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Pharmaceuticals
Pfizer, Merck, Eli Lilly
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Medical scientists study diseases, treatments, and harmful substances by running experiments, analyzing samples, and publishing what they find. The work is distinct because it mixes lab science with writing, teaching, and grant chasing, so success depends as much on communication and funding as on good experiments. The tradeoff is strong pay and meaningful research, but long training, strict safety rules, and heavy publication pressure come with it.
Also known as Biomedical ScientistMedical Research ScientistClinical Research ScientistTranslational ScientistScientist, Translational Medicine
Median Salary
$100,590
Mean $112,690
U.S. Workforce
~156K
9.6K openings per year
10-Year Growth
+8.7%
165.3K to 179.6K
Entry Education
Doctoral or professional degree
+ None experience
What This Role Looks Like in Practice
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists sits in the Science category. In practical terms, this role combines day-to-day execution, cross-team coordination, and consistent decision-making under real business constraints.
U.S. employment is currently about ~156K workers, with a median annual pay of $100,590 and roughly 9.6K openings each year. Based on BLS projections, total employment is expected to grow from 165.3 K in 2024 to 179.6K in 2034.
Most hiring paths start with Doctoral degree, and employers typically expect none of related experience. Many careers in this track begin around Research Assistant / Lab Technician and can progress toward Senior / Principal Scientist. High-value skills usually include Scientific Writing, Manuscripts & Grant Proposals, Experimental Design & Research Protocol Development, and R, SAS & GraphPad Prism, paired with soft skills such as Critical thinking, Clear speaking, and Active listening.
Core Responsibilities
- Design studies to test diseases, treatments, and ways to prevent illness.
- Run lab tests on tissue, cell, and organ samples to look for toxins, bacteria, or other microorganisms.
- Study how drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microbes affect the body.
- Handle hazardous materials carefully and follow strict lab safety rules to avoid contamination.
Keep exploring: more Science careers or browse all job titles.
A Day in the Life
01 Design studies to test diseases, treatments, and ways to prevent illness.
02 Run lab tests on tissue, cell, and organ samples to look for toxins, bacteria, or other microorganisms.
03 Study how drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microbes affect the body.
04 Handle hazardous materials carefully and follow strict lab safety rules to avoid contamination.
05 Write research papers, reports, and grant applications, then submit findings for publication.
06 Explain results to doctors, students, lab staff, and other researchers, and sometimes teach medical lab methods.
Industries That Hire
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Biotechnology
Amgen, Genentech, Moderna
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Academic Medical Centers
Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Stanford Medicine
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Hospitals and Health Systems
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Mass General Brigham
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Government and Public Health
NIH, CDC, FDA
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Contract Research Organizations
IQVIA, ICON plc, Labcorp
Pros and Cons
Advantages
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Pay is strong, with a mean annual wage of $112,690 and a median of $100,590, which is solid for a research-heavy job.
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The field is projected to add 14.3 thousand jobs from 2024 to 2034, with about 9.6 thousand openings a year from growth and replacement needs.
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No prior work experience or on-the-job training is required by BLS, so the main barrier is education rather than a long apprenticeship.
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The work is varied: one week may involve bench experiments, the next may involve data analysis, writing, or presenting results.
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The research can have direct impact on disease treatment, prevention, and drug safety, which gives the work clear purpose.
Challenges
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The entry barrier is high: BLS says a doctoral or professional degree is the typical starting point, and 24.7% of workers also have post-doctoral training.
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The payoff comes late because the training path is long, which means many workers spend years in school or fellowships before reaching the higher salary bands.
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Growth is decent but not explosive at 8.7%, so competition can still be stiff for the best-funded lab, industry, or academic roles.
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A lot of career progress depends on grant funding and publication records, which creates pressure that is outside any one scientist's control.
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Work is usually tied to a lab or research site because sample handling, equipment, and safety rules make full-time remote work uncommon.
Career Progression
Research Assistant / Lab Technician
0-2 years
$45K-$60K
Helps prepare samples, set up equipment, record results, and keep the lab organized while learning research routines.
Doctoral Researcher / PhD Candidate
2-5 years
$61K-$79K
Runs assigned experiments, works through a dissertation or project plan, and builds the technical skills needed for independent research.
Postdoctoral Researcher THIS ROLE
5-8 years
$80K-$94K
Leads a focused line of research, writes papers, and sharpens a specialty before applying for permanent scientist roles.
Medical Scientist
8-12 years
$95K-$125K
Plans studies, analyzes data, writes grants and journal articles, and may teach clinicians, students, or lab staff.
Senior / Principal Scientist
12+ years
$126K-$190K
Sets research direction, leads teams, manages funding priorities, and is responsible for major papers, presentations, and results.
Education Paths
Doctoral degree
The most common preparation route, held by 35.91% of workers in this role.
Post-doctoral training
A major part of preparation for 24.7% of workers, usually after earning a doctorate and before landing a permanent scientist role.
Master's degree
Another common path, held by 24.59% of workers, often paired with strong lab experience or a research-focused master's program.
Bachelor's degree
A smaller route, held by 7.95% of workers, usually followed by years of lab experience and a later move into more specialized research work.
Key Skills
Technical
Scientific Writing, Manuscripts & Grant Proposals 81%
Experimental Design & Research Protocol Development 78%
R, SAS & GraphPad Prism 78%
Cell Culture, Tissue Processing & Microscopy 78%
PubMed, EndNote & Scientific Literature Review 78%
Biosafety, PPE & Hazardous Materials Handling 75%
Soft Skills
Critical thinkingClear speakingActive listeningJudgment and decision makingAttention to detailCuriosity and continuous learning Job Outlook and Trends
+8.7%
Projected growth (2024-2034)
9.6K
Annual job openings
Employment is projected to rise from 165.3K to 179.6 K over the next decade, representing 8.7% growth. Around 9.6 K openings per year include both newly created roles and replacement hiring from turnover.
Remote availability is currently Limited. Demand remains strongest where employers need practical domain knowledge plus modern workflow and data skills.