Medical Scientist salary in Houston, TX
Based on 432 certified H-1B filings in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Galveston, Katy, Sugar Land, Richmond, Kingwood.
Also listed as: Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $62,232 |
| 25th | $65,411 |
| 50th (median) | $71,214 |
| 75th | $78,239 |
| 90th | $92,008 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $58,250 | $52,704 | $71,938 | 142 |
| FY2021 | $60,000 | $54,540 | $75,000 | 153 |
| FY2022 | $61,000 | $54,540 | $73,221 | 117 |
| FY2023 | $65,000 | $56,940 | $75,000 | 203 |
| FY2024 | $66,532 | $61,377 | $78,420 | 204 |
| FY2025 | $70,000 | $64,356 | $78,000 | 270 |
| FY2026 | $72,000 | $66,492 | $79,750 | 162 |
Cost of living
Houston's median Medical Scientist salary of $71,214 is worth about $72,200 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Houston = 98.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the Houston, TX area earned a median of $80,470 in May 2025 (6,090 employed). The H-1B median here is $71,214, 12% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor College of Medicine | $68,000 | 131 |
| The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | $77,000 | 131 |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | $67,912 | 60 |
| The Methodist Hospital Research Institute | $65,434 | 57 |
| University of Texas Medical Branch | $71,690 | 23 |
| Biopharma Informatic | too few | 6 |
| University of Houston | too few | 6 |
| Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals | too few | 2 |
| Dualitybio | too few | 2 |
| Lonza Houston | 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 | $70,315 | 154 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $79,730 | 55 |
| Senior · Level III | – | 0 |
| Expert · Level IV | – | 0 |
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 | $55,224 | $70,315 | 154 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $62,442 | $79,730 | 55 |
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.