Entry-level Medical Scientist salary in Houston, TX
Based on 154 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $62,626 |
| 25th | $65,161 |
| 50th (median) | $70,315 |
| 75th | $77,000 |
| 90th | $86,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $52,896 | $51,188 | $57,542 | 27 |
| FY2021 | $54,342 | $53,030 | $59,863 | 40 |
| FY2022 | $55,000 | $48,000 | $61,736 | 40 |
| FY2023 | $60,996 | $57,138 | $68,000 | 57 |
| FY2024 | $64,000 | $57,054 | $71,196 | 77 |
| FY2025 | $69,950 | $64,058 | $76,199 | 94 |
| FY2026 | $71,608 | $65,411 | $77,197 | 60 |
Cost of living
Houston's median entry-level Medical Scientist salary of $70,315 is worth about $71,300 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 $70,315, 13% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center | $74,200 | 65 |
| The Methodist Hospital Research Institute | $65,343 | 37 |
| University of Texas Medical Branch | $70,970 | 22 |
| The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston | $64,356 | 11 |
| University of Houston | too few | 6 |
| Biopharma Informatic | too few | 5 |
| Dualitybio | too few | 2 |
| Texas Children's Hospital | 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.