Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists Salary
The median pay for a medical scientists, except epidemiologists in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA is $125,070/year ($60.13/hour), per BLS data. The range runs from $95K at the entry level to $162K for experienced workers. Prices run high here (RPP 108.6), so that salary is closer to $115,166 in real purchasing power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $2,512/month, about 34% of take-home, which is tight.
So what does $125K get you in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
Groceries, utilities, transportation, and healthcare scaled from national averages by San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles’s Regional Price Parity (108.6). 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.
About medical scientists, except epidemiologists
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What this looks like in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles sits well above the national pay line for medical scientists, except epidemiologists, local pay runs about 21% higher than the U.S. median of $103K. Rent runs $2,512/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 34.1% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Cost-of-living overall is 9% above the national average (BEA RPP 108.6), 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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, adjusted for local cost of living.
| Metro | Median pay | COL-adjusted |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim | $135K | $119K |
| San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont | $160K | $139K |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $131K | $117K |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara | $159K | $144K |
COL-adjusted = median salary ÷ (BEA Regional Price Parity ÷ 100). Expresses purchasing power in national-average dollars.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA
Entry-level medical scientists, except epidemiologists (10th percentile) start around $95K. Mid-career wages sit at $125K. Top earners bring in $162K or more, a $67K spread from bottom to top.
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
| State | Median salary | vs. national | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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 quarterly. We'll email you when San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a medical scientists, except epidemiologist afford a 2BR apartment alone in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $125K, rent takes 34.1% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $2,512/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $2,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for medical scientists, except epidemiologists in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new medical scientists, except epidemiologists typically earn — is $95K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $5,691/month. At HUD’s $2,512/month FMR, rent would take 44% 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 San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
Local pay is 21% above the national median — $125K here vs. $103K nationally. Keep in mind cost of living here is 9% above the national average, which offsets some of that premium.
How does San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles compare to the national average for medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles pays $125K median vs. the U.S. average of $103K — that’s +21%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 108.6), the purchasing-power equivalent is $115K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do medical scientists, except epidemiologists make in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA?
The median is $125,070 a year, that works out to about $60 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $94,850, and experienced medical scientists, except epidemiologists can clear $161,930. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $125K enough to live in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $7,372/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $2,512/month, which eats 34.1% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a medical scientists, except epidemiologists salary go in San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles?
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles has a Regional Price Parity of 108.6 (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 $115,166 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.