Jobs Similar to Medical Scientists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to medical scientists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Geneticists, Molecular and Cellular Biologists and Biochemists and Biophysicists.
Medical Scientists: $103,410 median pay · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Medical Scientists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GeneticistsSame group | 84% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Molecular and Cellular BiologistsSame group | 82% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 3 | Biochemists and BiophysicistsSame group | 81% | $127,410+23% | Graduate degree |
| 4 | MicrobiologistsSame group | 80% | $87,990−15% | Bachelor's degree |
| 5 | Physicians, Pathologists | 80% | $312,400+202% | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Bioinformatics ScientistsSame group | 80% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | BiologistsSame group | 79% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Animal ScientistsSame group | 78% | $68,940−33% | Graduate degree |
| 9 | EpidemiologistsSame group | 77% | $87,220−16% | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Medical Dosimetrists | 77% | $147,470+43% | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 76% | $81,490Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 76% | $93,250−10% | Graduate degree |
| 13 | Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 76% | $84,620−18% | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Soil and Plant ScientistsSame group | 75% | $78,850−24% | Graduate degree |
| 15 | Radiologists | 75% | $420,860+307% | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Neurologists | 75% | $248,560+140% | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Biostatisticians | 75% | $105,650Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Veterinarians | 75% | $130,100+26% | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 74% | $82,220−20% | Bachelor's degree |
| 20 | Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsSame group | 74% | $76,780−26% | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Geneticists
84% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Molecular and Cellular Biologists
82% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Biochemists and Biophysicists
81% similar · $127,410 (+23%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Microbiologists
80% similar · $87,990 (−15%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 5Physicians, Pathologists
80% similar · $312,400 (+202%) · Graduate degree
- 6Bioinformatics Scientists
80% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Biologists
79% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Animal Scientists
78% similar · $68,940 (−33%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Epidemiologists
77% similar · $87,220 (−16%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Medical Dosimetrists
77% similar · $147,470 (+43%) · Bachelor's degree
- 11Bioinformatics Technicians
76% similar · $81,490 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
76% similar · $93,250 (−10%) · Graduate degree
- 13Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
76% similar · $84,620 (−18%) · Graduate degree
- 14Soil and Plant Scientists
75% similar · $78,850 (−24%) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 15Radiologists
75% similar · $420,860 (+307%) · Graduate degree
- 16Neurologists
75% similar · $248,560 (+140%) · Graduate degree
- 17Biostatisticians
75% similar · $105,650 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 18Veterinarians
75% similar · $130,100 (+26%) · Graduate degree
- 19Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
74% similar · $82,220 (−20%) · Bachelor's degree
- 20Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
74% similar · $76,780 (−26%) · Bachelor's degree · Same group
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that pay more
Only careers that usually need no more preparation than medical scientists.
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Microbiologists80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Medical Dosimetrists77% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Bioinformatics Technicians76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health74% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists74% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for medical scientists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where medical scientists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Biostatisticians (79)
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (76)
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary (76)
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary (74)
- Preventive Medicine Physicians (74)
- Allergists and Immunologists (73)
- Urologists (73)
- Orthoptists (72)
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians (72)
- Health Informatics Specialists (71)
Questions about jobs like medical scientists
What jobs are most similar to medical scientists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Geneticists (84% similar), Molecular and Cellular Biologists (82% similar), Biochemists and Biophysicists (81% similar), Microbiologists (80% similar) and Physicians (Pathologists) (80% similar).
Which jobs like medical scientists pay more?
Among the 20 most similar careers, Radiologists ($420,860, +307%; usually a graduate degree), Physicians (Pathologists) ($312,400, +202%; usually a graduate degree) and Neurologists ($248,560, +140%; usually a graduate degree) have the highest BLS median pay compared with medical scientists ($103,410). Without more preparation than medical scientists usually need: Radiologists, Physicians (Pathologists) and Neurologists.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.