The Ultimate Job Guide: Medical Researcher
A medical researcher is a broad term for many different types of jobs.
Regardless, suppose you are interested in the medical research field.
In that case, you will be happy to know that you will get paid well, have job security, and be a part of a fast-moving industry that is hiring two to three times as fast as the national average.
So, sit back, and learn how you can become a medical researcher.
Medical Researcher Information
| Office Job Title | Medical Researcher |
| Average Salary | $82,240 |
| Stress Level | Low |
| Work / Life | Well Balanced |
| Job Satisfaction | High |
| Career Advancement | High |
Job Description
What Is A Medical Researcher
In the medical field, new procedures, equipment, and medicine don’t just appear.
They are all developed over years of intense and costly research.
The individuals that manage, lead, and create these medical studies are medical researchers.
The job trains them to plan and execute studies for different medical industries.
An example of a position is working with a team on a new cancer drug.
It could also mean that they are developing new medical equipment for home monitoring of blood pressure.
What Does A Medical Researcher Do On A Daily Basis?
Day-to-day, as a medical researcher, you will be part of an independent team working towards a singular goal.
As research is a progression of events, you could be at any given stage.
First, you will be working on the development of the idea, plan, and policies.
Then you will help progress the study into the research phase.
Helping with studies means working daily with medical students, lab specimens, or live humans.
After data collection, your responsibilities will shift to data analytics and processing.
Responsibilities, Duties & Roles Of A Medical Researcher
Being a medical researcher is a highly specialized field with lots of room for exploration and growth.
You will most likely start as a simple researcher and given the base level of scientific measurements, data collection, or data analytics responsibilities.
You may find yourself in a lab or office space for most of your early career before advancing into management or senior-level suite.
Salary for a Medical Researcher
Average Salary
The average salary for a medical researcher nationwide is $82,240.
This average accounts for the standard of living considerations in big cities versus more rural environments.
Also, you should consider what type of employer you are interested in working for as a career.
The more prominent publicly-traded pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers looking for talented researchers will be paying top dollar.
Hospitals and universities won’t be paying as much.
Starting Salary
If you start as a medical researcher, the average entry-level salary you will find is $61,000.
Your starting salary will be highly dependent on your prior level of education.
As you will learn, medical researchers tend to have lots of post-graduate teaching and experience.
Senior Salary
Senior salaries for a medical researcher exceed six figures.
They will be dependent on the type of company.
For example, pharmaceutical companies pay more than universities.
Regardless, on average, senior positions pay $132,143.
How To Become A Medical Researcher
The Entry Level: Certification, Training & Degree
The short answer is to stay in school for a very long time.
The long answer is that medical researchers take the Ph.D. route to a job in the industry.
As a medical researcher, your analytical skills and scientific insight need to be better than the average college student’s.
Further, because it is a medical researcher, not another life sciences researcher, you will want to focus your studies on the medical field.
For instance, consider an undergraduate and graduate degree in biology, chemistry, or a specific medical research degree.
Other Skill Sets, Requirements & Qualifications
All medical researcher jobs require highly trained individuals in problem-solving, analytics, and general research skills.
You like to identify a problem, come up with a test to identify potential solutions, create a study to determine how successful the answers are, and then develop the key for the open market.
Medical researcher skills, like focus, drive, knowledge, and patience, are all taught in higher education.
A Ph.D. will be a necessary qualification to showcase your skill set for the life of a researcher,
How Long Does It Take To Become A Medical Researcher
You will be looking at a long haul in education before you can become a medical researcher.
Recruiters look for an undergraduate degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D.
This advancement could take ten years to accumulate all of the necessary education.
Once attained, you will get a highly-paid job and a long-term career.
Is It Hard To Become A Medical Researcher
There are plenty of unfilled medical researcher positions across the country.
It isn’t hard to get a medical researcher job, but it is hard to make it through the Ph.D. programs.
However, if you love education and are motivated enough to stay and work hard, the time will pass quickly.
Medical Researcher Career Paths
The Medical Researcher Roadmap
Each medical researcher position will start at the bottom of the totem pole.
This roadmap could mean that you start as a lab assistant, low-level scientist, or medical systems scientist.
