How much does a life scientist make?
Answer: A typical life scientist in the United States makes $93,750 a year (median, May 2025, US Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Line up 100 people; this is the one in the middle (median). about 7,000 people work in this job. Well above the US-wide typical pay ($50,980).
If 100 people had this job
Lowest at bottom-left, highest at top-rightHover over a person to see their yearly pay
Life scientist pay in the United States (May 2025, median and spread)
| Lower earner (10th from bottom) | Typical person (median) | Higher earner (10th from top) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|---|
| $58,670 | $93,750 | $186,260 | about 7,000 |
| State | Typical person (median) | People in this job |
|---|---|---|
| California | $102,830 | about 860 |
Why does pay differ?
In the U.S., pay can differ with experience, advanced degrees or sought-after certificates, and the specialty or difficulty of the work. Government, university, and private research employers may pay differently, as can location. Time-sensitive experiments can also mean longer hours.
What if you lived in a different state?
Pay varies a lot by state in the USTop 5 and bottom 3 states, typical (median) yearly pay.
What does a life scientist do?
All life scientists not listed separately.
What's a typical day like?
A lab-based life scientist may prepare samples, use a microscope, and record what happens in an experiment. They analyze results on a computer, discuss findings with teammates, and write reports or give presentations.
How to get this job
Study biology or a related science and get lab experience; a bachelor’s opens some entry jobs. Some start after college in their early 20s; independent research often needs a Ph.D. and postdoc, and any license or exam depends on specialty.
Did you know?
One NIH-funded U.S. scientist is developing light-up tags inspired by bioluminescence to help researchers study living cells.
Earn more in the same field
Life, Physical, and Social Science jobs that pay a bit moreSources and data
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS May 2025 (bls.gov); descriptions and related jobs from O*NET 31.0. Figures as of May 2025, full-time yearly pay (hourly × 2,080 hours). bls.gov/oes · O*NET OnLine
Pages used for the text
- www.onetonline.org/link/summary/19-1099.00
- www.bls.gov/oes/2020/may/oes191099.htm
- www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2015/article/wage-differences.htm
- www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/print/biochemists-and-biophysic
- www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/print/microbiologists.htm
- nigms.nih.gov/biobeat/2017/07/chasing-fireflies-and-better-cellular-imaging-tech
Data: US BLS OEWS, May 2025 · 1 USD = 150 JPY