Clinical Development Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does a Clinical Development Scientist make in the United States?

As of September 01, 2026, the average salary for a Clinical Development Scientist in the United States is $68,379 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $33.

However, a Clinical Development Scientist's salary can vary significantly. Here’s a look at the typical salary range:

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $82,787
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $56,810 to $75,921
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $46,277

Key Factors That Influence Clinical Development Scientist Salaries

A Clinical Development Scientist's salary isn't a fixed number. It's shaped by several important factors. Below, we'll explore how geographic location and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Do Clinical Development 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 Clinical Development Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $75,709.
  • California: $75,422.
  • Massachusetts: $74,417.

Top Paying Cities for Clinical Development 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: $86,247
  • San Francisco: $85,302
  • Oakland: $83,505

What Skills Can Increase a Clinical Development Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Accountability (Mentioned in 5.18% Job Postings): Setting and holding oneself and others to stated expectations by associating tasks with our business's mission, values, and goals.
  • Nursing Practice (Mentioned in 2.97% Job Postings): Nursing practice may be work experience that is direct and/or indirect patient care in clinical practice, nursing administration, education, research, or consultation in the specialty represented by the credential.
  • Pediatric (Mentioned in 1.94% Job Postings): Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
Skills Demand Percentage
Accountability 5.18%
Nursing Practice 2.97%
Pediatric 1.94%

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 Clinical Development Scientist's salary.

  • Staff Development: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
  • Critical Care: Can increase your salary by up to 8%.
  • Community Health: Can increase your salary by up to 7%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Staff Development $75,217
10%
Critical Care $73,849
8%
Community Health $73,166
7%

Clinical Development Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Clinical Development Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 70% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Software & Networking and Financial Services sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 40% above the average. In contrast, Clinical Development Scientist positions in Retail & Wholesale or Transportation typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Clinical Development Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for a Clinical Development Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Software & Networking$95,731$46.040%
Financial Services$88,893$43.030%
Biotechnology$85,474$41.025%
Energy & Utilities$82,055$39.020%
Aerospace & Defense$78,636$38.015%

Clinical Development Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Clinical Development 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 September 01, 2026
$56,810
Average $68,379/year
$75,921
$4,734
Average $5,698/month
$6,327
$1,092
Average $1,315/week
$1,460
$27
Average $33/hour
$37
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $75,921 $6,327 $1,460 $37
Average $68,379 $5,698 $1,315 $33
25th Percentile $56,810 $4,734 $1,092 $27

Most common benefits for Clinical Development Scientist

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

Common company salaries for Clinical Development Scientist

Here are companies hiring for Clinical Development Scientist and their salaries, click below for more details.

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FAQ about Clinical Development Scientist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Clinical Development Scientist?

The Software & Networking industry offers the highest average compensation for Clinical Development Scientist roles, with salaries approximately 40% 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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