Toxicologist

Studies how chemicals, drugs, and poisons harm living things—and what doses are safe.

A day in the life

Designs a study testing whether a new pesticide affects animal development, reviews pathology results, and writes the safety section of a report for regulators.

Pay over a career

Starting
$70k
Typical
$115k
High
$180k

Estimate within medical scientists.

Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.

Training

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.

Outlook

Growing much faster than average (about 9% over 10 years). Follows medical scientists.

Will it last? Our AI estimate

Medium risk for 10 years. AI predicts chemical toxicity and cuts some animal tests; designing studies and defending safety calls stay human.

Start now, in high school

Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, Statistics.

Official data: O*NET occupation 19-1042.

More Epidemiology, Toxicology & Public Health Science careers

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.