Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists: Salary, Job Outlook & How to Become One (2026 Parent Guide)

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists fall under the Life, Physical, and Social Science category in the U.S. occupational classification. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earn a median salary of $100,590 per year, ranking in the top 13% of all U.S. occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects +8.7% job growth through 2034, projected to grow faster than the US average. Entry into this field typically requires a bachelor's degree, with specific licensing or certification depending on the state and employer. For parents whose teenager is exploring this path, the most actionable step is mapping the education requirements to specific colleges and majors before junior year — not waiting until application season.

What do medical scientists, except epidemiologists earn?

The median annual wage for medical scientists, except epidemiologists is $100,590. That puts medical scientists, except epidemiologists at #108 on the BLS ranked list of all U.S. occupations by median pay. Pay at this level is well above the U.S. median household income, signaling sustained demand and meaningful credential requirements. Actual pay varies meaningfully by state, employer type, and years of experience — entry-level salaries are typically 30–40% below the median, while top-decile earners often exceed it by 50% or more.

Is medical scientists, except epidemiologists a growing career?

The 10-year outlook for medical scientists, except epidemiologists is +8.7%, projected to grow faster than the US average. Employment is projected to move from approximately 165K positions in 2024 to 179K in 2034, a net change of 14K. Faster-than-average growth means hiring is consistently outpacing the labor market overall. New entrants generally find their first roles faster than peers in stable fields.

What do medical scientists, except epidemiologists do every day?

According to O*NET task surveys of working medical scientists, except epidemiologists, these are the core responsibilities most professionals perform. This is what your teen would actually be doing in this role.

1. 1.Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
2. 2.Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
3. 3.Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
4. 4.Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
5. 5.Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
6. 6.Write and publish articles in scientific journals.
7. 7.Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
8. 8.Write applications for research grants.

Top skills for medical scientists, except epidemiologists

O*NET ranks these as the most important skills for this occupation, on a 1–5 importance scale derived from worker surveys.

What education does my child need to become medical scientists, except epidemiologist?

The standard path into medical scientists, except epidemiologists begins with a bachelor's degree in a related field, followed by entry-level experience or internships during college. For parents helping a teen prepare, the highest-leverage step before junior year is identifying colleges and programs that feed reliably into this occupation — Solyo's college search lets parents filter by major and admissions data side by side.

Related careers your child might also consider

• Physicists
  $166,290 median
• Political Scientists
  $139,380 median
• Astronomers
  $132,170 median
• Physical Scientists, All Other
  $117,960 median
• Psychologists, All Other
  $117,580 median
• Economists
  $115,440 median

Common questions parents ask about medical scientists, except epidemiologists