Careers in Biology

Portions of the following article were drafted using an in-house natural language generation platform. The article was then reviewed, fact-checked, and edited by multiple members of our editorial team prior to publishing.

Biology explores the intricate mechanisms of life, from the microscopic world of cells and DNA to the vast ecosystems of our planet. As a biologist, you could be at the forefront of life-changing discoveries, contribute to protecting our planet, or help improve human health.

Whether you’re a student considering a biology degree, a graduate pondering your next steps, or a professional seeking new opportunities, a career in biology offers diverse pathways and rewards.

Read on to get comprehensive information about careers in biology, including the skills required, potential salaries, and job outlook.

From research laboratories to classrooms, hospitals to conservation sites, careers in biology are as varied as they are rewarding. The field offers flexible career choices, interesting work settings, and competitive salaries. Here’s an overview of the different biology career paths and their corresponding salaries.

Healthcare is a major sector for biology graduates, offering diverse roles and competitive salaries in both the allied health and medical industries. Typical positions include hospital administrators, clinic directors, nursing home administrators, health service managers, as well as doctors of different specialties.

Salaries for some of these roles can exceed $100,000. According to the Bureau Labor of Statistics (BLS), the median salary for medical and health services managers was $110,680 while a physician’s assistant earned a median salary of $130,020 in 2023.

Specializations within the field, such as executive leadership, business intelligence, or health information technologist, can further increase earning potential. According to BLS, salaries for healthcare practitioners and technical occupations was $80,820, which was higher than $48,060, the median wage of all occupations. Approximately 1.8 million jobs are projected to open up each year, showing an ongoing demand for healthcare services.

Biology careers in education and outreach include roles such as biology professors, medical science writers, and community health workers.

Community health workers educate and advocate for marginalized, underserved, or high-risk populations. Their duties can include conducting health screenings, providing basic health services, and assisting with healthcare navigation. Community health workers have a median salary of $48,200 per year.

Science writers can contribute their knowledge to the media through science journalism, public communications, technical writing, and editing. These employment opportunities can be found at scientific journals, government agencies, research universities, research institutes, and public television and radio. Science writers can have a median salary ranging from around $73,000 to $80,000.

In the field of research, biology graduates can pursue roles such as biostatisticians, medical scientists, microbiologists, marine biologists, and food scientists.

Medical scientists focus on researching and developing medical breakthroughs, and have a median salary of $100,890. Biostatisticians use mathematics and statistics to provide data for public health decisions, earning a median salary of around $104,860.

Microbiologists study microorganisms to prevent and treat diseases, with a median salary of $85,470. A marine biologist, a type of wildlife biologist, studies aquatic wildlife and ecosystems, earning a median salary of approximately $70,600. Food scientists, who study food properties and improve nutritional value and safety, have a median salary of around $76,400.

Biology Careers and Salaries in Public Health

Featured Online Bachelor’s in Biology Programs

Skills Gained with a Biology Degree

• Research and quantitative skills, which involve designing experiments, conducting research, and performing statistical analysis.
• Communication skills, which you need if you have to draft research proposals, present findings, and explain complex concepts.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, which make evaluating scientific literature, identifying knowledge gaps, and formulating hypotheses easier.
• Collaboration and teamwork skills, which help you learn to work with people of diverse academic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds.
• Laboratory and technical skills, which are necessary for any science profession, such as practical lab techniques and familiarity with necessary technical tools and statistical software.
• Attention to detail, which helps you be precise and develop of observational skills.
• Organizational skills, which are needed to juggle multiple projects and deadlines as well as maintain detailed and organized records of experiments, methodologies, and results.

8 Steps to Choosing the Right Biology Career

Step 1: Self-Assessment

• Interests: Identify which areas of biology you are most passionate about. Do you enjoy working in a lab, studying ecosystems, working with animals, or analyzing data?
• Skills: Assess your strengths and skills. Are you good at data analysis, laboratory techniques, fieldwork, or interpersonal communication?
• Values: Consider what you value in a career. Do you prioritize job stability, high earning potential, work-life balance, or making a social impact?
• Set goals: Figure out your short-term and long-term career goals. How do your different career options align with these goals?

Step 2: Research

• Career options: Research different biology careers and their requirements. Look into job descriptions, typical responsibilities, necessary qualifications, and potential career paths. Online government resources such as BLS and CareerOneStop are great places to start.
• Industry trends: Stay updated on trends in various biology-related industries to understand which fields are growing and have high demand.

