Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
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 pay
- $103,410
- Doing it now
- 181,000
- By 2035
- Up 12.6%
- Usually needs
- Doctoral or professional degree
a year
across the country
10,500 openings a year
to get in
What the work involves
- Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
- Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
- Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
- 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.
- Write and publish articles in scientific journals.
What to study
The fields of study the Department of Education links to this occupation, most widely taught first.
- Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical StudiesSee 1 colleges that teach it
- Biology, GeneralSee 1,382 colleges that teach it
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular BiologySee 707 colleges that teach it
- Public HealthSee 543 colleges that teach it
Who it suits
O*NET scores every occupation on six interest dimensions. This one leans hardest on these three.
Analytical and curious
Hands-on and practical
Organised and precise
Careers like this one
Where this comes from: the description and the task list are O*NET, which the Department of Labor maintains. Pay, workforce size, outlook and the education normally needed are the Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections programme, 2025 wages and 2025 to 2035 projections. Half of them earn more than $103,410 a year, which means half earn less, and what you would earn depends on where you work and how long you have been doing it. The fields of study come from the National Center for Education Statistics crosswalk.