Medical Scientist salary in Iowa, IA
Based on 53 certified H-1B filings in the Iowa City, IA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Iowa City, Coralville.
Also listed as: Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $64,356 |
| 25th | $67,000 |
| 50th (median) | $69,400 |
| 75th | $76,083 |
| 90th | $92,550 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $56,939 | $54,226 | $62,784 | 28 |
| FY2021 | $57,456 | $53,760 | $63,500 | 30 |
| FY2022 | $55,631 | $53,773 | $65,075 | 31 |
| FY2023 | $61,288 | $55,326 | $66,450 | 30 |
| FY2024 | $70,000 | $67,568 | $79,309 | 25 |
| FY2025 | $67,596 | $64,356 | $74,008 | 25 |
| FY2026 | $70,599 | $68,818 | $80,300 | 28 |
Cost of living
Iowa's median Medical Scientist salary of $69,400 is worth about $75,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Iowa = 91.5).
Compared with all workers here
All Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the Iowa, IA area earned a median of $81,580 in May 2025 (470 employed). The H-1B median here is $69,400, 15% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Iowa | $69,200 | 50 |
| Perspective Therapeutics | 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 | $69,000 | 47 |
| Mid-level · Level II | too few | 4 |
| 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 | $64,459 | $69,000 | 47 |
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.