Agricultural Technicians
Median wage · national
$49,630
Range: $41K – $64K
Employed
15K
Openings/yr
3K
Typically: associate's degree
Medical Scientists
With a national median of $103,410 and +12.6% projected job growth through 2035, Medical Scientists offers both strong financial return and stable long-term demand.
About Medical Scientists
This page sets out what the federal data says about working as a medical scientists: what the job pays, how fast it is growing, and what it takes to get in. Most people arrive through a degree in Biology and what it leads to, though it is not the only route.
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.
- Median Wage
- $103,410
- Employed Nationally
- 172K
- Openings / Year
- 10,500
- Entry Education
- Doctoral or professional degree
- Job Zone
- Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Also known as:
Anatomist
Cancer Researcher
Chemotherapist
Clinical Analyst
Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist)
How Much Do Medical Scientists Make?
Most medical scientists take home around $103,410 a year, well above what most college graduates make. Half earn somewhere between $79,840 and $139,380, so where you land depends a lot on employer, specialty and city. Worth weighing against how long the training takes. Source: BLS.
A wage on its own says nothing about whether the degree behind it pays for itself, which is a question of lifetime earnings set against the total cost of getting there.
$103,410
National Median (Annual)
Well above average for college graduates.
$80K–$139K
Middle 50% Range
25th to 75th percentile. Most workers earn within this band.
Earnings Range
$79,840
Entry-level
$103,410
Median
$139,380
Experienced
The mean wage for this occupation is $116,840, above the median. A concentration of very high earners pulls the average up. The median is the better gauge of typical pay.
What Do Medical Scientists Do?
This is what the job actually looks like on a Tuesday: 5 core activities and 5 skills the work depends on. Read it before the salary, because pay matters less than whether you would want to spend your days doing this. Source: O*NET.
What You'll Do
- Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
- Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
- Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
- Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
Core Skills Employers Look For
Writing
Active Learning
Science
Speaking
Judgment and Decision Making
Who Thrives Here
I
Investigative
This career demands analytical thinking: researching problems, interpreting data, and applying logical reasoning to find practical solutions.
R
Realistic
Hands-on tasks, physical activity, or working with tools and real materials are central parts of the daily work here.
C
Conventional
Success depends on precision and structured processes, where detail-oriented people who work consistently within established systems perform best.
Where Do Medical Scientists Work?
What the physical and mental conditions of this job actually look like day to day, based on O*NET Work Context data collected from people working in this occupation.
Work Setting
Mixed
Split between indoor and outdoor or field settings.
Physical Demands
Light
Mix of sitting and movement throughout the day.
Stress Level
Moderate
Moderate pressure. Regular deadlines exist but are generally manageable with experience.
What Is the Job Outlook for Medical Scientists?
Through 2035 the BLS expects this field to change by +12.6%, meaning it is growing faster than most occupations, so jobs should be easier to find over time. Around 10,500 roles open up each year, which is the number that matters most if you are starting out. Source: BLS.
Growth rates are only meaningful next to other occupations, and the full list of careers with their projected growth puts this one in context.
↗ +12.6%
10-Year Growth (2025–2035)
Faster than average.
10,500
Annual Openings
New positions plus replacements for retirees and career-changers.
172K
Currently Employed
Total US employment as of BLS May 2025.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2025–2035 and Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics May 2025.
Where the Jobs Are
The five states below employ the most Medical Scientists professionals nationwide. State-level wages can differ significantly from the $103,410 national median. Research your specific market before committing to a program.
| # | State | Jobs | Median Wage | vs. National |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 29,830 | $136,990 | +32.5% |
| 2 | Massachusetts | 17,100 | $128,210 | +24.0% |
| 3 | Pennsylvania | 12,630 | $99,190 | -4.1% |
| 4 | Texas | 11,920 | $80,470 | -22.2% |
| 5 | New York | 7,690 | $87,760 | -15.1% |
Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Employment figures rounded. Read our methodology →
How to Get Here
To get hired here you will usually need a doctoral or professional degree. The 10 programs below are the most common routes in, ordered by how many people actually graduate from each one.
The next most common path is a Public Health program and the colleges offering it, which suits a different kind of applicant.
Typical Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Job Zone
Zone 5: Extensive Preparation
Extensive education (usually a master's or doctoral degree) plus years of field experience is required to qualify for most positions.
Degree Programs That Lead Here
| # | Program | Graduates/yr | 4yr Median | Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Biology | 103,883 | $57,214 | 1,774 |
| 2 | Public Health | 42,551 | $58,808 | 867 |
| 3 | Experimental Psychology | 22,179 | $55,695 | 311 |
| 4 | Pharmacy | 18,729 | $116,539 | 194 |
| 5 | Biochemistry & Biophysics | 14,354 | $65,466 | 763 |
| 6 | Neurobiology | 12,903 | $62,451 | 368 |
| 7 | Anthropology | 10,899 | $46,676 | 589 |
| 8 | Physiology | 10,453 | $62,172 | 265 |
| 9 | Ecology | 9,123 | $48,842 | 352 |
| 10 | Cell Biology | 6,274 | $66,697 | 196 |
Top Colleges for Aspiring Medical Scientists
Colleges offering the degree programs that lead to this career, ranked by UCD Score. A strong program plus solid outcomes is a good place to begin your search.
