How to Become a Biomedical Scientist / Researcher
Conduct research to advance understanding of living organisms and develop medical treatments. It typically requires a master's or doctoral degree, with a median salary of $103,410 per year and much faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$103,410/yr
Middle half
$79,840 to $139,380
Job growth
Much faster than average
Openings / yr
9,600
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Laboratory Research
- Data Analysis
- Scientific Writing
- Cell Biology
- Genetics
Helpful certifications
- ASCP Certification (for clinical lab)
- NIH Grant Writing
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
35/100
Work-life balance
65/100
Stress level
40/100
Satisfaction
80/100
Related careers
- Physicist$172,250 median
- Natural Sciences Manager$167,220 median
- Astronomer$128,820 median
- Biochemist$127,410 median
- Biostatistician$105,650 median
- Statistician$105,650 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Biomedical Scientist / Researcher make?
The median pay for a Biomedical Scientist / Researcher is $103,410 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $79,840 and $139,380 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Biomedical Scientist / Researcher?
The usual entry point is a master's or doctoral degree. Common majors are Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Science, Molecular Biology, and Chemistry.
Is Biomedical Scientist / Researcher a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is much faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 9,600 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Biomedical Scientist / Researcher use most?
Common skills for this role are Laboratory Research, Data Analysis, Scientific Writing, Cell Biology, and Genetics.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).