Skip to content
AffordMap
Salary comparison

Chemical Technicians vs. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists: Who Earns More?

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists out-earn Chemical Technicians by $43K a year at the national median, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Chemical Technicians land at $60,390 and Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists at $103,410. The education gap is real: chemical technician programs typically require bachelor's degree, while medical scientists, except epidemiologist programs require doctoral or professional degree. Top-paying state for Chemical Technicians is Louisiana ($85,850); for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists it's California ($136,990).

Chemical Technicians
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Median salary
$60,390
$103,410
Hourly rate
$29.03/hr
$49.72/hr
Entry level (10th %)
$41,740
$64,800
Senior level (90th %)
$92,040
$177,780
Education required
Bachelor's degree
Doctoral or professional degree
U.S. employment
57,540
172,340
Job growth (10-year)
3.7%
8.7%
Category
Science
Science
Top-paying state
Louisiana
California

Pay by state

States where both occupations have BLS data, sorted by Chemical Technicians median pay.

State
Chemical Technicians
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
Alaska
$79,380
$104,930
Missouri
$68,550
$102,540
Massachusetts
$67,570
$128,210
Arizona
$65,860
$116,820
Washington
$62,100
$105,680
Rhode Island
$61,680
$103,370
California
$59,510
$136,990
North Carolina
$59,030
$102,980
New Jersey
$58,580
$129,280
Oregon
$57,960
$111,030
Connecticut
$57,310
$116,990
District of Columbia
$56,530
$101,940
Tennessee
$54,840
$102,720
Montana
$52,890
$101,950
Maryland
$49,280
$106,000

Source: BLS OEWS May 2025. Highlighted value is higher in each row.

Common questions

Who earns more, Chemical Technicians or Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists earn more nationally. The median is $60,390 for Chemical Technicians versus $103,410 for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists, a difference of $43K. Per BLS OEWS May 2025.

Which has better job growth, Chemical Technicians or Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?

Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists has the better 10-year outlook at 8.7% projected growth, compared to 3.7% for the other field. Both are from BLS Employment Projections.

Which requires more education, Chemical Technicians or Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists?

Chemical Technicians typically requires bachelor's degree. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists requires doctoral or professional degree. Education requirements vary by employer and state licensing board.

Where do Chemical Technicians get paid the most?

Louisiana is the top-paying state for Chemical Technicians at $85,850/year, per BLS OEWS May 2025. Major metro areas within that state typically pay even more than the state average.

How does Chemical Technicians vs. Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists pay differ by state?

The gap varies significantly by state. In Alaska, Chemical Technicians earn $79,380 vs. $104,930 for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists. See the state comparison table on this page for the full picture.

Full Chemical Technicians salary breakdownView →Full Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists salary breakdownView →Best cities for Chemical Technicians by take-home payExplore →Best cities for Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists by take-home payExplore →How to become a chemical techniciansGuide →How to become a medical scientists, except epidemiologistsGuide →