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Optical Scientist Salary in the United States

How much does an Optical Scientist make in the United States?

As of October 01, 2026, the average salary for an Optical Scientist in the United States is $99,494 per year, which breaks down to an hourly rate of $48.

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

  • Top Earners (90th percentile): $124,280
  • Majority Range (25th-75th percentile): $87,846 to $112,468
  • Entry-Level (10th percentile): $77,241
Salary Factors Salary-Boosting Skills Salary by Experience Related Job Salaries Top Paying Cities Explore Related Jobs

Key Factors That Influence Optical Scientist Salaries

An Optical 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 Optical Scientist Salaries?

Experience is a primary driver of an Optical 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): $59,960
  • Early Career (1-2 years): $69,372
  • Mid-Level (2-4 years): $98,540
  • Senior-Level (5-8 years): $106,430
  • Expert (over 8 years): $158,441
Levels Salary
Clinical ... Level Optical Scientist$59,960
Clinical ... Level Optical Scientist$69,372
Optical S... Level Optical Scientist$98,540
Clinical ... Level Optical Scientist$106,430
Clinical ... Level Optical Scientist$158,441
View as Graph

How Do Optical 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 Optical Scientists. For example, consider the average annual salaries in these key locations:
  • District of Columbia: $110,160.
  • California: $109,742.
  • Massachusetts: $108,280.

Top Paying Cities for Optical 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: $125,492
  • San Francisco: $124,118
  • Oakland: $121,503

What Skills Can Increase an Optical Scientist's Salary?

Demanded Skills for the Role:

  • Analysis (Mentioned in 10.33% 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 2.98% 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.
  • Process Development (Mentioned in 1.99% Job Postings): Process development consists of designing and developing, as well as evaluating costs and efficiency.
Skills Demand Percentage
Analysis 10.33%
SOP 2.98%
Process Development 1.99%
See More Skills

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 an Optical Scientist's salary.

  • Drug Discovery: Can increase your salary by up to 16%.
  • Cell Culture: Can increase your salary by up to 15%.
  • Chromatography: Can increase your salary by up to 10%.
Skill Salary Salary % Increase
Drug Discovery $115,414
16%
Cell Culture $114,419
15%
Chromatography $109,444
10%
Get Latest Data

Optical Scientist Salary by Industry: Top Paying Sectors

For Optical Scientist roles, the industry you choose can affect earning potential by as much as 100% (the gap between the highest and lowest paying industries). Data shows that the Healthcare and Biotechnology sectors offer the strongest compensation, at 50% above the average. In contrast, Optical Scientist positions in Pharmaceuticals or Edu., Gov't. & Nonprofit typically offer lower base pay, as these industries often view Optical Scientist as a support function rather than a direct revenue driver.

The top paying industries for an Optical Scientist

Industry Sector Average Annual Salary Average Hourly Rate Pay vs.Avg
Healthcare$149,242$72.050%
Biotechnology$119,393$57.020%

How Education impacts an Optical Scientist's Salary?

Your level of education can impact your salary potential. While many Optical Scientists enter the field with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent degree, higher education can lead to more specialized and higher-paying roles.

According to our 100% employer-reported salary data, the median salary for an Optical Scientist with a JD, MD, PhD or Equivalent is between $96,322 and $106,046).

Optical Scientist Salaries by Degree Level

Typical Education for Optical Scientist
Degree Level % of user with this level of education
No Diploma 1.4%
High School 1.4%
Associates 25.4%
Bachelors 11.3%
Masters 25.4%
Doctorate 62.0%
View as Graph

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

Understanding how an Optical 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
$87,846
Average $99,494/year
$112,468
$7,321
Average $8,291/month
$9,372
$1,689
Average $1,913/week
$2,163
$42
Average $48/hour
$54
Annual Salary Monthly Pay Weekly Pay Hourly Wage
75th Percentile $112,468 $9,372 $2,163 $54
Average $99,494 $8,291 $1,913 $48
25th Percentile $87,846 $7,321 $1,689 $42

Most common benefits for Optical Scientist

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

Common company salaries for Optical Scientist

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

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FAQ about Optical Scientist

1. What industry pays the highest salary for Optical Scientist?

The Healthcare industry offers the highest average compensation for Optical 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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