Design and run experiments to understand disease and develop treatments, then analyze and publish the results.
University, hospital, and pharma labs
Full-time, longer near deadlines
May 2024–25 BLS wage data · 2024–34 BLS employment projections.
Openings a year counts new jobs plus the ones that open when people retire or move on — a truer picture of your odds than growth alone.
“Median” means half earn more and half earn less. Your city, employer, and years on the job move it a lot — that is what the 10th-to-90th range shows.
Doctoral / professional degree
Training path: Doctoral degree (PhD).
No license is needed unless the scientist also practices medicine, which requires a medical license.
Research that drives new treatments — meaningful work, but it takes a doctorate and a long training runway.
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Standard Occupational Classification 19-1042. Pay, employment, and outlook from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wage survey and 2024–34 employment projections). See something off? Tell us.