What are the main factors that influence a Lead Scientist's salary?

The primary factors are: 1) Experience Level, 2) Geographic Location, 3) Education/Skills, 4) Company Size & Industry

How does experience change A Lead Scientist's salary?

A Lead Scientist's salary grows with experience: a Clinical Research Associate I (0-2 years)earns $61,539, a Clinical Research Associate II (2-4 years)earns $71,218, a Lead Scientist (4-7 years)earns $101,121, a Clinical Research Manager (7+ years)earns $109,260, a Clinical Research Director (7+ years)earns $162,677,

What are the highest paying states for a Lead Scientist?

Lead Scientist salary varies significantly by state. The top 3 highest paying states for Lead Scientist roles are District of Columbia $111,628, California $111,204, Massachusetts $109,722. These tech hubs typically pay 10-15% above the national average.

How much do different types of Lead Scientist roles make?

Salaries for Lead Scientist level roles vary by specialization: Lead Data Scientist: $173,335; Weather Scientist: $136,100; Atmospheric Scientist: $136,090; Lead Pharmacokinetics Scientist: $133,800; Pharmacokinetics Scientist IV: $133,755.

Lead Scientist Salary in Delaware

How much does a Lead Scientist make in Delaware?

As of June 01, 2026, the average salary for a Lead Scientist in Delaware is $102,100 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $49.

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

Top Earners (90th percentile): $127,542
Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $90,150 to $115,417
Entry-Level (10th percentile): $79,269

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Lead Scientist Salaries by Percentile

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$115,417	$9,618	$2,220	$55
Average	$102,100	$8,508	$1,963	$49
25th Percentile	$90,150	$7,512	$1,734	$43

You may get higher pay by adjusting the following factors:

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Key Factors That Influence Lead Scientist Salaries

A Lead 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 and company size can directly affect your earning potential.

How Experience Level Affects Lead Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of a Lead 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): $61,539
Early Career (1-2 years): $71,218
Mid-Level (2-4 years): $101,121
Senior-Level (5-8 years): $109,260
Expert (over 8 years): $162,677

Levels	Salary
Clinical ... Level Lead Scientist	$61,539
Clinical ... Level Lead Scientist	$71,218
Lead Scie... Level Lead Scientist	$101,121
Clinical ... Level Lead Scientist	$109,260
Clinical ... Level Lead Scientist	$162,677

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What Am I Worth?

How Do Lead 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 Lead Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:

District of Columbia: $111,628.
California: $111,204.
Massachusetts: $109,722.

District of Columbia $111,628 California $111,204 Massachusetts $109,722 Washington $109,319 New Jersey $109,279 Alaska $109,138 Connecticut $107,746 New York $107,182

Hawaii $105,377 Rhode Island $104,530 Maryland $103,956 Minnesota $103,169 Colorado $102,867 Illinois $102,766 Oregon $102,383 Delaware $102,100

New Hampshire $101,923 Virginia $101,526 Pennsylvania $100,366 Nevada $99,782 North Dakota $99,590 Michigan $99,288 Wisconsin $99,177 Vermont $98,955

Texas $98,340 Maine $98,300 Arizona $98,239 Ohio $98,168 Georgia $97,241 Indiana $96,777 Wyoming $96,686 Utah $96,545

Iowa $96,485 Kansas $96,001 Louisiana $95,860 North Carolina $95,809 Missouri $95,789 Florida $95,396 Montana $95,184 Nebraska $94,983

Kentucky $94,872 South Carolina $94,468 Tennessee $94,216 Idaho $94,115 New Mexico $93,379 Oklahoma $93,218 Alabama $92,623 South Dakota $91,625

Arkansas $91,081 West Virginia $90,788 Mississippi $89,911

Top Paying Cities for Lead 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:

Lincoln: $101,641
Little Creek: $102,385
Magnolia: $102,238

Lincoln, DE $101,641 Little Creek, DE $102,385 Magnolia, DE $102,238 Milford, DE $101,899 Marydel, DE $102,066 Millsboro, DE $101,214 Millville, DE $101,370 Milton, DE $101,546

Nassau, DE $101,620 Ocean View, DE $101,353 Rehoboth Beach, DE $101,548 Seaford, DE $101,605 Selbyville, DE $101,185 Smyrna, DE $102,455 Viola, DE $101,983 Woodside, DE $102,258

Bear, DE $102,022 Newark, DE $101,983 Claymont, DE $102,192 Delaware City, DE $102,085 Hockessin, DE $101,974 Kirkwood, DE $102,066 Middletown, DE $102,105 Montchanin, DE $101,998

New Castle, DE $102,013 Odessa, DE $102,156 Port Penn, DE $102,224 Rockland, DE $102,008 Saint Georges, DE $102,073 Townsend, DE $102,230 Winterthur, DE $102,020 Lewes, DE $101,585

Wilmington, DE $101,979 Dover, DE $102,385 Dover Afb, DE $101,845 Bethany Beach, DE $101,246 Bethel, DE $101,351 Bridgeville, DE $101,590 Camden Wyoming, DE $102,096 Cheswold, DE $102,351

Clayton, DE $102,354 Dagsboro, DE $101,176 Delmar, DE $101,014 Ellendale, DE $101,320 Felton, DE $101,891 Fenwick Island, DE $101,198 Frankford, DE $101,022 Frederica, DE $101,992

Georgetown, DE $101,138 Greenwood, DE $101,606 Harbeson, DE $101,245 Harrington, DE $101,762 Hartly, DE $102,078 Houston, DE $101,616 Kenton, DE $102,360 Laurel, DE $101,077

Yorklyn, DE $102,005

Lead Scientist Salary: Hourly Rate, Weekly Pay, and Monthly Pay

Understanding how a Lead 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 June 01, 2026

$90,150

Average $102,100/year

$115,417

$7,512

Average $8,508/month

$9,618

$1,734

Average $1,963/week

$2,220

$43

Average $49/hour

$55

	Annual Salary	Monthly Pay	Weekly Pay	Hourly Wage
75th Percentile	$115,417	$9,618	$2,220	$55
Average	$102,100	$8,508	$1,963	$49
25th Percentile	$90,150	$7,512	$1,734	$43

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