Studies how chemicals, drugs, and poisons harm living things—and what doses are safe.
Designs a study testing whether a new pesticide affects animal development, reviews pathology results, and writes the safety section of a report for regulators.
Estimate within medical scientists.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Doctorate (PhD), about 10 years after high school. PhD in toxicology or pharmacology; DABT board certification.
Ways in: 4-year college, Graduate school, Certification. Training cost: $15k – $60k.
Majors to look at: Toxicology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry.
Growing much faster than average (about 9% over 10 years). Follows medical scientists.
Medium risk for 10 years. AI predicts chemical toxicity and cuts some animal tests; designing studies and defending safety calls stay human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, 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.