Expert Medical Scientist salary in San Francisco, CA
Based on 36 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level IV 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 | $160,826 |
| 25th | $170,408 |
| 50th (median) | $181,300 |
| 75th | $209,395 |
| 90th | $235,040 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $142,732 | $134,409 | $177,200 | 15 |
| FY2021 | $178,600 | $153,566 | $187,500 | 19 |
| FY2022 | $165,000 | $150,571 | $198,275 | 12 |
| FY2023 | $194,669 | $169,203 | $213,080 | 11 |
| FY2024 | $169,573 | $163,405 | $182,033 | 18 |
| FY2025 | $178,170 | $161,870 | $192,790 | 18 |
| FY2026 | $184,160 | $174,859 | $210,541 | 18 |
Cost of living
San Francisco's median expert Medical Scientist salary of $181,300 is worth about $156,800 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 $181,300, 13% higher.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Gilead Sciences | too few | 9 |
| AbbVie | too few | 3 |
| Genentech | too few | 3 |
| Buck Institute for Research on Aging | too few | 2 |
| Eli Lilly and Company | too few | 2 |
| Exelixis | too few | 2 |
| Washington Township Healthcare District | 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.