Salary distribution
Where Iowa medical scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $67,280 and $101,870, with a median of $85,010.
Medical Scientists in Iowa: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 43 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $69,000. Every figure below is an actual offered salary an employer attested to under federal law.
By DOL wage level
DOL classifies every offer into one of four wage levels based on the role's experience and skill requirements.
| Level | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|
| Level I — entry | 24 | $67,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 6 | $79,489 |
| Level III — experienced | 1 | $95,000 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $145,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Medical Scientists in Iowa. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Iowa | Assistant Research Scientist | 34 | $68,714 |
| Iowa State University of Science and Technology | Clinical Assistant Professor | 6 | $96,967 |
| Jaeger Corporation | Medical Physicist | 1 | $125,000 |
| Perspective Therapeutics, Inc. | Assistant Research Scientist | 1 | $95,000 |
| BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM ANIMAL HEALTH USA, INC. | Senior Scientist, Clinical | 1 | $145,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Assistant Research Scientist at The University of Iowa$68,506Iowa CityDecided Dec 29, 2025I-200-25355-500336
- Postdoctoral Research Associate at Iowa State University of Science and Technology$64,459AmesDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-372830
- Medical Physicist at Jaeger Corporation$125,000Sioux CityWage Level IDecided May 19, 2025I-200-25132-965966
- Assistant Research Scientist at Perspective Therapeutics, Inc.$95,000CoralvilleWage Level IIIDecided Apr 14, 2025I-200-25097-838323
- Research Scientist II at Iowa State University of Science and Technology$67,000AmesWage Level IDecided Mar 27, 2025I-200-25079-791454
- Research Assistant Professor at Iowa State University of Science and Technology$117,707AmesWage Level IIDecided Mar 17, 2025I-200-25069-761029
- Senior Scientist, Clinical at BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM ANIMAL HEALTH USA, INC.$145,000AmesWage Level IVDecided Mar 14, 2025I-200-25066-757014
- Assistant Research Scientist at The University of Iowa$72,695Iowa CityWage Level IDecided Mar 6, 2025I-200-25058-729819
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Foreign Labor Certification. Disclosed wages reflect what employers attested to pay; actual paid wages may differ. Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.
Medical Scientists pay by experience level in Iowa
Each band reflects DOL Wage Levels I-IV mapped onto a four-step ladder. Click a level to see the disclosed-wage range for that segment.
Medical Scientists specialties in Iowa
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 32 certified offers. The most common variant is Assistant Research Scientist at a median of $70,599.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assistant Research Scientist | The University of Iowa | 18 | $70,599 |
| Postdoctoral Research Scholar | The University of Iowa | 14 | $64,408 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Medical Scientists in Iowa, by industry
Median offered wage across 43 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $68,961.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | The University of Iowa | 40 | $68,961 |
| Manufacturing | Perspective Therapeutics, Inc. | 2 | $120,000 |
| Professional services | Jaeger Corporation | 1 | $125,000 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Iowa over the past 2 BLS OES releases. Real values are CPI-adjusted to 2024 dollars.
Typical entry
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Experience
None
On-the-job training
None
Top skills (O*NET)
- 4.7 / 5
Biology
Knowledge
- 4.3 / 5
Writing
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Oral Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Speaking
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Written Expression
Ability
- 4.1 / 5
Science
Basic skill
- 4.1 / 5
Active Learning
Cross-functional
- 4.1 / 5
Inductive Reasoning
Ability
Common tasks (O*NET)
- 01
Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
- 02
Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
- 03
Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- 04
Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
- 05
Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
- 06
Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
- 07
Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
- 08
Study animal and human health and physiological processes.
10-year outlook
Growth 2024 → 2034
+8.7%
Projected annual openings
—
BLS outlook
Growing faster than average
Source: BLS Employment Projections, 2024–2034 cycle.
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Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Medical Scientists in Iowa?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Medical Scientists in Iowa is $85,010.
- How does Iowa compare to the national median for Medical Scientists?
- The Iowa median is -16.2% versus the BLS national figure of $101,397.
- What is the salary range for Medical Scientists in Iowa?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $63,180 and the 90th-percentile at $131,980, which captures most full-time workers in the role.
- Is Medical Scientists a growing field?
- BLS Employment Projections show employment growing by 8.7% over the projection cycle. See the 10-year outlook section above for details.
- What education is required for Medical Scientists?
- BLS lists the typical entry-level education as Doctoral or professional degree. Many employers also weigh prior experience and credentials.
Information on this page is for general educational purposes only. It is not career, financial, or tax advice. Wage data reflects BLS estimates for the reference year shown and may not match individual offers, employer-specific ranges, or current market conditions. Confirm with a licensed professional before making career or compensation decisions.