Medical Scientist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 260 certified H-1B filings in the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes South San Francisco, Foster City, Berkeley, Alameda, Redwood City.
Also listed as: Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $78,998 |
| 25th | $95,056 |
| 50th (median) | $125,278 |
| 75th | $157,000 |
| 90th | $184,072 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $99,500 | $81,390 | $121,700 | 136 |
| FY2021 | $114,450 | $98,654 | $135,000 | 141 |
| FY2022 | $110,000 | $83,310 | $130,250 | 127 |
| FY2023 | $113,360 | $87,100 | $140,000 | 133 |
| FY2024 | $125,000 | $92,799 | $140,705 | 126 |
| FY2025 | $120,078 | $93,300 | $146,839 | 147 |
| FY2026 | $129,323 | $101,858 | $163,316 | 113 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median Medical Scientist salary of $125,278 is worth about $108,400 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; San Francisco = 115.6).
Compared with all workers here
All Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the San Francisco, CA area earned a median of $160,180 in May 2025 (7,310 employed). The H-1B median here is $125,278, 22% 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 Francisco | $82,435 | 65 |
| Genentech | $141,250 | 36 |
| Gilead Sciences | $140,462 | 32 |
| University of California, Berkeley | $85,358 | 12 |
| AbbVie | too few | 9 |
| Exelixis | too few | 7 |
| Buck Institute for Research on Aging | too few | 6 |
| Amgen | too few | 5 |
| Kite Pharma | too few | 5 |
| Cerus | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $107,973 | 35 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $130,000 | 71 |
| Senior · Level III | $150,000 | 42 |
| Expert · Level IV | $181,300 | 36 |
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 | $99,715 | $107,973 | 35 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $125,278 | $130,000 | 71 |
| Senior · Level III | $148,678 | $150,000 | 42 |
| Expert · Level IV | $172,099 | $181,300 | 36 |
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.