Also called: Cancer Research Scientist, Tumor Biologist
Researches how cancer starts, spreads, and can be stopped.
Grows tumor cells from patient samples, tests drug combinations, and studies how cancer cells hide from the immune system.
Estimate; industry pays more than universities.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in biology or a related field, often plus a postdoc.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Biology, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology.
Growing faster than average. Tracks BLS life scientists (medical scientists and biochemists grow faster than average).
Medium risk for 10 years. AI scans tumor data and suggests drug combos; patient-sample work, lab tests and judgment about leads stay human.
Classes: AP Biology, AP Chemistry, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1042.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.