Entry-level Medical Scientist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 35 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I 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 | $99,715 |
| 25th | $99,858 |
| 50th (median) | $107,973 |
| 75th | $121,583 |
| 90th | $141,500 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $77,000 | $62,500 | $82,915 | 19 |
| FY2021 | $82,500 | $76,814 | $105,188 | 19 |
| FY2022 | $98,925 | $89,606 | $115,008 | 22 |
| FY2023 | $90,500 | $87,331 | $96,461 | 14 |
| FY2024 | $94,432 | $94,432 | $103,630 | 16 |
| FY2025 | $108,144 | $99,715 | $125,624 | 20 |
| FY2026 | $107,973 | $102,629 | $119,680 | 15 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median entry-level Medical Scientist salary of $107,973 is worth about $93,400 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 $107,973, 33% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Genentech | $103,400 | 11 |
| AbbVie | too few | 2 |
| ClearView Healthcare Partners | too few | 2 |
| Kite Pharma | 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 | $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.