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%
New York City, NY	$98K	$133K	$179K	187	6.85%
Oakland, CA	$97K	$132K	$178K	185	9.3%
Boston, MA	$97K	$132K	$178K	162	5%
Cambridge, MA	$97K	$132K	$178K	185	5%
Pearl City, HI	$97K	$132K	$178K	185	11%
Washington, DC	$95K	$129K	$174K	152	8.5%
Bellevue, WA	$94K	$128K	$173K	175	None ✓
Irvine, CA	$93K	$127K	$171K	172	9.3%
San Diego, CA	$92K	$125K	$169K	148	9.3%
Yonkers, NY	$91K	$124K	$167K	165	6.85%
Bethesda, MD	$91K	$124K	$167K	165	5.75%
Los Angeles, CA	$90K	$123K	$165K	163	9.3%
Seattle, WA	$90K	$123K	$165K	150	None ✓
Kirkland, WA	$90K	$123K	$166K	162	None ✓
Arlington, VA	$90K	$123K	$165K	148	5.75%
Jersey City, NJ	$90K	$123K	$165K	162	10.75%
Stamford, CT	$89K	$121K	$163K	158	6.99%
Newark, NJ	$88K	$120K	$161K	155	10.75%
Hilo, HI	$88K	$120K	$162K	155	11%
Santa Ana, CA	$87K	$118K	$159K	150	9.3%
Anaheim, CA	$86K	$117K	$158K	148	9.3%
Rockville, MD	$86K	$117K	$158K	148	5.75%
Sacramento, CA	$85K	$116K	$156K	128	9.3%
Long Beach, CA	$85K	$116K	$156K	155	9.3%
Worcester, MA	$85K	$116K	$156K	120	5%
Alexandria, VA	$85K	$116K	$156K	145	5.75%
Philadelphia, PA	$85K	$116K	$156K	110	3.07%
Baltimore, MD	$85K	$116K	$156K	115	5.75%
Elizabeth, NJ	$85K	$116K	$156K	145	10.75%
Paterson, NJ	$84K	$114K	$154K	140	10.75%
Chula Vista, CA	$83K	$113K	$152K	138	9.3%
Durham, NC	$83K	$113K	$152K	100	4.75%
Edison, NJ	$83K	$113K	$152K	138	10.75%
Fairbanks, AK	$83K	$113K	$152K	138	None ✓
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%
New Haven, CT	$78K	$107K	$144K	122	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%
Nashua, NH	$78K	$106K	$143K	120	None ✓
Frisco, TX	$77K	$105K	$142K	118	None ✓
Riverside, CA	$77K	$105K	$142K	118	9.3%
Naperville, IL	$77K	$105K	$142K	118	4.95%
Vancouver, WA	$77K	$105K	$142K	118	None ✓
Lowell, MA	$77K	$105K	$142K	118	5%
Gresham, OR	$77K	$105K	$142K	118	9.9%
Bridgeport, CT	$77K	$105K	$142K	118	6.99%
Manchester, NH	$77K	$105K	$142K	118	None ✓
Burlington, VT	$77K	$105K	$142K	118	6.6%
Providence, RI	$77K	$105K	$142K	118	5.99%
Hialeah, FL	$76K	$104K	$140K	115	None ✓
Hollywood, FL	$76K	$104K	$140K	115	None ✓
Lakewood, CO	$76K	$104K	$140K	115	4.55%
Ann Arbor, MI	$76K	$104K	$140K	115	4.25%
Frederick, MD	$76K	$104K	$140K	115	5.75%
Portland, ME	$76K	$104K	$140K	115	7.15%
Concord, NH	$76K	$104K	$140K	115	None ✓
Warwick, RI	$76K	$104K	$140K	115	5.99%
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 ✓
Pembroke Pines, FL	$75K	$103K	$138K	112	None ✓
Scottsdale, AZ	$76K	$103K	$139K	118	2.5%
Aurora, CO	$76K	$103K	$139K	112	4.55%
Fort Collins, CO	$75K	$103K	$138K	112	4.55%
Atlanta, GA	$76K	$103K	$139K	99	5.75%
Cary, NC	$75K	$103K	$138K	112	4.75%
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%
Eugene, OR	$75K	$102K	$137K	110	9.9%
Round Rock, TX	$74K	$101K	$136K	108	None ✓
Gilbert, AZ	$74K	$101K	$136K	108	2.5%
Tempe, AZ	$74K	$101K	$136K	108	2.5%
Thornton, CO	$74K	$101K	$136K	108	4.55%
Boise, ID	$74K	$101K	$136K	108	5.8%
Wilmington, DE	$74K	$101K	$136K	108	6.6%
McKinney, TX	$73K	$100K	$135K	108	None ✓
Stockton, CA	$73K	$100K	$135K	105	9.3%
Chandler, AZ	$73K	$100K	$135K	105	2.5%
Springfield, MA	$73K	$100K	$135K	105	5%
Salem, OR	$73K	$100K	$135K	105	9.9%
Henderson, NV	$73K	$100K	$135K	105	None ✓
Provo, UT	$73K	$100K	$135K	100	4.85%
Meridian, ID	$73K	$100K	$135K	105	5.8%
Carrollton, TX	$73K	$99K	$133K	102	None ✓
Missoula, MT	$73K	$99K	$133K	102	6.75%
Fort Worth, TX	$72K	$98K	$132K	93	None ✓
Irving, TX	$72K	$98K	$132K	97	None ✓
Denton, TX	$72K	$98K	$132K	100	None ✓
San Bernardino, CA	$72K	$98K	$132K	100	9.3%
Tampa, FL	$72K	$98K	$132K	102	None ✓
Cape Coral, FL	$72K	$98K	$132K	100	None ✓
Fort Lauderdale, FL	$72K	$98K	$132K	118	None ✓
Phoenix, AZ	$72K	$98K	$132K	100	2.5%
Peoria, AZ	$72K	$98K	$132K	100	2.5%
Charlotte, NC	$72K	$98K	$132K	100	4.75%
