How long does the training take?

Typically eight years or more of study. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do medical scientists, except epidemiologists make?

The US median is $103,410 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree for this work?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train for this work?

941 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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Medical scientists, except epidemiologists: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Science · SOC 19-1042

$103,410US median pay, 2025

+12.6%Projected growth, 2025–35

10,500Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Doctoral or professional degree
Work in: medical scientists, except epidemiologists

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Biochemistry	CIP 26.0202	580
Biomedical Sciences, General	CIP 26.0102	289
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology	CIP 26.0908	127
Gerontology	CIP 30.1101	111
Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology	CIP 26.0406	99
Epidemiology	CIP 26.1309	95
Biostatistics	CIP 26.1102	91
Environmental Health	CIP 51.2202	81
Molecular Biology	CIP 26.0204	74
Physiology, General	CIP 26.0901	72
Pharmaceutical Sciences	CIP 51.2010	67
Medical Science/Scientist	CIP 51.1401	66
Pharmacology	CIP 26.1001	56
Biophysics	CIP 26.0203	54
Anatomy	CIP 26.0403	37
Human/Medical Genetics	CIP 26.0806	36
Pathology/Experimental Pathology	CIP 26.0910	36
Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology	CIP 26.0503	34
Pharmaceutics and Drug Design	CIP 51.2003	34
Microbiology and Immunology	CIP 26.0508	32
Oncology and Cancer Biology	CIP 26.0911	31
Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry	CIP 51.2004	29
Toxicology	CIP 26.1004	27
Immunology	CIP 26.0507	25
Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology	CIP 26.0401	22

…and 185 more related programs.

See the 941 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically eight years or more of study. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do medical scientists, except epidemiologists make?: The US median is $103,410 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train for this work?: 941 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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