Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
SOC Code: 19-1042
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists carries a 27% AI exposure score (Medium automation risk), with a median annual wage of $100,590 and +8.7% projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034 (BLS), affecting approximately 165,300 workers. Full task breakdown, skills, and employer data are below.
Proportion of tasks susceptible to AI automation (O*NET analysis)
At 27% AI exposure, Medical scientists, except epidemiologists sits 10 points below the 37.2% average across 832 U.S. occupations - more exposed than 22% of them. Most of its core tasks still require human judgment.
Career outlook score
86/100
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists, weighted across 3 of 3 tracked dimensions
A weighted composite of median wage, projected growth, and AI-automation security (inverted exposure), each benchmarked against every other tracked occupation. It describes this occupation's standing across those three dimensions, not a guarantee of future outcomes.
- Median wage A $100,590
Annual median wage, percentile rank vs all tracked occupations
- Projected growth A+ +8.7%
Projected employment change, 2024-2034, BLS Employment Projections
- AI exposure (inverted) B+ 27% exposure
Lower O*NET task-automability scores lower risk; this dimension scores security, not exposure
Home health and personal care aides is #1 of 832 occupations by employment (4.3M, AI exposure rank #392 at 35%) vs. Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks #1 by AI task exposure (95%, employment rank #17 at 1.6M).
Automation-risk inventory
Exclusive cut of 832 occupations by PlainWorkforce automation-risk band. Orthogonal to the continuous AI-exposure distribution chart below and to this occupation's single risk badge, this is the corpus band mix, with Medical scientists, except epidemiologists in the Medium band.
Credential × growth standing
Graduate credential among the thinner entry shelves
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists is in the Graduate band (113 of 832) with BLS pace Fast growth (67/832). Graduate entry is a minority shelf - pairing it with fast growth growth is the standing that separates this SOC from bachelor-dominated neighbors.
Where Medical scientists, except epidemiologists sits among all occupations
AI-exposure score distribution across 832 U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis). This occupation is marked in rose.
Where Medical scientists, except epidemiologists sits by AI exposure
AI-exposure score distribution across U.S. occupations (O*NET task analysis)
27% Among the lowest lower than 78% of 832 occupations
Occupations, banded by AI-exposure score
Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more occupations. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor) · BLS 2024–2034
Source: O*NET task data (U.S. Department of Labor); AI-exposure scores are PlainWorkforce's analysis. As of BLS 2024–2034.
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists vs. its occupational neighbors
AI exposure (horizontal) vs projected 2024–2034 growth (vertical) for occupations in the same SOC group. Medical scientists, except epidemiologists is marked in rose; the top-left corner is the most future-proof.
Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 (growth) and O*NET (AI-exposure analysis by PlainWorkforce).
Employment Projections
Where This Score Comes From
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists's Medium automation-risk tier is computed from O*NET Database 30.0 task-level analysis, where each documented task the occupation performs is evaluated against current generative AI, robotic process automation, and machine-learning capabilities. A score below 40% reflects tasks anchored in physical dexterity, unstructured environments, or high-touch human interaction that current AI cannot reliably replicate.
The employment, wage, and education figures above come from a second, separate federal source: BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034, matched to the O*NET task data by Standard Occupational Classification (SOC 19-1042) code, with the wage figure cross-validated against the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 survey. BLS figures are presented exactly as published, with no adjustment on our part; the SOC-code match is what lets Medical scientists, except epidemiologists be compared directly against every other tracked occupation on the same basis, not just roles that happen to share a job title.
For career planners, this profile should be read alongside the task, skill, and knowledge breakdowns below and the list of employers whose workforce composition includes Medical scientists, except epidemiologists. Adjacent occupations shown further down offer lateral moves that preserve industry knowledge while potentially reducing exposure.
Education & Entry Requirements
Top Tasks (O*NET)
- 1. Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination.
- 2. Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels.