Virginia Beach, VA	$72K	$98K	$132K	98	5.75%
Nashville, TN	$72K	$98K	$132K	102	None ✓
Rochester, MN	$72K	$98K	$132K	100	6.8%
West Jordan, UT	$72K	$98K	$132K	100	4.85%
Overland Park, KS	$72K	$98K	$132K	100	5.7%
Dover, DE	$72K	$98K	$132K	100	6.6%
Albany, NY	$71K	$97K	$131K	98	6.85%
Port St. Lucie, FL	$71K	$97K	$131K	98	None ✓
Chesapeake, VA	$71K	$97K	$131K	98	5.75%
North Las Vegas, NV	$71K	$97K	$131K	98	None ✓
West Valley City, UT	$71K	$97K	$131K	98	4.85%
Orem, UT	$71K	$97K	$131K	98	4.85%
Nampa, ID	$71K	$97K	$131K	98	5.8%
Billings, MT	$71K	$97K	$131K	98	6.75%
Lewiston, ME	$71K	$97K	$131K	98	7.15%
Arlington, TX	$71K	$96K	$129K	94	None ✓
Garland, TX	$71K	$96K	$129K	91	None ✓
Bakersfield, CA	$70K	$96K	$129K	95	9.3%
Orlando, FL	$71K	$96K	$129K	100	None ✓
Aurora, IL	$70K	$96K	$129K	95	4.95%
Glendale, AZ	$70K	$96K	$129K	95	2.5%
Colorado Springs, CO	$71K	$96K	$129K	102	4.55%
Norfolk, VA	$70K	$96K	$129K	95	5.75%
Richmond, VA	$71K	$96K	$129K	98	5.75%
Newport News, VA	$70K	$96K	$129K	95	5.75%
Columbus, OH	$71K	$96K	$129K	90	3.99%
Allentown, PA	$70K	$96K	$129K	95	3.07%
Reno, NV	$71K	$96K	$129K	108	None ✓
North Charleston, SC	$70K	$96K	$129K	95	6.5%
Midland, TX	$70K	$95K	$128K	92	None ✓
Athens, GA	$70K	$95K	$128K	92	5.75%
Duluth, MN	$70K	$95K	$128K	92	6.8%
Greenville, SC	$70K	$95K	$128K	92	6.5%
Cheyenne, WY	$70K	$95K	$128K	92	None ✓
Grand Prairie, TX	$69K	$94K	$126K	90	None ✓
St. Petersburg, FL	$69K	$94K	$127K	105	None ✓
Tallahassee, FL	$69K	$94K	$126K	90	None ✓
Joliet, IL	$69K	$94K	$126K	90	4.95%
Mesa, AZ	$69K	$94K	$127K	98	2.5%
Sterling Heights, MI	$69K	$94K	$126K	90	4.25%
St. Louis, MO	$69K	$94K	$127K	86	5.3%
Milwaukee, WI	$69K	$94K	$127K	90	5.3%
Kenosha, WI	$69K	$94K	$126K	90	5.3%
Charleston, SC	$69K	$94K	$127K	105	6.5%
Fargo, ND	$69K	$94K	$126K	90	2.5%
San Antonio, TX	$68K	$93K	$125K	87	None ✓
Pasadena, TX	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	None ✓
Mesquite, TX	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	None ✓
Fresno, CA	$68K	$93K	$125K	102	9.3%
Rochester, NY	$68K	$93K	$125K	90	6.85%
Syracuse, NY	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	6.85%
Jacksonville, FL	$68K	$93K	$125K	93	None ✓
Gainesville, FL	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	None ✓
Greensboro, NC	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	4.75%
Chattanooga, TN	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	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%
Green Bay, WI	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	5.3%
Las Vegas, NV	$68K	$93K	$125K	102	None ✓
Lexington, KY	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	5%
Albuquerque, NM	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	5.9%
Great Falls, MT	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	6.75%
Casper, WY	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	None ✓
Bismarck, ND	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	2.5%
Sioux Falls, SD	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	None ✓
Rapid City, SD	$68K	$93K	$125K	88	None ✓
Beaumont, TX	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	None ✓
Odessa, TX	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	None ✓
Tyler, TX	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	None ✓
Winston-Salem, NC	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	4.75%
Warren, MI	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	4.25%
Lansing, MI	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	4.25%
Independence, MO	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	5.3%
Lafayette, LA	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	6%
Cedar Rapids, IA	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	4.82%
Kansas City, KS	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	5.7%
