Top Skills for This Career
BLS identifies these as the three highest-rated skills for this detailed occupation. TrustInEd adds the plain-language explanations so visitors understand what each skill means.
Adjusting effectively when priorities, conditions, tools, or expectations change.
Understanding written information and communicating ideas clearly in writing.
Examining information carefully, recognizing patterns, and using evidence to reach sound conclusions.
How Do You Prepare for This Career?
BLS describes the typical preparation for this occupation. Requirements can vary by employer, state, licensing rules and individual circumstances.
How to Become One
How to Become a Medical Scientist Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D. and sometimes are certified medical doctors as well. Medical scientists typically have a Ph.D., usually in biology or a related life science. Some get a medical degree instead of, or in addition to, a Ph.D.
Education
Medical scientists typically need a Ph.D. or medical degree. Candidates sometimes qualify for positions with a master’s degree and experience. Applicants to master’s or doctoral programs typically have a bachelor's degree in biology or a related physical science field, such as chemistry. Ph.D. programs for medical scientists typically focus on research in a particular field, such as immunology, neurology, or cancer. Through laboratory work, Ph.D. students develop experiments related to their research. Medical degree programs include Medical Doctor (M.D.), Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.), Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), and advanced nursing degrees. In medical school, students usually spend the first phase of their education in labs and classrooms, taking courses such as anatomy, biochemistry, and medical ethics. During their second phase, medical students typically participate in residency programs. Some medical scientist
Training
programs offer dual degrees that pair a Ph.D. with a medical degree. Students in dual-degree programs learn both the research skills needed to be a scientist and the clinical skills needed to be a healthcare practitioner.
Licenses, Certifications & Registrations
Medical scientists primarily conduct research and typically do not need licenses or certifications. However, those who practice medicine, such as by treating patients in clinical trials or in private practice, must be licensed as physicians or other healthcare practitioners. Training Medical scientists with a Ph.D. may begin their careers in postdoctoral research positions; those with a medical degree often complete a residency. During postdoctoral appointments, Ph.D.s work with experienced scientists to learn more about their specialty area and improve their research skills. Medical school graduates who enter a residency program in their specialty generally spend several years working in a hospital or doctor’s office.
Your Next Step
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Pay
the median annual wage for all workers was $50,980.
Job Outlook
Job Outlook Employment of medical scientists is projected to grow 13 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 10,500 openings for medical scientists are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. Employment Demand for medical scientists is expected to stem from greater demand for a variety of healthcare services as the population continues to age and rates of chronic disease continue to increase. These scientists will be needed for research into treating diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and cancer, and problems related to treatment, such as antibiotic resistance. In addition, medical scientists will continue to be needed for medical research as a growing population travels globally and facilitates the spread of diseases. Medical Scientists Percent change in employment, projected 2025–35 Medical scientists, except epidemiologists 13% Life scientists 9% Total, all occupations 3% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
What They Do
What Medical Scientists Do
Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health. They often use clinical trials and other investigative methods to reach their findings.
Duties
Medical scientists typically do the following:
- Design and conduct studies to investigate human diseases and methods to prevent and treat diseases
- Prepare and analyze data from medical samples and investigate causes and treatment of toxicity, pathogens, or chronic diseases
- Standardize drugs' potency, doses, and methods of administering to allow for their mass manufacturing and distribution
- Create and test medical devices
- Follow safety procedures, such as decontaminating workspaces
- Write research grant proposals and apply for funding from government agencies, private funding, and other sources
- Write articles for publication and present research findings
Medical scientists form hypotheses and develop experiments. They study the causes of diseases and other health problems in a variety of ways. For example, they may conduct clinical trials, working with licensed physicians to test treatments on patients who have agreed to participate in the study. They analyze data from the trial to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment.
Some medical scientists choose to write about and publish their findings in scientific journals after completion of the clinical trial. They also may have to present their findings in ways that nonscientist audiences understand.
Medical scientists often lead teams of technicians or students who perform support tasks. For example, a medical scientist may have assistants take measurements and make observations for the scientist’s research.
Medical scientists usually specialize in an area of research, with the goal of understanding and improving human health outcomes. The following are examples of types of medical scientists:
Clinical pharmacologists research new drug therapies for health problems, such as seizure disorders and Alzheimer’s disease.
Medical pathologists research the human body and tissues, such as how cancer progresses or how certain issues relate to genetics.
Toxicologists study the negative impacts of chemicals and pollutants on human health.
Medical scientists conduct research to better understand disease or to develop breakthroughs in treatment. For information about an occupation that tracks and develops methods to prevent the spread of diseases, see the profile on epidemiologists.
Work Environment
Work Environment
Medical scientists held about 181,000 jobs in 2025. The largest employers of medical scientists were as follows:
| Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences | 32% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 22 |
| Colleges, universities, and professional schools; state | 12 |
| Medical and diagnostic laboratories | 6 |
| Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing | 4 |
Medical scientists typically work in offices and laboratories. In the lab, they sometimes work with dangerous biological samples and chemicals. They must take precautions in the lab to ensure safety, such as by wearing protective gloves, knowing the location of safety equipment, and keeping work areas neat.
Work Schedules
Most medical scientists work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week.
Important Qualities
The following are examples of qualities that are important for these workers to perform their duties. For more information, visit the Employment Projections (EP) skills data page. Communication skills. Medical scientists must be able to explain their research in nontechnical ways. In addition, they may write grant proposals in order to get funding for their research. Critical-thinking skills. Medical scientists must use their expertise to determine the best method for approaching research questions. Data-analysis skills. Medical scientists use statistics to evaluate research questions and information from clinical trials. Decision-making skills. Medical scientists must determine what research questions to ask, how to investigate the questions, and which data answer the questions. Observation skills. Medical scientists conduct experiments that require monitoring samples and other health-related data.
More Information
More Information, Including Links to O*NET
Learn more about medical scientists by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
Take the Next Step
Find Education Programs
Compare colleges and education options that can support the typical entry-level education for this career.
Explore pathway →Hear From ED
Use the guided career counseling experience to connect this career to your goals, skills and education preferences.
Start with ED →Career data and occupational profile text are sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook and Employment Projections program. Education requirements are typical entry-level requirements and may vary by employer, state, occupation or individual circumstance. View the official BLS profile.