Salary distribution
Where Tennessee medical scientists fall on the wage curve.
Shaded band = interquartile range (where most full-time workers fall)
The middle 50% of workers earn between $77,420 and $126,620, with a median of $95,580.
Medical Scientists in Tennessee: actual employer-disclosed pay
Public records from 41 certified H-1B Labor Condition Applications filed with the U.S. Department of Labor. Median offered wage: $72,583. 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 | 22 | $65,000 |
| Level II — qualified | 9 | $77,000 |
| Level III — experienced | 2 | $87,445 |
| Level IV — fully competent | 1 | $400,000 |
Top employers filing for this role
Companies with the most certified filings for Medical Scientists in Tennessee. Median offer is across all of that employer's filings.
| Employer | Most-filed title | Filings | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Staff Scientist | 18 | $72,583 |
| Vanderbilt University | Postdoctoral Research Scholar | 14 | $66,732 |
| ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL | Biomedical Modeler & Pharmacometrician | 2 | $86,320 |
| THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE | Post-Doctoral Researcher | 2 | $65,000 |
| The University of Tennessee Health Science Center | Assistant Professor | 2 | $79,555 |
| Delaware Diagnostic Labs LLC | Clinical Lab Scientist | 1 | $97,261 |
| MLM Medical Labs, LLC | Scientist | 1 | $76,236 |
| St. Jude Children's Research Hospital | Research Scientist | 1 | $400,000 |
Recent sample filings
A snapshot of recent certified offers. Each line is a real, public, verifiable record.
- Postdoctoral Research Scholar at Vanderbilt University$65,640NashvilleDecided Dec 26, 2025I-200-25352-493694
- Research Instructor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center$86,479NashvilleDecided Dec 23, 2025I-200-25350-486593
- Biomedical Modeler & Pharmacometrician at ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL$94,640MemphisWage Level IIIDecided Aug 28, 2025I-200-25233-258767
- Post-Doctoral Researcher at THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE$65,000KnoxvilleWage Level IDecided Jul 8, 2025I-200-25181-143125
- Post-doctoral Researcher at THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE$65,000KnoxvilleWage Level IDecided Jul 8, 2025I-200-25181-143555
- Research Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center$80,000NashvilleWage Level IDecided Jul 2, 2025I-200-25176-126694
- Clinical/Translational Research Coordinator III at Vanderbilt University Medical Center$69,888NashvilleWage Level IIDecided Jun 13, 2025I-200-25157-061423
- Clinical Lab Scientist at Delaware Diagnostic Labs LLC$97,261KnoxivilleWage Level IIDecided Apr 30, 2025I-200-25113-895449
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 Tennessee
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 Tennessee
Real specialty titles employers file for, clustered from 24 certified offers. The most common variant is Postdoctoral Research Scholar at a median of $62,232.
| Specialty | Top employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Postdoctoral Research Scholar | Vanderbilt University | 7 | $62,232 |
| Staff Scientist | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | 6 | $73,490 |
| Research Assistant Professor | Vanderbilt University | 4 | $80,163 |
| Basic Scientist Assistant | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | 4 | $72,583 |
| Drug Discovery Scientist | Vanderbilt University | 3 | $77,250 |
Specialties with 10 or more filings link to a dedicated breakdown.
Medical Scientists in Tennessee, by industry
Median offered wage across 41 certified filings, grouped by NAICS industry sector. Healthcare leads with a median of $74,398.
| Industry | Largest employer | Filings | Median offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | Vanderbilt University Medical Center | 23 | $74,398 |
| Education | Vanderbilt University | 18 | $65,320 |
Sectors with at least 25 filings link to a dedicated page with full distribution and sample employer breakdown.
Wage trend
Median annual wage in Tennessee 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.
Sponsored
Build the skills employers list for Medical Scientists
Online courses from licensed providers. We may earn a commission when you enroll. The commission does not influence our rankings or wage data.
Explore coursesTop metros in Tennessee
Metro-level salary data for medical scientists in major Tennessee metropolitan areas.
Compare Medical Scientists pay across nearby states
Frequently asked questions
- What is the median salary for Medical Scientists in Tennessee?
- According to BLS Occupational Employment Statistics, the median annual wage for Medical Scientists in Tennessee is $95,580.
- How does Tennessee compare to the national median for Medical Scientists?
- The Tennessee median is -5.7% versus the BLS national figure of $101,397.
- What is the salary range for Medical Scientists in Tennessee?
- BLS reports the 10th-percentile annual wage at $60,150 and the 90th-percentile at $153,060, 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.