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Medical scientist: pay, job outlook and how to become one

Updated October 26, 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET data. Published by Humblebee.

$103,410median pay per year, or $49.72 an hour, May 2025[1]
  1. $64,800lowest 10% earn less
  2. $79,84025th percentile
  3. $103,410median
  4. $139,38075th percentile
  5. $177,780top 10% earn more
Middle half of workers in the inner band[4]Median for all US jobs, $50,980[2]

Medical scientists had a median wage of $103,410 a year in May 2025, about twice the $50,980 median for all occupations[1][2]. The usual way in is a doctoral or professional degree[3].

Job growth, 2025–35
+12.6%[5]
Openings per year
10,500[6]
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree[3]

How much do medical scientists make?

BLS tracks this job under the title Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists. In May 2025 the median wage was $103,410 a year, or $49.72 an hour[1]. That means about half of workers made more than this amount and half made less[1]. The average (mean) was higher, at $116,840 a year or $56.18 an hour[7]. For comparison, the median for all occupations was $50,980[2].

Pay varies a lot across the range. Here are the annual percentiles:

Percentile Annual wage Hourly wage
10th[4][8] $64,800 $31.15
25th[4][8] $79,840 $38.39
75th[4][8] $139,380 $67.01
90th[4][8] $177,780 $85.47

A percentile is a boundary. For example, the lowest-paid 10% earned less than $64,800[4]. BLS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary[9].

These figures come from OEWS, which covers wage and salary workers. It leaves out the self-employed, and its wages do not include bonuses that are not tied to production or the cost of benefits[10]. About 172,340 people held these wage and salary jobs in May 2025[11].

Pay by state and city

Among states with published data, California had the highest median at $136,990, followed by New Jersey at $129,280 and Massachusetts at $128,210[12]. Mississippi had the lowest listed median, at $54,040[12].

California also had the most jobs, at 29,830[13]. Massachusetts (17,100), Pennsylvania (12,630), Texas (11,920) and New York (7,690) followed[13].

In metro areas with at least 100 jobs, the highest medians were in Vallejo, CA ($168,860), Charleston-North Charleston, SC ($162,230) and San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA ($160,180)[14]. The Boston-Cambridge-Newton area had the most jobs, at 16,060, with a median of $129,500[15]. New York-Newark-Jersey City had 10,090 jobs and a median of $103,360[15].

Show median pay in 45 states and DC
StateMedian per yearJobs
California[12]$136,99029,830
New Jersey$129,2806,120
Massachusetts$128,21017,100
Connecticut$116,9902,410
Arizona$116,8202,190
Oregon$111,0301,030
Maryland$106,0006,760
Washington$105,6806,150
Alaska$104,930260
Rhode Island$103,370670
North Carolina$102,9805,730
Tennessee$102,7204,020
Missouri$102,5403,650
Montana$101,950320
District of Columbia$101,940670
New Hampshire$100,650210
Delaware$100,190270
Pennsylvania$99,19012,630
Nevada$98,560530
Florida$94,9406,490
Maine$93,730100
Virginia$93,6204,560
Georgia$92,4501,910
Minnesota$89,9506,760
New York$87,7607,690
Kansas$84,4901,070
Michigan$84,3102,370
Ohio$83,9104,840
Iowa$83,8501,060
Idaho$83,010380
Utah$82,9401,560
West Virginia$82,690330
Wisconsin$82,5302,970
Illinois$82,3304,700
Indiana$81,1102,010
Nebraska$80,970620
South Dakota$80,890140
Texas$80,47011,920
Kentucky$77,580670
Oklahoma$76,480920
Arkansas$72,530230
Alabama$68,490n/a
New Mexico$67,100340
Vermont$66,500110
North Dakota$64,470250
Mississippi$54,040440

How to become a medical scientist

BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical education for entry. It lists no related work experience and no on-the-job training as typical[3].

Some candidates qualify with a master's degree and experience[16]. In an O*NET survey of 21 workers, 36% said a doctoral degree was required, 25% said post-doctoral training and 25% said a master's degree[20]. Another 8% named a bachelor's degree[20]. That is a small survey, so treat it as a rough picture.

The research itself does not usually call for a license or certification. Those who treat patients, for example in clinical trials, need a license as physicians or other types of healthcare practitioners[21]. The facts we use do not say how many years the degrees take.

What medical scientists do

O*NET describes the work as research into human disease and the improvement of human health, including clinical investigation and development work[22]. Typical tasks include:

Skills that BLS highlights include explaining research in plain terms, critical thinking, statistics, decision-making and careful observation[24][25][26][27][28]. Job titles that workers report include Clinical Research Scientist, Medical Researcher and Physician Scientist[29].

Where they work

Medical scientists typically work in offices and labs. In the lab they sometimes handle dangerous biological samples and chemicals, so safety habits matter[30]. Full-time schedules are the norm, and some people work more than 40 hours a week[31]. The largest employer group in 2025 was research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences, at 32%[32].

Job outlook

BLS projects employment will rise 12.6% between 2025 and 2035, from about 181,000 jobs to 203,700, a gain of 22,700[5]. Over the same period, BLS projects all occupations together will grow 3.5%[33]. The projection counts include self-employed workers, which is one reason the totals differ from the wage-and-salary count above[5][11].

BLS expects about 10,500 openings a year on average[6]. Openings count both new jobs and spots left by people who retire or switch to other occupations[6]. Each year, 1.3% of workers leave the labor force and 3% move to a different occupation[34].

Is it a good fit?

