Prevailing Wage for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Prevailing wage for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (SOC 19-1042) is set by the Department of Labor using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey data. Whether your offer is for a Clinical Research Scientist, Clinical Pharmacologist, or Physician Scientist role, DOL assigns one of four experience levels, and the wage floor shifts considerably depending on the worksite city.
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Level 1 applies to entry-level medical scientists with limited independent research experience, typically working under close supervision. These are recent doctoral graduates or postdoctoral researchers transitioning into industry or government lab settings for the first time.
Level 2 is the most common filing level for medical scientists. It covers qualified researchers who apply established methods with moderate independence, typically holding a doctorate plus one to five years of relevant research or clinical investigation experience.
Level 3 applies to experienced medical scientists who lead projects, mentor junior staff, or hold specialized expertise in areas such as clinical pharmacology or translational research. They work with substantial independence and contribute to study design and protocol development.
Level 4 covers fully competent senior medical scientists at the top of their field, including principal investigators, research directors, and lead physician scientists who set research strategy, manage teams, and hold institution-wide or program-defining responsibilities.
Prevailing Wage for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists by OES area
Each shape is a DOL OES area, the unit prevailing wage is published for.
What’s an OES area?
The Department of Labor publishes prevailing wages for geographic zones called OES areas. Every U.S. county belongs to exactly one, and the wage floor applies across the whole area. A worker in Oakland gets the San Francisco metro wage, not a separate Oakland wage.
Top 10 cities · Level 1
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Watch for title aliasing in pharmaceutical roles
Job titles like Research Scientist or Clinical Research Scientist are sometimes filed under Life Scientists (SOC 19-1099) rather than SOC 19-1042, which can produce a different prevailing wage floor. Confirm the SOC code on the certified LCA before evaluating your offer.
Account for equity exclusions in biotech offers
RSUs, signing bonuses, and performance bonuses typically do not count toward prevailing wage satisfaction. Biotech and pharmaceutical employers frequently structure comp with a modest base plus heavy equity, so verify that the cash base alone clears the DOL floor for your level.
Compare metros before accepting a research position
The prevailing wage for medical scientists varies sharply by location. California hubs like San Jose and San Francisco set among the highest floors nationally, while markets such as Jackson, MS sit well below the national median. Worksite city on the LCA determines which floor applies.
Find employers sponsoring medical scientists on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate shows which employers have historical H-1B and green card sponsorship records for medical scientist roles, so you can identify pharmaceutical companies, research hospitals, and government contractors that have actually sponsored this occupation before applying.
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Find Jobs for this rolePrevailing Wage by Reported Job Title
DOL classifies these titles under SOC 19-1042.00 alongside Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, so the same four-tier wage schedule applies to each. Tap a title to see the full breakdown.
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist) Prevailing Wage
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist) Prevailing Wage
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist) positions fall under SOC 19-1042.00 (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Clinical Pharmacologist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Pharmacologist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Clinical Pharmacologist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1042.00 (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Clinical Research Scientist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Research Scientist Prevailing Wage
Clinical Research Scientist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1042.00 (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Medical Researcher Prevailing Wage
Medical Researcher Prevailing Wage
Medical Researcher positions fall under SOC 19-1042.00 (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Physician Scientist Prevailing Wage
Physician Scientist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Physician Scientist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1042.00 (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Research Scientist Prevailing Wage
Research Scientist Prevailing Wage
Research Scientist is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1042.00 (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Researcher Prevailing Wage
Researcher Prevailing Wage
Researcher positions fall under SOC 19-1042.00 (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Scientist Prevailing Wage
Scientist Prevailing Wage
When a U.S. employer sponsors a Scientist for a work visa or green card, DOL applies the prevailing wage schedule for SOC 19-1042.00 (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). Wage level reflects the role's experience and responsibility, not the title itself.
Study Director Prevailing Wage
Study Director Prevailing Wage
Study Director is an O*NET-reported job title within SOC 19-1042.00 (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). All roles in this SOC share the same prevailing wage tiers. The level an employer files at depends on what the role requires, not which title is used.
Toxicologist Prevailing Wage
Toxicologist Prevailing Wage
Toxicologist positions fall under SOC 19-1042.00 (Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists). DOL OFLC publishes one four-tier prevailing wage schedule for the entire classification; employers filing H-1B, E-3, or PERM petitions for this title use the levels below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does DOL set the prevailing wage for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?
DOL calculates prevailing wages using Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. For SOC 19-1042, survey responses from employers across 530 metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas are aggregated and divided into four wage levels. Employers must certify on the Labor Condition Application that the offered wage meets or exceeds the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite location and the appropriate experience level.
What do the four wage levels mean and how do I identify mine?
DOL assigns levels based on experience, supervision, and complexity. Level 1 is entry-level with close supervision. Level 2 is a qualified researcher working with moderate independence, and it is the most common filing level for this occupation. Level 3 covers experienced scientists with project leadership. Level 4 is reserved for fully independent senior researchers. Your employer selects the level that matches the actual job duties described in the LCA, not your personal credentials.
Why does the prevailing wage for the same role differ so much by city?
DOL publishes area-specific wages because regional OES surveys capture local labor market conditions. Dense research markets like San Jose and San Francisco have high employer concentration and competitive compensation, driving their floors well above the national median. Smaller or lower-cost metro areas reflect local survey data. The LCA must list the actual worksite, so if your employer's headquarters is in Boston but you work in a satellite office elsewhere, the worksite city's rate controls.
What happens if my job offer is below the prevailing wage for a sponsored position?
An employer cannot submit a compliant LCA if the offered wage falls below the DOL prevailing wage for the worksite and level. USCIS will deny the H-1B or green card petition if the underlying LCA is non-compliant or if the offered wage does not meet the wage requirement. For employees already on status, paying below the attested wage can trigger DOL back-wage liability and debarment. You have the right to request a copy of the certified LCA from your employer.
How do I find and verify the prevailing wage for a Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists role in a specific U.S. city?
Use the OFLC Wage Search tool on the DOL website to look up the current prevailing wage for SOC 19-1042 in any covered metropolitan area. Select the appropriate wage level and enter the worksite area. You can also cross-reference OFLC disclosure data to see what wage levels recent employers have filed for comparable medical scientist positions. Migrate Mate lets you filter sponsored job listings by location and employer sponsorship history to identify companies actively hiring in this occupation.
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