Free financial calculators. No signup. 100% private. Data sourced from IRS.gov and BLS.gov.

Immunologist · 2026 salary + AI outlook

Immunologist salary — and how to earn like the top 1%

$98,000median / year · about $47 an hour (BLS)

AI protein design and single-cell analysis now predict antigens and map immune repertoires in silico, compressing years of bench work; immunologists fluent in computation define the field's frontier.

Entry level
$60,000
Top earners
$150,000
Job growth
+8%
AI exposure
Medium
🏆 The Top 1% Playbook

How to reach the top 1% of Immunologists

Four moves, straight from how the highest-paid in this field use AI in 2026:

1
Learn single-cell and Python Master scRNA-seq analysis in Scanpy or Seurat plus immune-repertoire tools. Immunologists who analyze their own multi-omics data, rather than hand it to a bioinformatician, set the research agenda.
2
Use AlphaFold and RFdiffusion Apply AlphaFold3 and generative protein-design tools like RFdiffusion to antigen and antibody engineering. Computational epitope and binder design is where cutting-edge immunology and biotech hiring now concentrate.
3
Board-certify for clinic On the clinical path, complete an allergy and immunology fellowship and ABAI board certification. Board-certified allergist-immunologists command the compensation premium and can run independent practice.
4
Move into translational biotech Bridge to industry immuno-oncology, vaccine, or autoimmune programs. PhDs who turn immune-mechanism insight into validated drug targets earn well above academic scales, often with meaningful equity upside.
💡 The move that pays: Computational fluency — single-cell analysis, AI protein design — plus a translational or board-certified clinical path is what separates top-earning immunologists from the bench median.
HomeJob Salaries › Immunologist Salary

Immunologist Salary in 2026

Immunologist pay, in real terms

Per hour
$47.12
Per week
$1,885
Every 2 weeks
$3,769
Per month
$8,167

At the national median of $98,000/year, a immunologist earns $8,167/month before taxes. Over a 30-year career that's roughly $2,940,000 in gross earnings — and that's before raises, promotions, or bonuses.

That puts this role about 104% above the U.S. median wage for all workers (about $48,060/year, per BLS). Using the common rule of keeping housing under 30% of gross pay, this salary supports about $2,450/month in rent or mortgage.

Figures are gross (pre-tax) estimates from the national median; use the take-home and hourly calculators on PayCrunch for your exact state and situation.

Updated June 2026 · BLS Data
How much does an Immunologist make?
$98,000per year
National median salary · $47.12/hour · $8,167/month
Hourly
$47.12
Monthly
$8,167
Weekly
$1,885
Daily
$377
Estimated take-home
$74,480/yr
Adjust Your Market Position
$98,000/yr
Entry Level · $60,000 Top Earner · $150,000
IRS.gov data
BLS.gov verified
All 50 states
No signup required

What Does an Immunologist Do?

Immunologists study the immune system and immune responses, researching diseases, allergies, and immunodeficiencies.

Immunologist Salary by State

Select your state to see the adjusted immunologist salary based on cost-of-living differences.

Select a state above

How to Become an Immunologist

Education: Doctoral degree in Immunology

Certifications: ABAI board certification for clinical

Career path: Postdoc → Immunologist → Senior Immunologist → Lead Scientist → Research Director

Immunologist Salary by Experience

Entry level
$60,000
Mid-career
$98,000
Senior
$136,500

Estimates based on BLS percentile data and industry surveys. Actual salaries vary by employer, location, and individual qualifications.

Top 10 Highest-Paying States for Immunologists

#StateAnnualMonthlyHourly
1Hawaii$115,640$9,637$55.60
2California$112,700$9,392$54.18
3New York$112,700$9,392$54.18
4Massachusetts$109,760$9,147$52.77
5New Jersey$109,760$9,147$52.77
6Connecticut$107,800$8,983$51.83
7Washington$107,800$8,983$51.83
8Maryland$105,840$8,820$50.88
9Alaska$102,900$8,575$49.47
10Colorado$102,900$8,575$49.47

State salaries estimated using BLS national median adjusted by regional cost-of-living factors.

Compare to Related Jobs

Job TitleMedian SalaryHourlyDifference
Immunologist$98,000$47.12
Statistician$99,960$48.06+$1,960
Geophysicist$100,000$48.08+$2,000
Materials Scientist$100,000$48.08+$2,000
Research Scientist$100,000$48.08+$2,000
Pharmacologist$95,000$45.67$-3,000
Seismologist$95,000$45.67$-3,000

Job Outlook

The BLS projects +8% growth for immunologists through 2032, which is faster than average compared to the average for all occupations (3%).

🆕 New & Trending AI Tools for ImmunologistReviewed July 2026

We track new AI-tool launches every week and refresh this list — here’s what’s gaining traction for Immunologist work right now.

Julius AINEWFree / $20 mo

AI data analyst that runs statistics and charts from plain-language prompts.

How an Immunologist uses it: analyze datasets and generate figures without writing code

NotebookLMNEWFree / $7.99 mo

Google tool that answers questions grounded only in the documents you give it — with citations.

How an Immunologist uses it: load your own manuals, policies, or PDFs and ask questions that stay accurate to the source

ElicitFree / $12 mo

AI research assistant that finds and summarizes papers.

How an Immunologist uses it: run a literature review and extract findings across dozens of papers fast

ConsensusFree / $9 mo

AI search that answers questions from peer-reviewed research.

How an Immunologist uses it: get evidence-backed answers with the studies behind them

SciSpaceFree / paid

AI that explains papers and helps with literature review.

How an Immunologist uses it: decode dense papers and trace citations quickly

SciteFree / $20 mo

Shows whether other studies support or contradict a paper's claims (Smart Citations).

How an Immunologist uses it: check if a finding is actually backed by the wider literature before you cite it

ChatGPTFree / $20 mo

The most-used AI assistant — writing, analysis, research, and images from a plain-language chat.

How an Immunologist uses it: draft emails and documents, summarize long files, and get instant answers to on-the-job questions

ClaudeFree / $20 mo

AI assistant known for careful writing, long-document analysis, and coding.

How an Immunologist uses it: analyze big reports or spreadsheets and turn messy notes into clean, finished writing

Google GeminiFree / $20 mo

Google's AI assistant, built into Gmail, Docs, and Search.

How an Immunologist uses it: draft and reply inside Google Workspace and research without leaving the page

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a immunologist make?
The national median salary for a immunologist is $98,000 per year, or $47.12 per hour. Entry-level positions start around $60,000 while top earners make $150,000 or more.
What education do you need to become a immunologist?
Most immunologist positions require doctoral degree in immunology. Additional certifications or experience may increase earning potential.
What is the job outlook for immunologists?
Employment of immunologists is projected to grow 8% over the next decade, which is faster than average compared to the average for all occupations.
What are the highest paying states for immunologists?
The highest paying states include Hawaii, California, New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey, where cost of living adjustments push salaries above the national median.
Can you make six figures as a immunologist?
Yes, experienced professionals in this field regularly earn six figures, especially in high-cost-of-living areas.
Methodology and data sources

Salary data is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OES) program. National median, 10th percentile, and 90th percentile figures are sourced from the most recent BLS OES release. State-level salary estimates are calculated by applying regional price parity adjustments from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to the national median. Job growth projections are from the BLS Employment Projections program. Education and certification requirements are based on BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook descriptions. All figures are approximate and updated periodically.

paycrunch.co · Privacy · Terms · About