Biological Sciences Degree & Career Guide

BestColleges.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.
What Is Biological Science?
Biological science is the study of life, from single-celled organisms to complex plants and animals. Biological scientists study living organisms to better understand life processes. They also study the ways organisms interact with their environments. Applied research is problem-oriented, while people perform basic research for the sake of learning.
Biological science jobs include forensic biologists, cytotechnologists, and medical technologists. Biochemists and business biologists are two other potential careers. Forensic biologists work with law enforcement, while business biologists generally work with chemical or pharmaceutical companies. Biotechnologists work in a laboratory setting and help develop environmental products or medical treatments.
Featured Posts on Biological Sciences

Careers for Biology Majors
Don't underestimate the power of a biology degree! Learn more about some of the best careers for those with a passion for living organisms.
Read article
Best Online Biology Programs of 2022
Biology majors can pursue careers in fields as diverse as healthcare and manufacturing. Here, review some of the nation's best bachelor's in biology programs.
Read article
Best Online Bachelor’s in Environmental Science Programs of 2021
Environmental scientists are key players in tackling issues that impact our world. Get started in the field with a top-ranked online bachelor's degree.
Read articleFrequently Asked Questions About Biological Sciences
According to Payscale, as of March 2022, biological scientists earned an average base salary of $81,850 per year. Most biological science careers require at least a bachelor's degree, while research positions may require a doctoral degree. Whether it is worth it depends on the cost of the degree, the salary earned after graduation, and the amount of satisfaction a job in the field brings a graduate.
For example, if it cost $115,000 for tuition, room, and board and you lost $120,000 in wages while attending school for four years, your total cost was $235,000. If you earn $80,000 per year after graduation, you have increased your income by $50,000. So, your degree will pay for itself in 4.7 years.
The best biological science degree is the one that best matches your desired career after graduation. If you want to become a biological scientist, a bachelor's in biology is a good choice. If you want to work with plants to improve agriculture, a bachelor's in agriculture can prepare you for related careers. Other options include a degree in environmental science or marine biology.
Any of these biological science degrees could lead to a career as a biological scientist. But you may want to pick a more specialized degree if you dream of becoming a marine biologist or an agricultural researcher.
Professionals can pursue various biological science jobs. Biological scientists can work with many different types of organisms. Forensic biologists work with law enforcement personnel to help solve crimes. Cytotechnologists detect diseases in microscopic cells. Which biological science career is the best depends on your interests as much as the average salary.
If you have a passion to use your biology knowledge to solve crimes, you may consider forensic biology. If you want to do research on cells in a government agency, biochemist jobs may interest you.
Different biological science careers have different salaries, but they generally range between $50,000-$80,000 per year. According to April 2022 Payscale data, the average marine biologist's salary was $52,130. The average salary for a forensic scientist was $56,250, while the average biologist's salary came to $58,030. Medical technologists earned an average salary of $59,560, and as of March 2022, biology scientists earned an average of $81,850.
The highest-paying biological science careers are biology scientist, cytotechnologist, biochemist, and medical technologist. According to Payscale data from February-April 2022, cytotechnologists earned average annual salaries of $73,650 , biochemists earned $65,070 on average, and medical technologists earned $59,560 on average.
Some of these careers may require additional training. For example, biochemists need a strong background in both chemistry and biology. Medical technologists may also need medical training.
You can become a biological scientist by earning at least a bachelor's degree in biological science or another type of biology. For example, you might become a biological scientist after earning your microbiology or marine biology degree. Some positions, especially research positions, may require a doctoral degree in biology.
Once you have earned your degree, you can start applying for biological science jobs. You may need to start with an entry-level position and work your way up to a higher-paying job within the biological science field.
All Things Biological Sciences
Our Editorial Policy and Standards
Accuracy and editorial integrity are just a few of the values we at BestColleges pledge to uphold for the students who rely on us. We are committed to providing students with the educational resources they need to achieve their goals.
Click the link below to learn more about our mission.
Learn more