How much does a Medical Affairs make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Medical Affairs in the United States is $60,415 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $29.

However, a Medical Affairs's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $80,193
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $53,451 to $70,767
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $47,110

Key Factors That Influence Medical Affairs Salaries

A Medical Affairs'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 Medical Affairs Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Medical Affairs'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): $59,654
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $66,226
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $87,160
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $127,512
  • Expert (over 8 years): $144,618
Levels Salary
Medical A... Level Medical Affairs$59,654
Environme... Level Medical Affairs$66,226
Environme... Level Medical Affairs$87,160
Environme... Level Medical Affairs$127,512
Environme... Level Medical Affairs$144,618

Top Paying Cities for Medical Affairs

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: $76,202
  • San Francisco: $75,367
  • Oakland: $73,779

What Skills Can Increase a Medical Affairs's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Leadership (Mentioned in 5.89% Job Postings): Knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other members within our business to achieve optimum results.
  • Sustainability (Mentioned in 3.04% Job Postings): Sustainability is a societal goal that broadly aims for humans to safely co-exist on planet Earth over a long time. Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and therefore vary in the literature and over time.
  • Environmental Health (Mentioned in 2.27% Job Postings): A branch of public health that focuses on the interrelationships between people and their environment, promotes human health and well-being, and fosters healthy and safe communities.
Skills Demand Percentage
Leadership 5.89%
Sustainability 3.04%
Environmental Health 2.27%

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 Medical Affairs's salary.

  • Project Management: Can increase your salary by up to 31%.
  • Collaboration: Can increase your salary by up to 24%.
  • Presentation: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Project Management $79,144
31%
Collaboration $74,915
24%
Presentation $69,477
15%

Medical Affairs Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Medical Affairs roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 115% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Pharmaceuticals and Energy & Utilities sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 60% above the average. In contrast, Medical Affairs positions in Hospitality & Leisure or Retail & Wholesale typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Medical Affairs as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Medical Affairs

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Pharmaceuticals$96,664$46.060%
Energy & Utilities$90,623$44.050%
Financial Services$90,623$44.050%
Software & Networking$90,623$44.050%
Aerospace & Defense$84,581$41.040%

How Education impacts a Medical Affairs's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Medical Affairs 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 Medical Affairs with a Bachelor's Degree is between $54,925 and $61,149).

Medical Affairs Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Medical Affairs
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 17.7%
High School 17.7%
Associates 14.5%
Bachelors 48.4%
Masters 14.5%
Doctorate 4.8%

Medical Affairs Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Medical Affairs'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 September 01, 2026
$53,451
Average $60,415/year
$70,767
$4,454
Average $5,035/month
$5,897
$1,028
Average $1,162/week
$1,361
$26
Average $29/hour
$34
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $70,767 $5,897 $1,361 $34
Average $60,415 $5,035 $1,162 $29
25th Percentile $53,451 $4,454 $1,028 $26

Most common benefits for Medical Affairs

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

Common company salaries for Medical Affairs

Here are companies hiring for Medical Affairs and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Medical Affairs

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Medical Affairs?

The Pharmaceuticals industry offers the highest average compensation for Medical Affairs roles, with salaries approximately 60% 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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