Entry-level Medical Scientist salary in San Diego, CA
Based on 25 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $75,587 |
| 50th (median) | $78,749 |
| 75th | $80,000 |
| 90th | $86,000 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $73,000 | $62,150 | $75,200 | 11 |
| FY2021 | – | – | – | 2 |
| FY2022 | – | – | – | 6 |
| FY2023 | – | – | – | 9 |
| FY2024 | $70,000 | $68,016 | $73,956 | 14 |
| FY2025 | $75,587 | $75,587 | $84,070 | 15 |
| FY2026 | $78,749 | $78,749 | $78,749 | 10 |
Cost of living
San Diego's median entry-level Medical Scientist salary of $78,749 is worth about $70,400 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 $78,749, 40% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute | $78,749 | 17 |
| ImmunityBio | too few | 2 |
| The Scintillon Institute | too few | 2 |
| The University of Southern California | 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.