K | 115 | None ✓ |
| Burlington, VT | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | 6.6% |
| Providence, RI | $72K | $98K | $132K | 118 | 5.99% |
| Warwick, RI | $72K | $98K | $132K | 115 | 5.99% |
| Wilmington, DE | $72K | $98K | $132K | 108 | 6.6% |
| Dover, DE | $72K | $98K | $132K | 100 | 6.6% |
| Pearl City, HI | $72K | $98K | $132K | 185 | 11% |
| Hilo, HI | $72K | $98K | $132K | 155 | 11% |
| Fairbanks, AK | $72K | $98K | $132K | 138 | None ✓ |
| Bethesda, MD | $72K | $98K | $132K | 165 | 5.75% |
| Arlington, TX | $71K | $96K | $129K | 94 | None ✓ |
| Garland, TX | $71K | $96K | $129K | 91 | None ✓ |
| Orlando, FL | $71K | $96K | $129K | 100 | None ✓ |
| Colorado Springs, CO | $71K | $96K | $129K | 102 | 4.55% |
| Richmond, VA | $71K | $96K | $129K | 98 | 5.75% |
| Columbus, OH | $71K | $96K | $129K | 90 | 3.99% |
| Reno, NV | $71K | $96K | $129K | 108 | None ✓ |
| St. Petersburg, FL | $69K | $94K | $127K | 105 | None ✓ |
| Mesa, AZ | $69K | $94K | $127K | 98 | 2.5% |
| St. Louis, MO | $69K | $94K | $127K | 86 | 5.3% |
| Milwaukee, WI | $69K | $94K | $127K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Charleston, SC | $69K | $94K | $127K | 105 | 6.5% |
| San Antonio, TX | $68K | $93K | $125K | 87 | None ✓ |
| Fresno, CA | $68K | $93K | $125K | 102 | 9.3% |
| Rochester, NY | $68K | $93K | $125K | 90 | 6.85% |
| Jacksonville, FL | $68K | $93K | $125K | 93 | None ✓ |
| Cincinnati, OH | $68K | $93K | $125K | 88 | 3.99% |
| Detroit, MI | $68K | $93K | $125K | 82 | 4.25% |
| Kansas City, MO | $68K | $93K | $125K | 90 | 5.3% |
| Indianapolis, IN | $68K | $93K | $125K | 88 | 3.23% |
| Las Vegas, NV | $68K | $93K | $125K | 102 | None ✓ |
| Albuquerque, NM | $68K | $93K | $125K | 88 | 5.9% |
| Buffalo, NY | $66K | $90K | $121K | 88 | 6.85% |
| Spokane, WA | $66K | $90K | $121K | 95 | None ✓ |
| Tucson, AZ | $66K | $90K | $121K | 90 | 2.5% |
| Knoxville, TN | $66K | $90K | $121K | 85 | None ✓ |
| Cleveland, OH | $66K | $90K | $121K | 82 | 3.99% |
| Louisville, KY | $66K | $90K | $121K | 85 | 5% |
| New Orleans, LA | $66K | $90K | $121K | 92 | 6% |
| Baton Rouge, LA | $66K | $90K | $121K | 88 | 6% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $65K | $88K | $119K | 90 | 4.25% |
| Birmingham, AL | $65K | $88K | $119K | 82 | 5% |
| Columbia, SC | $65K | $88K | $119K | 88 | 6.5% |
| Oklahoma City, OK | $65K | $88K | $119K | 82 | 4.75% |
| Des Moines, IA | $65K | $88K | $119K | 88 | 4.82% |
| Omaha, NE | $65K | $88K | $119K | 88 | 5.84% |
| Corpus Christi, TX | $63K | $86K | $116K | 84 | None ✓ |
| Savannah, GA | $63K | $86K | $116K | 92 | 5.75% |
| Memphis, TN | $63K | $86K | $116K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Tulsa, OK | $63K | $86K | $116K | 80 | 4.75% |
| Wichita, KS | $63K | $86K | $116K | 82 | 5.7% |
| El Paso, TX | $61K | $83K | $112K | 82 | None ✓ |
| Little Rock, AR | $61K | $83K | $112K | 82 | 4.9% |
| Lubbock, TX | $59K | $80K | $108K | 78 | None ✓ |
| Laredo, TX | $56K | $76K | $103K | 76 | None ✓ |
COL-adjusted: where does your salary go furthest?
A $98K Research Scientist salary in Houston (COL 91, no tax) has significantly more purchasing power than the same salary in San Francisco (COL 224, 9.3% state tax). Use our calculator to see the real numbers.
Try COL Calculator →Research Scientist Salary Guide (2026)
The national median salary for a Research Scientist is $98,000 per year. Entry-level positions typically start at $72,000, while experienced professionals in the top 25% earn $132,000 or more. The highest-paid 10% of Research Scientists nationally earn $175,000+.
Education and requirements
PhD in relevant science field. This role is 40% remote-eligible nationally, which significantly expands the geographic job market for workers in lower cost-of-living cities.
Salary growth outlook
Research Scientist compensation is growing at 4.5% annually, well above the national average wage growth rate.