Entry-level Medical Scientist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 413 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Cambridge, Charlestown, Waltham, Newton, Somerville.
Also listed as: Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $70,000 |
| 25th | $71,406 |
| 50th (median) | $73,544 |
| 75th | $82,846 |
| 90th | $90,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $57,456 | $53,000 | $67,045 | 296 |
| FY2021 | $66,893 | $66,893 | $81,375 | 103 |
| FY2022 | $67,500 | $64,563 | $77,834 | 131 |
| FY2023 | $77,834 | $63,707 | $81,000 | 123 |
| FY2024 | $70,000 | $62,581 | $77,259 | 219 |
| FY2025 | $71,750 | $70,000 | $82,846 | 203 |
| FY2026 | $75,000 | $71,750 | $82,482 | 210 |
Cost of living
Boston's median entry-level Medical Scientist salary of $73,544 is worth about $67,900 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $129,500 in May 2025 (16,060 employed). The H-1B median here is $73,544, 43% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Employers filing at this level
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| General Hospital | $71,406 | 126 |
| Brigham and Women's Hospital | $71,750 | 85 |
| Children's Hospital | $77,258 | 28 |
| Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | $72,000 | 19 |
| Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary | $71,750 | 19 |
| McLean Hospital | $71,406 | 10 |
| Trustees Of Boston University | $77,500 | 10 |
| Harvard University | too few | 8 |
| Joslin Diabetes Center | too few | 6 |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | too few | 6 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $73,544 | 413 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $110,000 | 179 |
| Senior · Level III | $133,868 | 94 |
| Expert · Level IV | $169,908 | 56 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $71,406 | $73,544 | 413 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $106,870 | $110,000 | 179 |
| Senior · Level III | $128,814 | $133,868 | 94 |
| Expert · Level IV | $150,779 | $169,908 | 56 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.