Career comparison
Medical Scientist vs. Physician Assistant
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Physician assistants earn more at the median ($135,880 vs. $103,410), while medical scientists usually get to work faster (5–8 years after a bachelor’s of training). Medical scientists research diseases and develop treatments to improve human health. Physician assistants examine, diagnose and treat patients as part of a physician-led team.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Medical Scientist | Physician Assistant | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $103,410 ($49.72/hr) | $135,880 ($65.33/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $64,800 – $177,780 | $99,380 – $190,280 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +12.6% (much faster than average) | +21.1% (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year | 10,500 | 11,500 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Master's degree |
| Training time | 5–8 years after a bachelor’s | About 6–7 years after high school |
| Key credential | Ph.D. or M.D. | PA-C (NCCPA certification) |
| Work setting | Medical scientists work in labs, hospitals and offices.. | PAs work in clinics, hospitals, emergency departments and operating rooms.. |
What each job does
Medical Scientist
- Design studies
- Run lab experiments
- Design clinical trials
- Analyze data
- Write grants
Physician Assistant
- Take medical histories and examine patients
- Order and interpret tests
- Diagnose illnesses and injuries
- Prescribe medications
- Perform procedures and assist in surgery
How they’re similar
Both careers involve high-pay, in-demand, and helping others. They sit in different fields, science, engineering & lab and healthcare, but share transferable skills such as persistence and communication.
Which should you choose?
Choose medical scientist if…
- I want to cure diseases
- I love research
- I’m persistent
Choose physician assistant if…
- I want to diagnose and treat patients
- I love science
- I want a faster path than medical school
Still torn? Take the Medical Scientist fit quiz and the Physician Assistant fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, medical scientist or physician assistant?
Physician Assistants earn more at the median: $135,880 versus $103,410 for medical scientists, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Medical Scientists typically train faster (5–8 years after a bachelor’s) than physician assistants (About 6–7 years after high school).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects physician assistants to grow +21.1% from 2025–35, compared with +12.6% for medical scientists.