Medical scientists conduct research to develop treatments, understand disease mechanisms, and advance human health. The work is investigative, rigorous, and requires advanced training. Here is what the work involves, what it takes to succeed, and how to get in.
Pathly builds you a free, personalized roadmap and helps your counselor champion you along the way.
Medical scientists design and conduct experiments to understand how diseases work and develop new treatments. You spend time in laboratories analyzing biological samples, working with computers to model data, and thinking through complex problems. You communicate findings with colleagues and supervisors, stay current with new research methods and discoveries, and write detailed reports on your work. The role draws on deep knowledge of biology, chemistry, and medicine to push the boundaries of what we know about human health.
Core work activities
Career video courtesy of CareerOneStop.
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earn a median of $103,410 a year, based on 2025 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and location.
The outlook is strong. Employment is projected to grow 9 percent from 2024 to 2034, much faster than average for all occupations, with about 9,600 openings a year.
Top skills
Knowledge areas
This path requires a doctoral degree, typically in a biological or life science field. You will complete extensive coursework in biology, chemistry, and related sciences, then conduct original research for your dissertation. Many medical scientists also pursue postdoctoral training to specialize further and build their research credentials. The preparation is rigorous and takes years of study, but it opens doors to research positions in universities, government agencies, and private companies.
Most medical scientists earn a doctoral degree, often followed by postdoctoral work. The timeline is long, so if you are considering this path, Pathly can map the medical scientist, except epidemiologist path that fits you and work through it with your counselor to understand what the full journey looks like.
Many medical scientist, except epidemiologists must be licensed, and professional certifications can strengthen your resume.
Common certifications
Licensing is handled at the state level and the requirements vary, so check the licensing board in your state. Pathly shows your state's specific steps inside your roadmap.
You are drawn to investigative work, enjoy solving complex problems, and want to contribute to scientific knowledge and human health through research.
Reading about a career is the easy part. Turning it into a plan is where most students get stuck. Pathly takes you from curious to a clear next step, and gives your counselor the insight to champion you along the way.
Start with a quick quiz and assessments that surface your personality, your EQ, and what really motivates you, so your next steps are built around who you actually are.
Your free AI guide weighs this career against your strengths and goals, and surfaces the colleges, trades, and scholarships that match, so you know if it truly fits before you commit.
Get a personalized, step-by-step plan to reach this career, with the training, coursework, and credentials tracked in one place. Link your school or IEC and your counselor in the loop.
Last updated July 1, 2026.
Data sources. Career details from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under CC BY 4.0. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. Salary and outlook figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 wages; 2024–2034 projections), delivered via the CareerOneStop API. Certification, licensing, wage, and outlook data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by USDOL/ETA and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED).