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Science · Boulder

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary

in Boulder, CO

The median pay for a medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Boulder, CO is $130,310/year ($62.65/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $86K at the entry level to $212K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 105.2), so that salary is closer to $123,869 in real purchasing power. Rent on a 2-bedroom averages $2,033/month, or 25.2% of estimated take-home pay.

Our verdict:The math works here
Median pay
$130K
per year, before taxes
Hourly
$62.65
median hourly rate
Starting out
$86K
10th percentile
Top earners
$212K
90th percentile

Where the paycheck goes

What $130K actually covers in Boulder, month by month

Take-home pay
after estimated taxes
$7,841/mo
Rent
2-bedroom median (HUD)
-$2,033/mo
Groceries
scaled to local prices
-$412/mo
Utilities
power, water, internet
-$206/mo
Transportation
car, gas, transit
-$362/mo
Healthcare *
employee share only
-$240/mo
Rent as % of take-home25.9% ✓ within 30% guideline
Left over each month$4,588/mo

Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by Boulder’s Regional Price Parity (105.2). Rent from HUD Fair Market Rents. Taxes estimated for single filer, standard deduction. * Healthcare is the employee-paid share only (premiums + out-of-pocket). Actual costs vary by coverage type: employer-sponsored, ACA marketplace, or uninsured.

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About medical scientists, except epidemiologists

Education: Doctoral or professional degree
U.S. employed: 172,340
Category: Science

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What this looks like in Boulder

Boulder sits well above the national pay line for medical scientists, except epidemiologists, local pay runs about 26% higher than the U.S. median of $103K. Rent runs $2,033/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 25.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 5% above the national average (BEA RPP 105.2), so groceries and services cost more too. Use the affordability calculator above to model your specific situation.

Compared to nearby metros

Median pay for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in metros near Boulder, adjusted for local cost of living.

MetroMedian payCOL-adjusted
Fort Collins-Loveland$66K$66K
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler$108K$105K
Salt Lake City-Murray$83K$82K
Oklahoma City$76K$84K

COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.

Compensation breakdown

Annual earnings by percentile, Boulder, CO

Bar chart showing Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary percentiles in Boulder, CO: 10th percentile $86,150, 25th percentile $104,290, median $130,310, 75th percentile $158,580, 90th percentile $211,770. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.10th$86K25th$104KMedian$130K75th$159K90th$212K
Bar chart showing Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary percentiles in Boulder, CO: 10th percentile $86,150, 25th percentile $104,290, median $130,310, 75th percentile $158,580, 90th percentile $211,770. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Entry-level medical scientists, except epidemiologists (10th percentile) start around $86K. Mid-career wages sit at $130K. Top earners bring in $212K or more, a $126K spread from bottom to top.

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Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay across states

Median income ranked highest to lowest, compared to the national figure

View Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary in all states
StateMedian salaryvs. nationalEmployment
California$137K+32%29,830
New Jersey$129K+25%6,120
Massachusetts$128K+24%17,100
Connecticut$117K+13%2,410
Arizona$117K+13%2,190
Oregon$111K+7%1,030
Maryland$106K+3%6,760
Washington$106K+2%6,150
Alaska$105K+1%260
Rhode Island$103K-0%670
North Carolina$103K-0%5,730
Tennessee$103K-1%4,020
Missouri$103K-1%3,650
Montana$102K-1%320
District of Columbia$102K-1%670
New Hampshire$101K-3%210
Delaware$100K-3%270
Pennsylvania$99K-4%12,630
Nevada$99K-5%530
Florida$95K-8%6,490
Maine$94K-9%100
Virginia$94K-9%4,560
Georgia$92K-11%1,910
Minnesota$90K-13%6,760
New York$88K-15%7,690
Kansas$84K-18%1,070
Michigan$84K-18%2,370
Ohio$84K-19%4,840
Iowa$84K-19%1,060
Idaho$83K-20%380
Utah$83K-20%1,560
West Virginia$83K-20%330
Wisconsin$83K-20%2,970
Illinois$82K-20%4,700
Indiana$81K-22%2,010
Nebraska$81K-22%620
South Dakota$81K-22%140
Texas$80K-22%11,920
Kentucky$78K-25%670
Oklahoma$76K-26%920
Arkansas$73K-30%230
Alabama$68K-34%N/A
New Mexico$67K-35%340
Vermont$67K-36%110
North Dakota$64K-38%250
Mississippi$54K-48%440
12345

Showing 1–10 of 46 states with published data

BLS does not publish data for every state when sample sizes are too small

Track medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary changes

BLS updates this data annually. We'll email you when Boulder numbers change.

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Quick answers

The stuff people actually ask about this job

Can a medical scientists, except epidemiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in Boulder?

Yes — at the median salary of $130K, rent takes 25.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,033/month. That stays under the 30% guideline most financial planners use.

What’s the entry-level salary for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in Boulder?

The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical scientists, except epidemiologists typically earn — is $86K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,434/month. At HUD’s $2,033/month FMR, rent would take 37% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.

Is medical scientists, except epidemiologist a high-paying job in Boulder?

Local pay is 26% above the national median — $130K here vs. $103K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 5% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.

How does Boulder compare to the national average for medical scientists, except epidemiologists?

Boulder pays $130K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s +26%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 105.2), the purchasing-power equivalent is $124K — still ahead of the national median.

How much do medical scientists, except epidemiologists make in Boulder, CO?

The median is $130,310 a year, that works out to about $63 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $86,150, and experienced medical scientists, except epidemiologists can clear $211,770. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.

Is $130K enough to live in Boulder?

On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,841/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,033/month, which eats 25.9% of your paycheck. That's under the 30% guideline most financial planners use, so the numbers work.

How far does a medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary go in Boulder?

Boulder has a Regional Price Parity of 105.2 (100 is the national average). Prices are above average here, so your dollar buys less than the same salary would in a cheaper metro. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary is worth about $123,869 in national-average purchasing power.

Where do medical scientists, except epidemiologists get paid the most?

The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.

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