All of these titles mean the same thing.
You will be the data cruncher or the white coat scientist.
However, as you advance, you will oversee your studies and manage your group of lab assistants and scientists.
Projections For Growth In Medical Researcher Jobs
For the medical research profession, the growth outlook is 17%, which is much faster than average.
The constant need for more medications with fewer side effects for new diseases has spurred growth in the medical research field.
There will always be a growing need for highly trained medical researchers.
In Summary: Is Medical Researcher A Good Career?
Being a medical researcher is a highly satisfying job that pays well and has great hours and flexibility.
If you are interested in getting your Ph.D. in a medical-related degree, you will have the opportunity to get a gratifying job after graduation.
Medical researchers are located across the country and even internationally.
Working Conditions
Can A Medical Researcher Work Remotely From Home?
Remote work as a medical researcher depends mainly on the type of work that you are doing.
The majority of medical research work takes place in a lab or office facility.
This lab requirement isn’t ideal for remote work.
However, if you are involved mainly in clinical studies with people, you may remotely set up the studies and conduct interviews from home.
How Many Hours Does A Medical Researcher Work?
Medical facilities, medical companies, and hospitals usually have 24/7 operations.
You will be working a regular 40-hour workweek, but it could be on your schedule or need.
There is a lot of flexibility built into a job that is constantly on.
Can A Medical Researcher Work Part-Time
Most likely, you will only find full-time positions as a medical researcher.
This statement doesn’t mean that part-time work doesn’t exist.
It just means that it may be harder to discover if that is your goal.
What Are The Average Vacation Days Of A Medical Researcher?
Vacation days for a medical researcher are highly standardized based on the specific corporate policy.
Therefore, they will be generous compared to the national average and be at least two weeks per year.
Alternative Careers & Similar Jobs to a Medical Researcher
- Medical Records Technician
- Medical Office Administrator
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Forensic Science Technician
- Radiologic Technologist
- Cardiovascular Technologist
- Physical Therapy Assistant
- Phlebotomist
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Grant Writer
- Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant
- Neuroscientist
- Food Scientist
- Hydrologist
Medical Researcher Resume Tips
- Always highlight research experience
- Always highlight analytic experience
- Explain your roles in any clinical trials or experiments
- Place your education front and center if you have a Ph.D. in a related field
- Don’t focus on non-relevant work or education experience
- Use words in your resume that reflect the words in the posting
- Make sure to include anything that you have published.
- Use action words to describe your activities
Medical Researcher Interview Questions
Question 1: What do you think is the key to group communication?
Why This Works: You need to determine if this person can lead an effective team.
Question 2: Do you like solving puzzles?
Why This Works: You need to know if your candidate will be a good fit for the position since it requires problem-solving.
Question 3: Are you interested in learning new skills?
Why This Works: Most likely, they won’t know everything from school and will need to learn more advanced skills on the job.
Question 4: Are you looking for a long-term job?
Why This Works: Medical researcher jobs are commitments to long-term study.
These could last years. It would be best if you had a candidate who would stay the whole time.
Jobs Related To A Medical Researcher
- Biochemist or Biophysicist
- Agricultural Scientists or Researchers
- Clinical Laboratory Scientist
- Microbiologist
- Post-Secondary Teacher or Researcher
- Veterinarian
For HR Manager: Tips For Hiring A Medical Researcher
Key Characteristics To Look For In A Medical Researcher
When looking for a medical researcher, make sure that you are looking for a candidate focused on long-term studies.
They will need highly trained communication, critical thinking, data-analytical, decision-making, and observation skills.
Minimum Level Of Education & Experience
Look for people with PhDs and post-graduate research experience.
These candidates will have the most training that is similar to the job position.
Non-PhD candidates are acceptable but will need to supplement an undergraduate degree with extraordinary research experience.
Sources
- https://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/medical-scientists.htm#tab-1
- https://collegegrad.com/careers/medical-scientists
- https://jobs.newscientist.com/article/how-to-make-a-career-in-medical-research-/
- https://students-residents.aamc.org/phd-biomedical-science/career-paths-phd-graduates
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/career-paths-in-the-medical-field
- https://www.salary.com/research/salary/posting/medical-research-scientist-salary