How much does a medical scientist make in Santa Cruz?
$134,100a year
Median yearly pay for medical scientists in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area. That is $64.45 an hour or $11,170 a month.
- Hourly
- $64.45
- Vs. national median
- +30%
- Rank among cities
- 18 of 178
- Jobs in the area
- 150
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $79,320Median: $134,100Highest 10%: $200,300
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $79,320 | $38.13 | |
| 25th | $102,600 | $49.33 | |
| Median | $134,100 | $64.45 | |
| 75th | $177,300 | $85.23 | |
| 90th | $200,300 | $96.29 |
Other cities in California
Median yearly pay for medical scientists.
| Vallejo, CA | $168,900 |
| San Francisco, CA | $160,200 |
| San Jose, CA | $159,300 |
| Chico, CA | $155,500 |
| Santa Rosa, CA | $145,300 |
| Modesto, CA | $143,800 |
| Salinas, CA | $138,600 |
| Riverside, CA | $138,400 |
| Stockton, CA | $138,100 |
| Sacramento, CA | $137,600 |
| Fresno, CA | $137,100 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $134,900 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $132,100 |
| San Diego, CA | $131,000 |
| Oxnard, CA | $129,900 |
| Visalia, CA | $129,500 |
| Santa Maria, CA | $128,600 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $125,100 |
| Redding, CA | $123,500 |
Related jobs in Santa Cruz
Same field, median yearly pay.
| Geoscientist | $136,100 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $112,900 |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $112,300 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialist | $106,400 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist | $103,600 |
| Biological Scientist | $98,400 |
| Chemist | $95,840 |
| Conservation Scientist | $72,860 |
| Life | $66,290 |
| Biological Technician | $66,240 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical scientist make an hour in Santa Cruz?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA metro area is $64.45 ($134,100 a year).
Do medical scientists make more in Santa Cruz than the national average?
Yes: $134,100 against $103,400 nationally, 30% more.
How does Santa Cruz compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $137,000, so Santa Cruz pays 2% less.
Where does Santa Cruz rank for medical scientist pay?
18 of 178 metro areas with data.
How much does a medical scientist make starting out in Santa Cruz?
The lowest-paid 10% make $79,320 or less a year; the top 10% make $200,300 or more.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS): pay in May 2025, published by BLS in 2026. Hourly pay is the yearly figure divided by 2,080 hours.