Lincoln, NE	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	5.84%
Rio Rancho, NM	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	5.9%
Fayetteville, AR	$67K	$92K	$124K	85	4.9%
Amarillo, TX	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	None ✓
Waco, TX	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	None ✓
Pueblo, CO	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	4.55%
Columbus, GA	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	5.75%
Augusta, GA	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	5.75%
Fayetteville, NC	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	4.75%
Clarksville, TN	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	None ✓
South Bend, IN	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	3.23%
Mobile, AL	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	5%
Broken Arrow, OK	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	4.75%
Davenport, IA	$67K	$91K	$122K	82	4.82%
Killeen, TX	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	None ✓
Buffalo, NY	$66K	$90K	$121K	88	6.85%
Rockford, IL	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	4.95%
Spokane, WA	$66K	$90K	$121K	95	None ✓
Tucson, AZ	$66K	$90K	$121K	90	2.5%
Macon, GA	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	5.75%
Knoxville, TN	$66K	$90K	$121K	85	None ✓
Cleveland, OH	$66K	$90K	$121K	82	3.99%
Akron, OH	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	3.99%
Dayton, OH	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	3.99%
Erie, PA	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	3.07%
Springfield, MO	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	5.3%
Fort Wayne, IN	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	3.23%
Louisville, KY	$66K	$90K	$121K	85	5%
Bowling Green, KY	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	5%
Montgomery, AL	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	5%
Norman, OK	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	4.75%
New Orleans, LA	$66K	$90K	$121K	92	6%
Baton Rouge, LA	$66K	$90K	$121K	88	6%
Las Cruces, NM	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	5.9%
Gulfport, MS	$66K	$90K	$121K	80	5%
Abilene, TX	$65K	$89K	$120K	78	None ✓
Toledo, OH	$65K	$89K	$120K	78	3.99%
Evansville, IN	$65K	$89K	$120K	78	3.23%
Shreveport, LA	$65K	$89K	$120K	78	6%
Jackson, MS	$65K	$89K	$120K	78	5%
Charleston, WV	$65K	$89K	$120K	78	6.5%
Brownsville, TX	$65K	$88K	$118K	75	None ✓
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%
Fort Smith, AR	$65K	$88K	$118K	75	4.9%
Huntington, WV	$65K	$88K	$118K	75	6.5%
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.

Research Scientist salary FAQ

How much does a Research Scientist make?

The median Research Scientist salary in the US is $98,000 per year — about $47/hour. Most earn between $72,000 (25th percentile) and $132,000 (75th percentile).

What is the starting salary for a Research Scientist?

Entry-level Research Scientist positions typically start around $72,000 per year. Pay rises with experience, specialization, and location.

How much do the highest-paid Research Scientists earn?

The top 10% of Research Scientists earn $175,000 or more per year — usually senior, lead, or specialized professionals in high-cost or high-demand markets.

Which city pays Research Scientists the most?

San Francisco has the highest median Research Scientist salary at $142K among the cities we track. But high-cost metros like San Francisco and New York often have lower real purchasing power once cost of living and taxes are factored in.

Are Research Scientist salaries going up?

Yes — Research Scientist pay is growing about 4.5% year over year, above the US average wage-growth rate.

Research Scientist Salaryby City (2026)