Biomolecular scientists are medical scientists who perform research into the interactions and interconnectedness of diverse fields such as biology, chemistry, physics and computational science. They may be involved in such emerging fields as molecular biology, genetics, genomics, bioinformatics and biotechnology. Biomolecular scientists typically need a doctorate in biology, and some hold medical degrees. A biomolecular scientist's income can be affected by such factors as location and employer.

National Wages

The median annual income for medical scientists across the United States in all disciplines, including biomolecular scientists, was $76,700 as of May 2010, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The top 10 percent of these scientists earned $142,800 per year or more, while the bottom 10 percent earned annual salaries of $41,560 or less. The middle 50 percent of medical scientists earned between $53,860 and $105,530 per year. The Indeed website placed the average annual salary for biomolecular scientist jobs, specifically, at $66,000 as of May 2011.

Regional Wages

More than three times as many medical scientists, including biomolecular scientists, worked in California than in any other state, as of the May 2010 report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. California-based medical scientists earned an average annual income of $86,190. Medical scientists who worked in Maine earned the highest average annual wages in the country, at $115,470. As of May 2011, the Indeed website placed the average annual salary for California-based biomolecular scientists, specifically, at $71,000, and reported average job salaries for biomolecular scientist jobs in Maine at $64,000, both significantly less than averages for medical scientists overall as reported by the bureau.

Industry Type

More than one-third of all medical scientists worked in the scientific research and development services industry as of May 2011, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Scientists who worked in this industry earned mean annual wages of $92,720. The medical equipment and supplies manufacturing industry offered significantly few job opportunities for these scientists, but paid the highest mean annual wages for the employment category at $119,150. Colleges, universities, and professional schools provided a significant source of employment for medical scientists. Those who worked in these environments earned mean annual wages of $62,180.

Considerations

The demand for new medical scientists, including biomolecular scientists, is expected to grow by 40 percent between 2008 and 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Biomolecular scientists who hold a medical degree should have the greatest employment opportunities. Those who hold a medical license should have advantages in gaining research grants and funding.

2018 Salary Information for Medical Scientists

Medical scientists earned a median annual salary of $84,810 in May 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. On the low end, medical scientists earned a 10th percentile salary of $57,000, meaning 90 percent earned more than this amount. The 90th percentile salary is $116,840, meaning 10 percent earn more. In 2018, 130,700 people were employed in the U.S. as medical scientists.