19 Series · SOC 19-1099
Life Scientists, All Other Salary
National pay, percentile range, growth outlook, and state-by-state detail from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey (May 2025).
- $93,750
- Median / year
- $186,260
- Top 10% earn
- +3.7%
- Growth '23–'33
- 7,460
- US workers
Life Scientists, All Other earn a median of $93,750 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS survey, the median annual wage is $93,750, based on the most recent survey of employers. Reported pay ranges from $58,670 (10th percentile) to $186,260 (90th percentile) nationally, across roughly 7,460 US workers. South Carolina pays the most ($169,440), since pay varies by state and metro area.
The pay verdict
Life Scientists, All Other earn a median of $93,750, putting them among the better-paid US occupations and higher than 80% of the 825 occupations with a published BLS median. Within Life, Physical, and Social Science, it ranks #21 of 48 by median pay. Employment is projected to grow 3.7% by 2033.
- $93,750
- Median annual wage
- Top 20%
- of 825 US occupations with published wages
- #21 of 48
- in Life, Physical, and Social Science
- 3.2×
- 90th-to-10th pay spread
Highest-paying state: South Carolina at $169,440. Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Life Scientists, All Other (SOC 19-1099) pays a national median of $93,750 per year according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey released in May 2025. Full-range compensation stretches from $58,670 at the 10th percentile to $186,260 at the 90th, with a mean of $107,860 indicating a right-skew where top earners pull the average above the midpoint. An estimated 7,460 Americans work in this occupation across 33 reporting states and 29 metro areas.
BLS Employment Projections forecast a +3.7% change in employment from 2024 to 2034, which the agency classifies as slower than average relative to the 5% all-occupations baseline. About 400 openings are projected per year, combining new positions with replacement needs from retirements and occupation-switchers. Typical entry-level preparation is Bachelor's degree. The BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) and Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) produce a workplace-safety grade of A for this role, with a fatality rate of 1.5 per 100,000 and injury rate of 0.7 per 100.
Geographic variation matters as much as the headline median. South Carolina pays the highest state median at $169,440, which is +81% above the national figure. The top metro is San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA at $134,810 - metro premiums typically reflect higher cost of living, industry concentration, or specialized employer demand. When using this page for negotiation or career planning, pair the national median with the state and metro rows below, remember that BLS wages exclude benefits, bonuses, and overtime, and revisit after each May OEWS release since percentiles shift with cost-of-living cycles and industry demand. See our methodology for exactly how these figures are sourced, computed, and verified.
Median Salary
$93,750
per year
Median Hourly
$45.07/hr
per hour
Mean Salary
$107,860
average
Employment
7,460
jobs nationwide
How does this pay compare nationally?
Where Life Scientists, All Other pay sits nationally
Median annual wage vs. 825 detailed BLS occupations with a published median
$93,750 Top 20% higher than 80% of 825 US occupations
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS · May 2025
Does this job pay well and grow?
Each dot is a 19-series occupation, placed by projected 2024–2034 growth and median pay. The highlighted dot is Life Scientists, All Other; the upper-right quadrant is the sweet spot (high pay + fast growth).
Among 25 19-series occupations with growth data, Life Scientists, All Other sits on the slower-growing side at +3.7% growth and $93,750 median pay.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS (wages, May 2025) and Employment Projections (2024–2034).
