Expert Medical Scientist salary in Boston, MA
Based on 56 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $147,576 |
| 25th | $156,864 |
| 50th (median) | $169,908 |
| 75th | $190,841 |
| 90th | $213,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $125,000 | $113,714 | $143,000 | 61 |
| FY2021 | $151,750 | $135,000 | $169,180 | 46 |
| FY2022 | $160,750 | $144,875 | $179,504 | 36 |
| FY2023 | $157,000 | $145,000 | $190,000 | 29 |
| FY2024 | $170,280 | $153,675 | $210,000 | 39 |
| FY2025 | $161,900 | $147,576 | $185,877 | 26 |
| FY2026 | $175,000 | $160,275 | $197,250 | 30 |
Cost of living
Boston's median expert Medical Scientist salary of $169,908 is worth about $156,900 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 $169,908, 31% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Takeda Development Center Americas | $170,000 | 13 |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated | too few | 5 |
| Alnylam | too few | 3 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 3 |
| Alfresco Ram | too few | 2 |
| Biogen | too few | 2 |
| Flagship Pioneering | too few | 2 |
| Genzyme | too few | 2 |
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.