The pay is well above the all-occupation median, and growth is projected to run ahead of the average[1][2][5][33]. The trade-off is the entry bar. The typical route runs through a doctoral or professional degree, and that training comes before the pay does[3]. The work is research in labs and offices, with some handling of hazardous samples[30]. It may suit people who like investigation, data and writing up results[23][26]. Pay also differs by place, with California and Massachusetts among the higher-paying and larger markets[12][13].

Related occupations from O*NET, with BLS median pay and projected growth[35].

Frequently asked questions

How much does a medical scientist make a year?
The median was $103,410 a year in May 2025, and the average was $116,840[1][7]. The lowest-paid 10% earned less than $64,800, and the highest-paid 10% earned more than $177,780[4].
How much does a medical scientist make an hour?
The median hourly wage was $49.72 and the average was $56.18[1][7].
What degree do you need to be a medical scientist?
BLS lists a doctoral or professional degree as the typical entry education[3]. Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D. or a medical degree, and some qualify with a master's degree and experience[16].
Is medical scientist a growing field?
BLS projects 12.6% growth from 2025 to 2035, compared with 3.5% for all occupations[5][33]. About 10,500 openings a year are expected[6].
Which state pays medical scientists the most?
California had the highest median at $136,990, ahead of New Jersey at $129,280 and Massachusetts at $128,210[12].

Facts and sources

  1. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median wage for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the US was $103,410 per year and $49.72 per hour. Half of workers earned more and half earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  2. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the median annual wage for all occupations in the US was $50,980. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  3. BLS Employment Projections, typical path into Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists: education needed for entry: Doctoral or professional degree; work experience in a related occupation: None; typical on-the-job training: None. BLS Employment Projections
  4. BLS OEWS, May 2025, annual wage percentiles for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists: 10th percentile $64,800, 25th percentile $79,840, 75th percentile $139,380, 90th percentile $177,780. The 10th percentile means 10% of workers earned less. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  5. BLS Employment Projections: employment of Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists is projected to grow 12.6% from 2025 to 2035, from about 181,000 to 203,700 jobs (a change of +22,700). These counts include self-employed workers. BLS Employment Projections
  6. BLS Employment Projections: about 10,500 openings for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists are projected each year, on average, from 2025 to 2035. Openings include jobs that open when workers retire or move to other occupations, not only new jobs. BLS Employment Projections
  7. BLS OEWS, May 2025: the mean (average) wage for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists was $116,840 per year and $56.18 per hour. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  8. BLS OEWS, May 2025, hourly wage percentiles for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists: 10th percentile $31.15, 25th percentile $38.39, 75th percentile $67.01, 90th percentile $85.47. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  9. BLS OEWS FAQ: a percentile wage is a boundary. The median (50th percentile) separates the highest-paid 50% from the lowest-paid 50% of workers in the occupation. OEWS publishes percentile wages, not a starting salary. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  10. BLS OEWS FAQ: OEWS covers part-time and full-time workers paid a wage or salary. It does not cover the self-employed, owners and partners in unincorporated firms, household workers or unpaid family workers. OEWS wages do not include nonproduction bonuses or employer costs of benefits such as health insurance or retirement contributions. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  11. BLS OEWS, May 2025: about 172,340 people were employed as Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in the US (wage and salary jobs, not counting self-employed workers). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  12. Median annual wage for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists in every state with published data, May 2025 (table on this page). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  13. BLS OEWS, May 2025, states with the most Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists jobs: California 29,830; Massachusetts 17,100; Pennsylvania 12,630; Texas 11,920; New York 7,690. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  14. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the highest median annual wage for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists (areas with at least 100 jobs): Vallejo, CA $168,860; Charleston-North Charleston, SC $162,230; San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA $160,180; San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA $159,300; Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA $145,340; Modesto, CA $143,760; Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT $140,300; Syracuse, NY $138,940. BLS OEWS, May 2025
  15. BLS OEWS, May 2025, metro areas with the most Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists jobs: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH 16,060 (median $129,500); New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ 10,090 (median $103,360); Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA 8,520 (median $134,890); Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 8,020 (median $102,950); San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA 7,310 (median $160,180); Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX 6,090 (median $80,470). BLS OEWS, May 2025
  16. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  17. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  18. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Education. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  19. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Training. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  20. O*NET 19-1042.00 survey of workers (21 respondents), education level they say is required: Doctoral Degree 36%, Post-Doctoral Training 25%, Master's Degree 25%, Bachelor's Degree 8%, Post-Master's Certificate 7% (levels under 5% not listed). O*NET OnLine
  21. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  22. O*NET description of Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists. O*NET OnLine
  23. O*NET task list for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists. O*NET OnLine
  24. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  25. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  26. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  27. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  28. Occupational Outlook Handbook, How to Become One: Important Qualities. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  29. O*NET 19-1042.00 sample job titles reported by workers: Clinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist), Clinical Pharmacologist, Clinical Research Scientist, Medical Researcher, Physician Scientist, Research Scientist, Researcher, Scientist. O*NET OnLine
  30. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  31. Occupational Outlook Handbook, Work Environment: Work Schedules. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  32. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, largest employers of medical scientists in 2025: Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences 32%. BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook
  33. BLS Employment Projections: employment in all occupations is projected to grow 3.5% from 2025 to 2035. BLS Employment Projections
  34. BLS Employment Projections, 2025-35 annual average for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists: 1.3% of workers leave the labor force each year and 3% move to a different occupation. BLS Employment Projections
  35. Related occupations (O*NET) with BLS pay, growth and entry education. O*NET OnLine

Notes are for reading the data only. They are not facts and cannot be cited: use the wage_scope and percentile_meaning facts instead. OEWS employment (jobs in May 2025) and Employment Projections employment (2025, includes self-employed) are different measures and can differ. O*NET education shares come from a small survey of workers in the occupation, not from all workers.

This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerFacts has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.