Career comparison
Biomedical Engineer vs. Medical Scientist
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Biomedical engineers earn more at the median ($109,370 vs. $103,410), while biomedical engineers usually get to work faster (4-year engineering degree of training). Biomedical engineers design medical devices, implants and technology that improve patient care. 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
| Biomedical Engineer | Medical Scientist | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $109,370 ($52.58/hr) | $103,410 ($49.72/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $71,850 – $168,180 | $64,800 – $177,780 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.6% (much faster than average) | +12.6% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 1,200 | 10,500 |
| Typical entry education | Bachelor's degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 4-year engineering degree | 5–8 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | RAC | Ph.D. or M.D. |
| Work setting | Biomedical engineers work in labs, offices, hospitals and manufacturing.. | Medical scientists work in labs, hospitals and offices.. |
What each job does
Biomedical Engineer
- Design medical devices
- Test prototypes
- Analyze data
- Work with clinicians
- Document for FDA
Medical Scientist
- Design studies
- Run lab experiments
- Design clinical trials
- Analyze data
- Write grants
How they’re similar
Both careers involve helping others, high-pay, in-demand, and problem-solving. Both are part of the science, engineering & lab field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose biomedical engineer if…
- I like biology and engineering
- I want to help patients
- I like testing
Choose medical scientist if…
- I want to cure diseases
- I love research
- I’m persistent
Still torn? Take the Biomedical Engineer fit quiz and the Medical Scientist fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, biomedical engineer or medical scientist?
Biomedical Engineers earn more at the median: $109,370 versus $103,410 for medical scientists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Biomedical Engineers typically train faster (4-year engineering degree) 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 +7.6% for biomedical engineers.