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Next Generation Sequencing Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does a Next Generation Sequencing Scientist make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for a Next Generation Sequencing Scientist in the United States is $65,507 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $31.

However, a Next Generation Sequencing Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $78,006
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,179 to $72,050
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,686
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Next Generation Sequencing Scientist Salaries

A Next Generation Sequencing Scientist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how your years of experience, geographic location, education and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Next Generation Sequencing Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Next Generation Sequencing Scientist's salary. As you build your skills and take on more complex tasks, your compensation generally increases. Here's how the average salary grows at different career stages:

  • Entry-Level (less than 1 year): $58,361
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $67,450
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $84,183
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $122,001
  • Expert (over 8 years): $138,247
Levels Salary
Biologist... Level Next Generation Sequencing Scientist$58,361
Next Gene... Level Next Generation Sequencing Scientist$67,450
Biologist... Level Next Generation Sequencing Scientist$84,183
Biologist... Level Next Generation Sequencing Scientist$122,001
Biologist... Level Next Generation Sequencing Scientist$138,247
View as Graph

How Do Next Generation Sequencing Scientist Salaries Vary from State to State?

Your salary can change significantly depending on where you work. States with a higher cost of living and strong industrial sectors often pay more to attract Next Generation Sequencing Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $72,529.
  • California: $72,254.
  • Massachusetts: $71,291.

Top Paying Cities for Next Generation Sequencing Scientists

Salaries can also vary between different cities. Major metropolitan areas or cities with a high demand for technicians often offer more competitive pay. Here are a few examples of average annual salaries in different U.S. cities:

  • San Jose: $82,624
  • San Francisco: $81,719
  • Oakland: $79,997

What Skills Can Increase a Next Generation Sequencing Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 9.53% Job Postings): Analysis is the process of considering something carefully or using statistical methods in order to understand it or explain it.
  • SOP (Mentioned in 2.46% Job Postings): SOP is A standard operating procedure is a set of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out routine operations.
  • Environmental Compliance (Mentioned in 1.81% Job Postings): Environmental Compliance means conforming to environmental laws, regulations, standards and other requirements such as site permits to operate. In recent years, environmental concerns have led to a significant increase in the number and scope of compliance imperatives across all global regulatory environments. Being closely related, environmental concerns and compliance activities are increasingly being aligned with corporate performance goals and being integrated to some extent to avoid conflicts, wasteful overlaps, and gaps. Compliance with the above requirements and obligations, requires meeting certain conditions. Typically, these include: Managing monitoring programmes or schedules, ensuring that the monitoring required in the permit has been done, at the correct locations, for the correct parameters, and at the correct frequency Pre-processing, performing calculations and validating the data for compliance with any alert or reporting levels Generating routine compliance reports for authorities.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 9.53%
SOP 2.46%
Environmental Compliance 1.81%
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What skills can make your compensation higher?

Mastering certain specialized skills can lead to a significant increase in pay. Here are examples of skills and the potential impact they can have on a Next Generation Sequencing Scientist's salary.

  • Drug Discovery: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Resourcing: Can increase your salary by up to 17%.
  • Cell Biology: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Drug Discovery $81,229
24%
Resourcing $76,643
17%
Cell Biology $75,333
15%
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Next Generation Sequencing Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Next Generation Sequencing Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 130% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Next Generation Sequencing Scientist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Next Generation Sequencing Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Next Generation Sequencing Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$98,260$47.050%
Financial Services$85,159$41.030%
Biotechnology$78,608$38.020%
Healthcare$78,608$38.020%
Chemicals$72,058$35.010%

How Education impacts a Next Generation Sequencing Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Next Generation Sequencing Scientists enter the field with a Bachelor's Degree degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for a Next Generation Sequencing Scientist with a Bachelor's Degree is between $64,405 and $69,282).

Next Generation Sequencing Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Next Generation Sequencing Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 0.5%
High School 42.9%
Associates 44.4%
Bachelors 42.9%
Masters 44.4%
Doctorate 12.1%
View as Graph

Next Generation Sequencing Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Next Generation Sequencing Scientist's annual salary breaks down can help with budgeting. Below, you can see the average hourly rate, weekly pay, and monthly pay for this role. Use the buttons to switch between different pay periods.

Last Updated on October 01, 2026
$56,179
Average $65,507/year
$72,050
$4,682
Average $5,459/month
$6,004
$1,080
Average $1,260/week
$1,386
$27
Average $31/hour
$35
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $72,050 $6,004 $1,386 $35
Average $65,507 $5,459 $1,260 $31
25th Percentile $56,179 $4,682 $1,080 $27

Most common benefits for Next Generation Sequencing Scientist

  • Social Security
  • 401 (k)
  • Disability
  • Healthcare
  • Pension
  • Time Off (days)

Common company salaries for Next Generation Sequencing Scientist

Here are companies hiring for Next Generation Sequencing Scientist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Next Generation Sequencing Scientist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Next Generation Sequencing Scientist?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Next Generation Sequencing Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 50% above the market median.

Where Does Our Salary Data Come From?

Salary.com provides salary estimates, histograms, trends, and comparisons using data from employer job postings and third-party sources.

We offer detailed salary information across multiple percentiles for your reference. (Click here to learn Why the Salary Midpoint Formula Is Crucial for Achieving Pay Equity.)

With the most extensive online, real-time compensation data available, Salary.com helps you pinpoint your exact pay target.

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