Research Scientist Salary in Biotech & Pharma 2026
Based on biohired's October 06, 2026 analysis of 175 disclosed US Research Scientist roles in biotech and pharma, the middle 50% earn $138,600 to $205,000 annually, with a median of $180,500.
Updated daily · Last refreshed October 06, 2026
Research Scientist salary by seniority (US, USD)
| Level | Range | Middle 50% | n |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid | $116,000 – $138,600 | 54 | |
| Senior | $179,150 – $205,000 | 109 | |
| Director | $238,862 – $266,150 | 12 |
Top-paying companies for Research Scientist (US, USD)
| Company | Range | Middle 50% | n |
|---|---|---|---|
| $271,775 – $271,925 | 2 | ||
| $195,900 – $257,900 | 12 | ||
| $193,200 – $193,200 | 5 | ||
| $180,500 – $205,000 | 74 | ||
| $141,900 – $159,125 | 9 | ||
| $155,000 – $155,000 | 2 | ||
| $131,550 – $165,550 | 32 | ||
| $149,135 – $149,135 | 3 |
Research Scientist salary by country (local currency)
| Country | Range | Middle 50% | n |
|---|---|---|---|
United States (USD)
|
$138,600 – $205,000 | 175 | |
Switzerland (CHF)
|
94,100 CHF – 94,100 CHF | 6 | |
Slovenia (EUR)
|
€29,000 – €29,000 | 3 |
Frequently asked questions
What's the average Research Scientist salary in biotech and pharma?
Based on biohired's October 06, 2026 analysis of 175 disclosed US Research Scientist roles, the middle 50% earn $138,600 to $205,000 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 GSK, Eli Lilly, SandboxAQ, AbbVie, Johnson & Johnson.
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.