Research Scientist Salary in Biotech & Pharma 2026
Based on biohired's July 11, 2026 analysis of 84 disclosed US Research Scientist roles in biotech and pharma, the middle 50% earn $147,450 to $202,500 annually, with a median of $180,500.
Updated daily · Last refreshed July 11, 2026
Research Scientist salary by seniority (US, USD)
| Level | Range | Middle 50% | n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid | $123,300 – $138,600 | 22 | |
| Senior | $176,000 – $205,000 | 58 | |
| Director | $255,175 – $266,150 | 4 |
Top-paying companies for Research Scientist (US, USD)
| Company | Range | Middle 50% | n |
|---|---|---|---|
| $262,025 – $266,150 | 3 | ||
| $180,500 – $205,000 | 38 | ||
| $141,900 – $163,125 | 5 | ||
| $130,000 – $158,350 | 24 | ||
| $155,000 – $155,000 | 2 | ||
| $90,000 – $123,000 | 5 | ||
| $100,550 – $110,850 | 2 |
Research Scientist salary by country (local currency)
| Country | Range | Middle 50% | n |
|---|---|---|---|
United States (USD)
|
$147,450 – $202,500 | 84 |
Frequently asked questions
What's the average Research Scientist salary in biotech and pharma?
Based on biohired's July 11, 2026 analysis of 84 disclosed US Research Scientist roles, the middle 50% earn $147,450 to $202,500 annually. The median is $180,500.
How much do top-earning Research Scientists make in biotech?
The top 10% of Research Scientist roles in biotech and pharma pay $232,750 or more annually (90th percentile of disclosed US salaries).
Which biotech companies pay Research Scientists the most?
Among the disclosed Research Scientist salaries currently tracked by biohired, the top-paying biotech and pharma employers include Eli Lilly, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson, Vertex Pharma, Jazz Pharmaceuticals.
How is this data calculated?
Each row shows the 25th-75th percentile range (middle 50%) and median of the salary midpoints (min+max)/2 across all disclosed Research Scientist roles. Hourly listings are excluded. Time window: last 12 months of postings. Methodology mirrors industry standards used by Levels.fyi and Built In.