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Projected Growth
+3.7%
Slower than average
Annual Openings
400
per year (projected)
Typical Education
Bachelor's degree
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034
Workplace Safety
All safety ratings →Very Safe
Safety Grade (BLS 2023)
Fatality Rate
1.5/100K
Injury Rate
0.7/100
Danger Index
3.6/100
Source: BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) & Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII), 2023
Salary Range
Annual Salary Distribution
Hourly Rate Distribution
10th Percentile
$58,670
25th Percentile
$68,990
Median
$93,750
75th Percentile
$131,910
90th Percentile
$186,260
Salary by State
Highest Paying States
Lowest Paying States
View all 33 states →
| # | State | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | $169,440 | +81% above national |
| 2 | District of Columbia | $167,640 | +79% above national |
| 3 | Massachusetts | $125,260 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Arizona | $122,580 | +31% above national |
| 5 | Oregon | $113,450 | +21% above national |
| 6 | Alabama | $110,560 | +18% above national |
| 7 | Maryland | $109,700 | +17% above national |
| 8 | Tennessee | $108,770 | +16% above national |
| 9 | New Jersey | $103,890 | +11% above national |
| 10 | California | $102,830 | +10% above national |
| 11 | Washington | $100,420 | +7% above national |
| 12 | Florida | $91,900 | 2% below national |
| 13 | New York | $86,790 | 7% below national |
| 14 | Wisconsin | $85,080 | 9% below national |
| 15 | Georgia | $83,990 | 10% below national |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $83,680 | 11% below national |
| 17 | Alaska | $82,220 | 12% below national |
| 18 | New Hampshire | $81,610 | 13% below national |
| 19 | Virginia | $81,600 | 13% below national |
| 20 | Texas | $81,230 | 13% below national |
| 21 | Missouri | $79,780 | 15% below national |
| 22 | Louisiana | $76,480 | 18% below national |
| 23 | Kentucky | $75,670 | 19% below national |
| 24 | Hawaii | $71,990 | 23% below national |
| 25 | Indiana | $69,410 | 26% below national |
| 26 | Idaho | $68,990 | 26% below national |
| 27 | Colorado | $66,250 | 29% below national |
| 28 | Illinois | $66,190 | 29% below national |
| 29 | Minnesota | $64,610 | 31% below national |
| 30 | Iowa | $64,270 | 31% below national |
| 31 | Michigan | $63,960 | 32% below national |
| 32 | Ohio | $62,950 | 33% below national |
| 33 | Puerto Rico | $38,430 | 59% below national |
Salary by Metro Area
Highest Paying Metros
View all 29 metro areas →
| # | Metro Area | Median Salary | vs National |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | $134,810 | +44% above national |
| 2 | Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | $126,120 | +35% above national |
| 3 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | $125,430 | +34% above national |
| 4 | Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | $124,260 | +33% above national |
| 5 | Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | $115,230 | +23% above national |
| 6 | Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | $109,580 | +17% above national |
| 7 | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | $105,900 | +13% above national |
| 8 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC | $105,850 | +13% above national |
| 9 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | $105,370 | +12% above national |
| 10 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | $104,740 | +12% above national |
| 11 | Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | $103,000 | +10% above national |
| 12 | Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | $100,720 | +7% above national |
| 13 | New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | $100,600 | +7% above national |
| 14 | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | $96,030 | +2% above national |
| 15 | Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | $89,640 | 4% below national |
| 16 | Pittsburgh, PA | $81,540 | 13% below national |
| 17 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | $80,120 | 15% below national |
| 18 | Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | $78,640 | 16% below national |
| 19 | St. Louis, MO-IL | $75,300 | 20% below national |
| 20 | Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | $73,920 | 21% below national |
| 21 | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | $73,670 | 21% below national |
| 22 | Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | $70,690 | 25% below national |
| 23 | Richmond, VA | $70,050 | 25% below national |
| 24 | Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | $64,610 | 31% below national |
| 25 | Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | $64,320 | 31% below national |
| 26 | Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | $61,440 | 34% below national |
| 27 | New Orleans-Metairie, LA | $60,200 | 36% below national |
| 28 | Fort Collins-Loveland, CO | $51,850 | 45% below national |
| 29 | San Juan-Bayamon-Caguas, PR | $38,430 | 59% below national |
Similar Occupations in the Same Category
Other roles in SOC major group 19 (life physical and social science) with comparable pay and career paths.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What to do with this data
How to use Life Scientists, All Other pay figures in a real decision
- For an experienced offer, anchor on the 75th percentile (about $131,910/year), not the median. The median marks the middle worker; the upper quartile is the realistic target with strong experience. Salary calculator
- Location moves pay significantly: South Carolina leads at $169,440/year for this role. Weigh state pay against local cost of living before relocating or negotiating remote. Pay by state
- Compare this occupation against similar roles before you decide, so you are reading the pay band in context rather than in isolation. Compare jobs
These are BLS survey estimates for the occupation, not a salary offer or a prediction for any individual. Your pay depends on experience, employer, exact role, and location.
Every figure on WageDex is rendered directly from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, no number is typed in by an editor. This occupation's figures are computed directly from the BLS OEWS and Employment Projections datasets, nothing is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2025.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Actual pay for a specific role, employer, or offer may differ from these national/state figures, consult a qualified career counselor, recruiter, or financial advisor before making decisions based on this data.