Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary in San Diego, CA
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area earn a median $130,980 a year — 27% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $91,137 take-home, or $7,595 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary in San Diego, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$20,169
- Social Security (6.2%)$8,121
- Medicare (1.45%)$1,899
- California income tax$7,952
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$1,703
- Take-home pay$91,137
Marginal rate: 24% federal + 9.30% state
Got an offer somewhere else? Compare it with this one after taxes and rent →
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay by experience in San Diego, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $78,730 | $37.85 | $60,101 | $5,008 |
| 25th percentile | $101,180 | $48.64 | $73,515 | $6,126 |
| Median (50th) | $130,980 | $62.97 | $91,137 | $7,595 |
| 75th percentile | $153,650 | $73.87 | $104,228 | $8,686 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $166,920 | $80.25 | $111,892 | $9,324 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $130,980 buys in San Diego, CA
Prices in San Diego, CA are 11.9% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.79× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median medical scientists, except epidemiologists's $91,137 take-home pay has the buying power of $81,454 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
San Diego, CA has 2.9× the national concentration of medical scientists, except epidemiologists jobs — a strong local market for this occupation.
Best-paying cities for medical scientists, except epidemiologists, adjusted for cost of living
San Diego, CA ranks #5 of 14 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco, CA | $160,180 | $108,000 | $93,415 |
| 2 | Boston, MA | $129,500 | $93,524 | $86,384 |
| 3 | Los Angeles, CA | $134,890 | $93,395 | $82,238 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $103,410 | $77,656 | $81,668 |
| 5 | San Diego, CA | $130,980 | $91,137 | $81,454 |
| 6 | Philadelphia, PA | $102,950 | $78,095 | $76,150 |
| 7 | Seattle, WA | $105,430 | $83,000 | $74,685 |
| 8 | Minneapolis, MN | $102,940 | $75,772 | $72,286 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 14 metros →
About the job: medical scientists, except epidemiologists
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities. Practitioners who primarily provide medical or dental care or dispense drugs are included in "Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners" (29-1000).
- Typical education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Work experience
- None required
- On-the-job training
- None
- Job outlook, 2025–35
- +12.6% (much faster than average)
Source: BLS Standard Occupational Classification and Employment Projections, 2025–35.
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $160,180
- Los Angeles, CA — $134,890
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical scientists, except epidemiologists make in San Diego, CA?
The median medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro area is $130,980 a year, or about $62.97 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $101,180 and $153,650.
What is a medical scientists, except epidemiologists’s take-home pay in San Diego, CA?
On the median $130,980 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $91,137 a year ($7,595 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $9,654 in California taxes in 2026.
Is San Diego, CA a good place to work as a medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
Pay here is 27% above the national median of $103,410. Local prices are 11.9% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $81,454 would in a typical U.S. city. San Diego, CA ranks #5 of 14 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a medical scientists, except epidemiologists afford rent in San Diego, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in San Diego, CA is $2,459 a month ($3,001 for two bedrooms) — 32% of a median medical scientists, except epidemiologists’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.