Salary distribution
Where Kentucky medical scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $61,510 and $82,920, with a median of $73,220.
Medical Scientists in Kentucky: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 45 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $64,356. 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 | 20 | $61,008 |
| Level II — qualified | 20 | $67,453 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Medical Scientists in Kentucky. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | Postdoctoral Scholar | 29 | $62,930 |
| University of Louisville | Research Scientist | 13 | $64,356 |
| KELITH GROUP INC | Medical Researcher - HEOR Field Representative | 3 | $70,408 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Scientist II at UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY$62,930LexingtonDecided Dec 15, 2025I-200-25342-465692
- Research Associate at University of Louisville$61,008LouisvilleDecided Dec 1, 2025I-200-25325-427729
- Medical Researcher - HEOR Field Representative at KELITH GROUP INC$70,408LaGrangeWage Level IIDecided Sep 24, 2025I-200-25260-315070
- Postdoctoral Scholar at UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY$61,428LexingtonDecided Nov 18, 2025I-200-25315-396936
- Postdoctoral Scholar at UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY$65,000LexingtonDecided Nov 17, 2025I-200-25311-388713
- Assistant Professor at University of Louisville$85,312LouisvilleDecided Nov 14, 2025I-200-25308-372305
- Senior Researcher at University of Louisville$66,625LouisvilleWage Level IIDecided Sep 30, 2025I-200-25266-326796
- Scientist II at UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY$61,052LexingtonWage Level IIDecided Sep 24, 2025I-200-25260-315569
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 Only certified filings are shown — denied and withdrawn cases are excluded.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 Kentucky
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 Kentucky
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 41 certified offers. The most common variant is Scientist II. at a median of $63,586.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientist II. | UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | 14 | $63,586 |
| Postdoctoral Scholar | UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | 9 | $61,428 |
| Research Scientist | University of Louisville | 7 | $65,000 |
| Research Associate Senior | UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | 4 | $66,676 |
| Senior Researcher | University of Louisville | 4 | $60,420 |
| Medical Researcher - HEOR Field Representative | KELITH GROUP INC | 3 | $70,408 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Medical Scientists in Kentucky, by industry
Median offered wage across 45 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Education leads with a median of $63,586.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education | UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY | 42 | $63,586 |
| Professional services | KELITH GROUP INC | 3 | $70,408 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Kentucky 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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Metro-level salary data for medical scientists in major Kentucky metropolitan areas.
- Louisville$65,720
Compare Medical Scientists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Medical Scientists in Kentucky?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Medical Scientists in Kentucky is $73,220.
- How does Kentucky compare to the national median for Medical Scientists?
- The Kentucky median is -27.8% versus the BLS national figure of $101,397.
- What is the salary range for Medical Scientists in Kentucky?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $52,320 and the 90th-percentile at $152,160, 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.