The job of a research scientist can be incredibly rewarding, allowing you to push the boundaries of human knowledge and make new discoveries that improve people’s lives. However, many wonder if choosing a career as a research scientist also pays well compared to other professions that require similar levels of education. In today’s data-driven world, examining the actual salaries earned by research scientists can help shed light on this important question.
What is the average salary for a research scientist?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average annual salary for a research scientist in the United States as of May 2021 was $91,810, or $44.13 per hour. However, salaries can vary significantly depending on your specific field of research, degree attained, years of experience, geographic location, and employer. For example, the BLS breaks down average salaries for different types of research scientists as follows:
| Research Science Field | Average Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $105,550 |
| Microbiologists | $79,550 |
| Chemical Engineers | $108,770 |
| Environmental Scientists and Specialists | $77,930 |
As you can see, the average annual pay can vary significantly based on your specific focus within research science, from around $80,000 on the lower end up to over $100,000 on the higher end. Generally, research scientists working in engineering, biotechnology, pharmacology, and biochemistry tend to have the highest earning potential.
How does a research scientist’s salary compare to other jobs?
Compared to the median annual wage across all occupations in the U.S. of $41,950, research scientists are compensated very well on average. Their pay is significantly higher than many other common careers that also require master’s or doctorate-level degrees, such as:
– Primary and secondary school teachers – $61,660 avg annual pay
– Clergy – $51,100 avg annual pay
– Child, family, and school social workers – $48,570 avg annual pay
– Counselors – $47,660 avg annual pay
Research scientists also tend to earn more on average than many science and engineering jobs that require only a bachelor’s degree, such as:
– Chemical technicians – $50,840 avg annual pay
– Geological sample test technicians – $49,250 avg annual pay
– Forest and conservation technicians – $43,140 avg annual pay
However, research scientists’ salaries are lower than what doctors and other medical professionals typically earn. For example, the average annual wage for physicians is around $214,370, while dentists earn around $178,260 on average per year. The higher earning potential in medicine reflects the greater costs and barriers to entry, including medical school tuition and required residencies. For those more interested in discovery and laboratory work than direct patient care, research science offers strong pay without the demands of medical school.
What factors impact a research scientist’s salary potential?
As noted earlier, different specialties and fields within research science can significantly impact your earning potential. In addition to your specific focus area, other key factors that influence research science salaries include:
Level of education – Research scientists typically need a Ph.D. to lead projects or run their own lab. Those with only a bachelor’s degree are more limited to assistant roles and will earn less.
Years of experience – Early career research scientists in entry-level roles will be at the lower end of the pay scale until they build more experience. Tenure and demonstrated contributions to the field boost pay over time.
Type of employer – Research scientists earn the highest salaries when working in sectors like pharmaceuticals, biotech, engineering, and energy. University and government jobs tend to pay less.
Location – Regionally, research scientists earn the highest average salaries in states like Massachusetts, California, Maryland, and Connecticut due to concentrations of biotech, pharma, and engineering employers.
Grants and funding – For professors and other research scientists in academia, their ability to secure grants and other funding can significantly supplement university pay.
Advanced degrees provide a boost
One of the key drivers for higher salaries in research science is attaining an advanced degree beyond a bachelor’s, preferably a Ph.D. Here is a comparison of average annual salaries by education level for biological scientists as an example:
– Bachelor’s Degree: $62,800
– Master’s Degree: $71,900
– Ph.D.: $100,100
As you can see, completing a Ph.D. provides a huge boost to research science salaries on average, around a 60% increase versus just having a bachelor’s degree in this field. The advanced analytical, research, and leadership skills gained in Ph.D. programs open more high-paying roles in academia, government research, and industry labs.
Experience pays off over time
Another key factor is building your experience as a research scientist over time. Entry-level salaries tend to start lower and then increase steadily with more tenure in the field. For example, PayScale data shows the following average salaries by years of experience for research scientists specifically:
– 0-1 years: $51,958
– 1-4 years: $59,685
– 5-9 years: $76,239
– 10-19 years: $89,282
– 20+ years: $101,178
As illustrated, salaries can nearly double from entry-level to more senior research scientists with over 20 years of lab, field, and leadership experience. Developing your skills, reputation, and professional network pays significant dividends.
Certain industries pay more
The sector and type of organization you work for as a research scientist also impact earnings. According to PayScale salary data, research scientists earn the highest average salaries in these top-paying industries:
– Oil & Gas Industry: $112,000
– Pharmaceuticals: $100,500
– Biotech & Biomedical Engineering: $85,500
– Chemicals: $84,500
– Medical Devices: $83,000
Meanwhile, government and university research jobs tend to pay around $65,000 – $75,000 on average. This reflects higher budgets and funding in lucrative private industries like pharmaceuticals.
Location matters
Where you live and work as a research scientist influences your potential salary too. Some of the top-paying metropolitan areas for research scientists include:
– San Jose, CA: $112,000 avg salary
– Boston, MA: $106,000 avg salary
– San Francisco, CA: $105,000 avg salary
– San Diego, CA: $104,000 avg salary
– New York, NY: $100,000 avg salary
Research scientists earn high salaries in these areas due to concentrations of biotech, pharma, engineering, and university research employers. By contrast, lower costs of living and fewer research employers means salaries around $75,000 on average in cities like Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, and Phoenix.
Conclusion
In summary, a research scientist’s salary has the potential to be quite lucrative, especially for those with Ph.D.s working in high-paying biotech, engineering, or pharmaceutical jobs. Average salaries of $80,000 – $110,000 are attainable for experienced research scientists in the right industries and metro areas. While not quite as high as medical doctors or dentists, research science offers very strong pay in return for the investments of time and money to complete the required higher education. For those curious and imaginative minds drawn to discover the next breakthroughs in science, the financial rewards can be well worth it.