| # | College | UCD Score | Net Price | Salary 10yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United States Air Force Academy USAF Academy, CO | 96 | — | — |
| 2 | United States Military Academy West Point, NY | 96 | — | — |
| 3 | Princeton University Princeton, NJ | 94 | $6,128 | $110,066 |
| 4 | CUNY Bernard M Baruch College New York, NY | 93 | $3,033 | $75,971 |
| 5 | University of California-Los Angeles Los Angeles, CA | 93 | $12,548 | $82,511 |
| 6 | University of California-San Diego La Jolla, CA | 93 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
Plan Your Path
Once you've sized up Medical Scientists, these tools turn the numbers into a plan. Estimate the real cost of a degree that leads here, weigh the long-term payoff, compare specific colleges side-by-side, and find programs that match your profile.
College ROI Calculator
See if the degree that leads to Medical Scientists pays off. Weighs each college's cost against the earnings graduates see.
College Cost Calculator
Enter a budget and see the colleges whose net price fits, with the out-of-pocket cost and likely loan load for each.
Compare Colleges
Put any 2–4 colleges side-by-side. Admissions, cost, outcomes, and earnings, all on one screen, no tab-hopping.
College Match Quiz
Answer six quick questions and see your best-fit colleges ranked by budget, field of study, and what matters most to you.
Medical Scientists Pros & Cons
Strong earnings and growing demand make Medical Scientists a compelling path. The 3 strengths and 1 trade-offs below are drawn from BLS wage data and employment projections.
PROS
- Very high median salary The national median of $103,410 places this career well above average for college graduates, with significant upside at the 75th percentile.
- Fast-growing field At +12.6% projected growth through 2035, this career grows faster than the national average of about +5%. A strong signal for long-term demand.
- High earning ceiling Top earners (75th percentile) reach $139,380 annually. Strong performers, specialists, and those in high-cost markets have significant upside beyond the median.
CONS
- High education requirement Most employers require a doctoral or professional degree, typically 6 to 10+ years of higher education before earning full wages. Factor tuition costs into your ROI calculation.
Medical Scientists Frequently Asked Questions
How much do Medical Scientists professionals earn?
Around $103,410 a year for the typical worker, well into the top quartile of US wages. The middle 50% of earners fall between $79,840 and $139,380. Treat the national figure as a starting point rather than a promise: employer size, industry and city all move it.
Is Medical Scientists a good career?
Yes, for the right person, but the commitment is significant. The $103,410 median wage reflects years of training most workers invest, and the path to a first career-level role typically spans 8 to 12 or more years. Job growth of +12.6% through 2035 means demand is real. The harder question is whether the education investment at your specific program will pay off. School selection matters enormously at this preparation level.
How long does it take to work as Medical Scientists?
Plan on 8 to 12 or more years of combined education and supervised training before qualifying for career-level roles. A doctoral or professional degree is the typical minimum credential. Degree programs like Biology are typical entry paths. Early-career pay during this ramp-up period will be meaningfully below the $103,410 national median. Factor that gap into any program ROI calculation.
Is a doctoral or professional degree worth it to become a Medical Scientists?
For in-state public programs, generally yes. The margin tightens significantly at private schools with heavy debt loads. A $103,410 median may take 15 to 20 years to recover at high-cost programs. School choice (specifically tuition cost and your expected local job market) matters as much as the credential itself.
What is the job outlook for Medical Scientists?
Employment is projected to change by +12.6% through 2035, faster than average compared with other occupations. Around 10,500 roles open each year once you count people retiring and moving on, which matters more to someone starting out than the growth rate does. 172K people do this job nationwide today, so it is an established field rather than a niche one. Source: BLS May 2025.
Why do Medical Scientists salaries vary so widely?
The $59,540 gap between the 25th ($79,840) and 75th ($139,380) percentile reflects how much employer type, industry, specialization, and geography affect pay. Entry-level roles and lower-demand markets cluster near the bottom; senior, specialized, or high-cost-metro positions push the top. In fields with this much spread, where you work and what you specialize in often matters more than years of experience.
What skills do Medical Scientists professionals need?
Mainly Writing, Active Learning, Science, Speaking, and Judgment and Decision Making. Notice how many of those are habits rather than facts: they come from doing the work, not from a lecture. That is why programs with an internship or co-op requirement put you ahead of people who only studied the theory. Source: O*NET.
Related Findings
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10 Six-Figure Careers That Do Not Need a Bachelor's Degree
Air traffic controllers earn more than the typical bachelor's-degree career, with an associate degree. The occupations that pay six figures without four years of college.
- No bachelor degree
- High paying careers
- Associate degree
- Trades
- Median wage
-
Does a Master's Degree Pay Off? Barely, on Average
Group every career by the degree it requires and master's-level jobs pay a median of about $91,000, statistically tied with bachelor's-level work. The premium hides in a few fields.
- Master's degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Median wage
- Graduate school
- Career outcomes
-
Growing and Paying $80K Plus: The Careers That Do Both
Only 106 of 393 federal careers both pay a median above $80,000 and grow faster than the typical job. Here is the rare set that clears both bars.
- Career growth
- Median wage
- High-paying careers
- Job outlook
- Career change
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