Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay in California
$140,120avg. a year
$67.36 an hour · 29,830 employed
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in California earn an average of $140,120 a year. That is $23,280 (20%) more than the U.S. average of $116,840. The best-paying metro area is Vallejo, CA at $162,840.
$136,990Median pay
$67.36Average hourly
+21%Avg. pay since 2020
#1Of 45 states + D.C.
Top-paying California metro areas
Average pay for medical scientists, except epidemiologists by metro area. Swipe to see all 21.
1130 jobs
Vallejo, CA
$162,840
$78.29 an hour
27,310 jobs
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
$157,540
$75.74 an hour
32,150 jobs
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
$154,410
$74.24 an hour
4150 jobs
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
$149,990
$72.11 an hour
570 jobs
Chico, CA
$148,730
$71.50 an hour
6140 jobs
Stockton-Lodi, CA
$144,260
$69.36 an hour
7160 jobs
Modesto, CA
$142,460
$68.49 an hour
8150 jobs
Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA
$140,520
$67.56 an hour
91,120 jobs
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
$136,940
$65.84 an hour
10270 jobs
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
$136,900
$65.82 an hour
111,150 jobs
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
$134,520
$64.67 an hour
12100 jobs
Salinas, CA
$132,800
$63.85 an hour
138,520 jobs
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA
$131,870
$63.40 an hour
14250 jobs
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
$131,710
$63.32 an hour
15190 jobs
Bakersfield-Delano, CA
$130,960
$62.96 an hour
164,960 jobs
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$129,060
$62.05 an hour
17360 jobs
Fresno, CA
$128,500
$61.78 an hour
18100 jobs
Visalia, CA
$127,810
$61.45 an hour
1970 jobs
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
$125,270
$60.23 an hour
2040 jobs
El Centro, CA
$119,570
$57.49 an hour
2150 jobs
Redding, CA
$118,880
$57.15 an hour
Why people trust JobPayFacts
Official government dataEvery number comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage survey of employers, not self-reported salaries.
Every state and city830 jobs across all 50 states, D.C. and 199 large metro areas.
Updated every yearNew figures each spring when BLS releases them. This site uses May 2025 data.
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay in California, charted
Pay over time
California, annual wage, May of each year
AverageMedian
Where California medical scientists, except epidemiologists work
Employment by metro area, May 2025
Average pay by state
May 2025 · California highlighted · tap a state
AKMEWIVTNHWAIDMTNDMNILMINYMAORNVWYSDIAINOHPANJCTRICAUTCONEMOKYWVVAMDDEAZNMKSARTNNCSCDCOKLAMSALGAHITXFL
Under $93k$93k–$108k$108k–$118k$118k+California
California vs. neighbors
Average pay, May 2025
| Area | Avg. pay | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $116,840 | $56.18 |
| California | $140,120 | $67.36 |
| Oregon | $128,970 | $62.00 |
| Arizona | $115,730 | $55.64 |
| Nevada | $102,580 | $49.32 |
Related jobs in California
- Biological Scientists, All Other$123,840
- Biochemists and Biophysicists$148,550
- Conservation Scientists$88,030
- Microbiologists$114,790
- Food Scientists and Technologists$97,980
- Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$106,470
Average pay, California, May 2025
Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS
Questions and answers
How much do medical scientists, except epidemiologists make in California?
The average is $140,120 a year, and the median is $136,990. That is $23,280 (20%) more than the U.S. average of $116,840.
What is the hourly wage in California?
$67.36 an hour on average; the median is $65.86.
Where in California do they earn the most?
Vallejo, CA ($162,840), followed by San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($157,540). The lowest average among 21 metro areas with data is Redding, CA ($118,880).
How does California rank?
California ranks #1 of 46 states (including D.C.) with published data for this job, by average pay.
Sources and notes. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 (trend: May 2020–May 2025), occupation code 19-1042. State rank compares average pay across states with published data. Metro figures cover metropolitan statistical areas; a metro area can cross state lines. See also the national medical scientists, except epidemiologists page. Wages are gross pay before taxes and don't include overtime premiums, tips, bonuses or benefits; self-employed workers aren't included. Year-to-year changes can partly reflect survey method changes, so treat the trend as a guide. How we use the data. JobPayFacts isn't affiliated with BLS.