- 3. Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
- 4. Prepare and analyze organ, tissue, and cell samples to identify toxicity, bacteria, or microorganisms or to study cell structure.
- 5. Standardize drug dosages, methods of immunization, and procedures for manufacture of drugs and medicinal compounds.
- 6. Conduct research to develop methodologies, instrumentation, and procedures for medical application, analyzing data and presenting findings to the scientific audience and general public.
- 7. Teach principles of medicine and medical and laboratory procedures to physicians, residents, students, and technicians.
- 8. Study animal and human health and physiological processes.
- 9. Write and publish articles in scientific journals.
- 10. Write applications for research grants.
Key Skills Required
- Writing
- Speaking
- Science
- Active Learning
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Judgment and Decision Making
- Complex Problem Solving
- Systems Analysis
Knowledge Areas
- Biology
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
- Administration and Management
- Administrative
- Physics
Frequently Asked Questions
Will AI replace Medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists has an AI exposure score of 27%, indicating a medium level of automation risk. The majority of tasks in this role require human judgment, creativity, or physical presence that AI cannot easily replicate.
What is the job outlook for Medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
According to BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034, Medical scientists, except epidemiologists is projected to grow by 8.7% over the decade. Current employment stands at approximately 165,300 workers.
What skills are needed for Medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
Key skills for Medical scientists, except epidemiologists include Writing, Speaking, Science, and others. Typical entry-level education is Doctoral or professional degree.
How much do Medical scientists, except epidemiologists earn?
The median annual wage for Medical scientists, except epidemiologists is $100,590, according to BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Actual earnings vary by location, experience, industry, and employer. The BLS publishes detailed wage percentiles by region in its Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program.
What education is required for Medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
The typical entry-level education for Medical scientists, except epidemiologists is Doctoral or professional degree. Employers generally expect None of related work experience. On-the-job training typically involves None. Requirements can vary by employer and specialization.
Which companies employ Medical scientists, except epidemiologists?
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists roles exist across many industries and employers. Workforce composition is estimated from BLS industry-occupation employment distributions matched to SEC-registered public companies.
AI Exposure Rating
Medium automation risk based on 10 analyzed tasks. Most tasks require human judgment and are resistant to automation.
Nationwide occupations with similar workforce profiles
Two data-derived peer sets for Medical scientists, except epidemiologists: AI-exposure neighbors and BLS 2034 growth neighbors (distinct comparison neighborhoods, cross-occupation).
Similar AI exposure score
Nearest O*NET task-automability scores nationwide (27% here).
- Civil engineers · AI exposure 27%
- Clinical and counseling psychologists · AI exposure 27%
- Coating, painting, and spraying machine setters, operators, and tenders · AI exposure 27%
- Concierges · AI exposure 27%
Similar projected growth (2024–2034)
Nearest BLS employment change rates nationwide (+8.7% here).
- Agents and business managers of artists, performers, and athletes · growth +8.7%
- Computer systems analysts · growth +8.7%
- Construction managers · growth +8.7%
- Database architects · growth +8.7%
Peers are nearest-neighbor matches on published BLS + O*NET metrics among occupations with ≥10,000 workers in 2024; corpus ranks above sort the full tracked set.
Related Occupations
Showing 6 of 30 occupations with a comparable automation-risk profile.
What to do with this
Use Medical scientists, except epidemiologists' numbers above to compare, not just read in isolation.
- Compare Medical scientists, except epidemiologists side by side against another occupation on wage, growth, and AI exposure. Workforce comparison tool
- Understand how the AI exposure score above is actually calculated before treating it as a verdict. Reading AI exposure scores
- See the full ranked list of occupations with the lowest automation exposure nationwide. Safest occupations from AI
AI exposure scores estimate task automatability from O*NET data; they are not a certainty of job loss, and BLS growth projections are estimates, not guarantees.
Data sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024–2034 and O*NET Database 30.0. Employment figures are rounded. Wage data from BLS Occupational Employment Statistics (OES).