Pay vs cost of living
How far does a Medical Scientist's pay go, state by state?
A Medical Scientist's pay leaves the most room in Connecticut — about $8,138/mo take-home against $1,483/mo typical rent — and the least in Mississippi.
| State | Est. take-home | Typical rent | Rent share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Connecticut | $8,138/mo | $1,483/mo | 18% |
| Massachusetts | $8,275/mo | $1,716/mo | 21% |
| New Jersey | $8,195/mo | $1,656/mo | 20% |
| California | $8,341/mo | $1,969/mo | 24% |
| South Carolina | $7,170/mo | $1,131/mo | 16% |
| Oklahoma | $6,814/mo | $970/mo | 14% |
| Pennsylvania | $6,838/mo | $1,176/mo | 17% |
| District of Columbia | $7,427/mo | $1,900/mo | 26% |
| North Carolina | $6,540/mo | $1,147/mo | 18% |
| Maine | $6,473/mo | $1,104/mo | 17% |
| Minnesota | $6,573/mo | $1,230/mo | 19% |
| Delaware | $6,554/mo | $1,321/mo | 20% |
| Indiana | $6,250/mo | $1,022/mo | 16% |
| Nevada | $6,681/mo | $1,478/mo | 22% |
| Rhode Island | $6,455/mo | $1,289/mo | 20% |
| Tennessee | $6,189/mo | $1,111/mo | 18% |
| Washington | $6,686/mo | $1,641/mo | 25% |
| Maryland | $6,690/mo | $1,683/mo | 25% |
| Arizona | $6,388/mo | $1,419/mo | 22% |
| Alaska | $6,229/mo | $1,361/mo | 22% |
| New Hampshire | $6,281/mo | $1,424/mo | 23% |
| Oregon | $6,070/mo | $1,431/mo | 24% |
| Illinois | $5,834/mo | $1,246/mo | 21% |
| West Virginia | $5,361/mo | $848/mo | 16% |
| Georgia | $5,832/mo | $1,320/mo | 23% |
| Iowa | $5,364/mo | $932/mo | 17% |
| Florida | $5,884/mo | $1,542/mo | 26% |
| Ohio | $5,296/mo | $986/mo | 19% |
| Missouri | $5,275/mo | $997/mo | 19% |
| New York | $5,883/mo | $1,621/mo | 28% |
| Colorado | $5,886/mo | $1,659/mo | 28% |
| Wisconsin | $5,257/mo | $1,033/mo | 20% |
| Michigan | $5,224/mo | $1,072/mo | 21% |
| Virginia | $5,621/mo | $1,547/mo | 28% |
| Kansas | $5,080/mo | $1,025/mo | 20% |
| Montana | $4,987/mo | $1,031/mo | 21% |
| South Dakota | $4,834/mo | $910/mo | 19% |
| Nebraska | $4,940/mo | $1,017/mo | 21% |
| North Dakota | $4,833/mo | $911/mo | 19% |
| Idaho | $5,076/mo | $1,163/mo | 23% |
| Utah | $4,977/mo | $1,396/mo | 28% |
| Kentucky | $4,265/mo | $918/mo | 22% |
| Alabama | $4,181/mo | $967/mo | 23% |
| Arkansas | $4,116/mo | $903/mo | 22% |
| Louisiana | $4,133/mo | $1,028/mo | 25% |
| New Mexico | $3,975/mo | $1,034/mo | 26% |
| Vermont | $4,134/mo | $1,207/mo | 29% |
| Mississippi | $3,797/mo | $933/mo | 25% |
Take-home is that state's BLS OEWS 2023 median wage after a rough ~22% tax estimate — a ballpark, not a real paycheck. Rent is population-weighted Census gross rent (utilities included). Neither includes state taxes, insurance, or the cost of moving.