Career comparison
Biological Technician vs. Medical Scientist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Medical scientists earn more at the median ($103,410 vs. $57,510), while biological technicians usually get to work faster (4 years of training). Biological technicians run experiments and lab work that power biology and biotech research. Medical scientists research diseases and develop treatments to improve human health.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Biological Technician | Medical Scientist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $57,510 ($27.65/hr) | $103,410 ($49.72/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $40,330 – $84,940 | $64,800 – $177,780 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.4% (much faster than average) | +12.6% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 9,400 | 10,500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 4 years | 5–8 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | ASCP Technologist in Molecular Biology | Ph.D. or M.D. |
| Work setting | Biological technicians work in labs, sometimes with biohazards and research animals.. | Medical scientists work in labs, hospitals and offices.. |
What each job does
Biological Technician
- Prepare samples and reagents
- Run experiments and assays
- Culture cells and microorganisms
- Operate lab instruments
- Record and analyze data
Medical Scientist
- Design studies
- Run lab experiments
- Design clinical trials
- Analyze data
- Write grants
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working with information, problem-solving, and in-demand. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose biological technician if…
- I love biology
- I like hands-on experiments
- I’m patient and precise
Choose medical scientist if…
- I want to cure diseases
- I love research
- I’m persistent
Still torn? Take the Biological Technician fit quiz and the Medical Scientist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, biological technician or medical scientist?
Medical Scientists earn more at the median: $103,410 versus $57,510 for biological technicians, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Biological Technicians typically train faster (4 years) than medical scientists (5–8 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects medical scientists to grow +12.6% from 2025–35, compared with +7.4% for biological technicians.