Entry-level Medical Scientist salary in Seattle, WA

Based on 27 certified H-1B filings at DOL wage level I in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Redmond, Bothell, Bellevue, Everett, Gig Harbor.

Also listed as: Research Scientist, Associate Research Scientist

Median salary$77,976

Middle 50%$73.5k–$86.8k

vs. all levels here−8%comparison median $84,406

Filings27FY2025–FY2026 · latest two fiscal years

Salary range

All levels here

$50k$60k$70k$80k$90k$100k$110k

Box: middle 50% of filings. Whiskers: 10th–90th percentile. 99% of filings are between $59,155 and $132,008.

Percentile	Salary
10th	$63,598
25th	$73,546
50th (median)	$77,976
75th	$86,844
90th	$94,618

Salary by year

Median salary

Filings per year

Shaded: FY2025–FY2026, the years behind the figures above. Median shown for years with at least 10 filings. FY2026 covers Q1–Q3 only.

Show as table

Fiscal year	Median	P25	P75	Filings
FY2020	–	–	–	3
FY2021	–	–	–	8
FY2022	–	–	–	5
FY2023	–	–	–	4
FY2024	$73,464	$68,916	$81,876	20
FY2025	$75,600	$66,560	$85,200	13
FY2026	$80,086	$76,255	$87,450	14

Cost of living

Seattle's median entry-level Medical Scientist salary of $77,976 is worth about $70,200 at national average prices.

Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Seattle = 111.1).

Compared with all workers here

All Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the Seattle, WA area earned a median of $105,430 in May 2025 (5,480 employed). The H-1B median here is $77,976, 26% 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
University of Washington	$85,200	15
Bloodworks Northwest	too few	2
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center	too few	2
Swedish Health Services	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	$77,976	27
Mid-level · Level II	$82,289	40
Senior · Level III	$123,098	10
Expert · Level IV	too few	4

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	$59,155	$77,976	27
Mid-level · Level II	$69,243	$82,289	40
Senior · Level III	$112,715	$123,098	10

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.