Medical Scientist salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 81 certified H-1B filings in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes La Jolla, Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos.
Also listed as: Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $75,587 |
| 25th | $78,749 |
| 50th (median) | $82,580 |
| 75th | $125,507 |
| 90th | $182,212 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $67,300 | $63,981 | $81,370 | 56 |
| FY2021 | $90,000 | $66,775 | $121,041 | 34 |
| FY2022 | $80,000 | $69,300 | $122,500 | 41 |
| FY2023 | $76,900 | $64,480 | $102,704 | 31 |
| FY2024 | $79,300 | $72,100 | $102,000 | 49 |
| FY2025 | $82,198 | $77,384 | $117,388 | 46 |
| FY2026 | $85,000 | $78,749 | $129,150 | 35 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median Medical Scientist salary of $82,580 is worth about $73,800 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Diego = 111.9).
Compared with all workers here
All Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the San Diego, CA area earned a median of $130,980 in May 2025 (4,960 employed). The H-1B median here is $82,580, 37% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| University Of California, San Diego | $81,679 | 30 |
| Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute | $78,749 | 17 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 4 |
| Janssen Research & Development | too few | 4 |
| Bristol-Myers Squibb Company | too few | 3 |
| Ionis Pharmaceuticals | too few | 3 |
| Neurocrine Biosciences | too few | 3 |
| ImmunityBio | too few | 2 |
| International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) | too few | 2 |
| The Scintillon Institute | 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 | $78,749 | 25 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $135,180 | 10 |
| Senior · Level III | too few | 2 |
| Expert · Level IV | $193,434 | 11 |
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 | $75,587 | $78,749 | 25 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $105,518 | $135,180 | 10 |
| Expert · Level IV | $138,694 | $193,434 | 11 |
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.