by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Medical Scientist involves the study of Medical Science/scientist. An Undifferentiated Clinical Science Program That Prepares Clinicians To Conduct Clinical And Translational Research In Various Areas. Note: Programs That Prepare Clinicians To Conduct Research In Specific Scientific Fields Should Report Under The Relevant Cip Code Series (E.g., Series 26 Biological And Biomedical Sciences). Examples: [Medical Scientist (Ms)], [Medical Scientist (Phd)]. Continue reading for the important information every medical scientist student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering medical scientist programs.
In the U.S., medical scientist is a widely-pursued major, with 1,047 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Medical Scientist Schools ranking analyzes these 65 schools to determine the best overall colleges for medical scientist students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of medical scientist programs later in this article.
Studies in Medical Scientist develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations medical scientist graduates commonly enter.
The skill set developed in a medical scientist program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a medical scientist major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several medical scientist degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 817 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 230 |
People currently working in careers related to medical scientist tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 38.8% |
| Master’s degree | 23.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 11.0% |
| Doctoral degree | 8.8% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 5.5% |
| Some college courses | 4.4% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 4.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 3.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in medical scientist careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in medical scientist can lead to a variety of career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to medical scientist.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to medical scientist.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Epidemiologists | 190,675 | 3.2% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of medical scientist graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $160,729 |
| 4 years | $166,630 |
| 5 years | $197,894 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for medical scientist graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers medical scientist grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Epidemiologists | $87,636 |
With 65 different medical scientist programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased medical scientist school rankings to help you.
Those considering medical scientist, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Clinical and Translational Science | 79 |
| Medical Clinical Sciences/Graduate Medical Studies, Other | 33 |
| Temporomandibular Disorders and Orofacial Pain | 4 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
