Data through FY2026 Q3 (Jun 30, 2026)
Research Scientist (PhD)
Occupation profile for Research Scientist (PhD) covers 17 filings across the reporting window. FY2026 certified median offer: $78,000.
- FY2026 certified median
- $78,000
- Total filings
- 17
- FY2026 25th–75th percentile
- $78,000–$78,000
- Top employer
- The Scripps Research Institute
| Fiscal year | Filings | Median | 25th percentile | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | 6 | $79,082 | $75,057 | $82,228 |
| FY2025 | 8 | $77,147 | $77,033 | $79,914 |
| FY2026 (Q1–Q3) | 3 | $78,000 | $78,000 | $78,000 |
FY2026 is partial (*). Its filing totals are not comparable to a full fiscal year.
Median offer by fiscal year
Top employers
- The Scripps Research Institute14 filings
- The Children's Mercy Hospital3 filings
Top cities
- La Jolla14 filings
- Kansas City3 filings
Filings by employer and title
Prevailing wages by area and occupation
The OFLC wage year runs from July through June. Worksites use the area of the most frequently reported county with a matching wage area for their city.
| Wage year | Area | SOC | Level I | Level II | Level III | Level IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CAArea 41740 | 19-2031 | $63,981 | $82,534 | $101,067 | $119,621 |
| 2026-27 | Kansas City, MO-KSArea 28140 | 19-1042 | $65,000 | $83,658 | $102,315 | $120,973 |
| 2026-27 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CAArea 41740 | 19-1021 | $81,827 | $104,270 | $126,693 | $149,136 |
| 2026-27 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CAArea 41740 | 19-1029 | $75,795 | $95,930 | $116,085 | $136,219 |
| 2026-27 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CAArea 41740 | 19-1022 | $68,827 | $86,154 | $103,480 | $120,806 |
| 2026-27 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CAArea 41740 | 19-1042 | $87,464 | $108,160 | $128,856 | $149,552 |