How much does a medical scientist make in Santa Maria?
$128,600a year
Median yearly pay for medical scientists in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area. That is $61.84 an hour or $10,720 a month.
- Hourly
- $61.84
- Vs. national median
- +24%
- Rank among cities
- 26 of 178
- Jobs in the area
- 270
Pay range
Lowest 10%: $94,810Median: $128,600Highest 10%: $195,900
| Percentile | Yearly | Hourly | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th | $94,810 | $45.58 | |
| 25th | $111,000 | $53.37 | |
| Median | $128,600 | $61.84 | |
| 75th | $152,300 | $73.24 | |
| 90th | $195,900 | $94.20 |
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 |
| Santa Cruz, CA | $134,100 |
| Bakersfield, CA | $132,100 |
| San Diego, CA | $131,000 |
| Oxnard, CA | $129,900 |
| Visalia, CA | $129,500 |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | $125,100 |
| Redding, CA | $123,500 |
Related jobs in Santa Maria
Same field, median yearly pay.
| School Psychologist | $128,100 |
| Biological Scientist | $124,800 |
| Urban and Regional Planner | $105,500 |
| Environmental Scientist and Specialist | $105,200 |
| Occupational Health and Safety Specialist | $104,000 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologist | $102,100 |
| Social Scientist and Related Worker | $87,260 |
| Chemist | $85,930 |
| Conservation Scientist | $78,340 |
| Environmental Science and Protection Technician | $66,340 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does a medical scientist make an hour in Santa Maria?
The median hourly pay in the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA metro area is $61.84 ($128,600 a year).
Do medical scientists make more in Santa Maria than the national average?
Yes: $128,600 against $103,400 nationally, 24% more.
How does Santa Maria compare with the rest of California?
The median in California is $137,000, so Santa Maria pays 6% less.
Where does Santa Maria rank for medical scientist pay?
26 of 178 metro areas with data.
How much does a medical scientist make starting out in Santa Maria?
The lowest-paid 10% make $94,810 or less a year; the top 10% make $195,900 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.