Step 3: Connect with Professionals

• Professionals: Reach out to professionals and conduct informational interviews to gain insights into their daily tasks, challenges, and career trajectories.
• Networking: Attend industry conferences, seminars, and networking events to meet professionals and learn about different career opportunities.
• Mentorship: Look for mentors who can give guidance and advice based on their own career experiences.

Step 4: Gain Practical Experience

• Jobs and Internships:Seek out internships, co-op programs, or part-time jobs in various biology-related fields. Hands-on experience can provide a better understanding of what a career entails.
• Volunteering: Volunteer with organizations related to your field of interest to gain experience and network.

Step 5: Educational Pathways

• Courses: Take a variety of biology courses to explore different subfields. This can help you identify which areas you find most interesting and engaging.
• Specializations: Look into specialized programs that align with your career goals.
• Advanced degrees: Consider whether you should pursue advanced degrees (e.g., a master’s, Ph.D., or MD) for careers that require specialized training.
• Certifications:Research any certifications that might be beneficial or required for your career path.
• Skill-building workshops: Attend workshops and courses to build specific skills relevant to your desired career.

Step 6: Career Search

• Counseling: Take advantage of career counseling services offered by your school or professional organizations. Career counselors can provide guidance, resources, and assessments to help you make informed decisions.
• Workshops: Attend career workshops and seminars to learn about resume writing, job search strategies, and interview preparation.
• Evaluate experiences: Reflect on your experiences, both academic and practical, to determine what aspects you enjoyed and what you didn’t.

Step 7: Attend Networking Events

• Conferences and seminars: Attend industry conferences, seminars, and workshops to meet professionals and learn about current trends.
• Professional organizations: Join relevant professional organizations to access networking opportunities and resources.

Step 8: Stay Flexible

• Keep an open mind: Be open to exploring different paths and adjusting your plans as you gain more knowledge and experience. Sometimes, career paths can change based on new interests or emerging opportunities.
• Continuous learning: Learn about new developments in the field of biology and be willing to learn and adapt.

Interview With a Professional in Biology

Jeremy Hill, Biology Graduate From University Of Michigan

Jeremy Hill graduated with a degree in biology from the University of Michigan and now resides in Phoenix, Arizona. Combining his love of biology and computers, he has worked with the large databases of healthcare companies to better understand trends and costs in epidemiology.

CollapsedExpand All

Q: What made you decide to become a biology major?

Like a lot of biology majors, I started college convinced I wanted to be a doctor. I even applied to an advanced seven-year MD program and went to a school that had one of the best medical schools in the country (the University of Michigan).

Q: What skills did you learn while working toward your degree?

There were the usual skills (how to study and manage time), but there were also some skills I didn’t expect, like how to plan for the possibility that your lab partner is not going to do their 50% of the writeup.

I also gained basic scientific literacy. I feel that this is sorely lacking in America in general, and it’s something that is desperately needed. When one study with a sample size of 20 tells you something that flies in the face of decades of established science, ask questions. Check the underlying data and understand what it means.

I also learned computer skills, such as how to put together a basic program, if for no other reason than automation. If you have to rename 65,000 files and you opt to do it by hand, you’re in for a long day.

Q: How did these skills help at work?

Knowing how to plan for the unexpected or to always account for the possibility that something could go wrong has served me well professionally.

One of the things I’m asked to do as part of my job is to estimate how long something will take or when something can be finished. It’s a challenge to keep things simple, but never be as precise as you want to be. You build in a bit of a buffer, even if no one admits to doing it.

Secondly, there’s a generally accepted principle of economics that in order to sustain economic growth, we have to consistently improve productivity. I try to find one way to be more productive each day. Again, automation is such a lifesaver for me and others I work with. Before any of us get up in the morning, our machines are churning out reports.

If I feel like I am going to spend more than an hour or so doing a task, I stop to ask how I can make it simpler, how I can delegate it to some automatic process, and how it’s been done before. Those answers usually drive how I proceed.

Q: Do you have any tips for biology students?

The biology that you learn in high school is very narrowly focused. Undergraduate work in biology encompasses so much more, and there are new applications of biology every day. Don’t be afraid to not only explore courses in other areas entirely, but to branch out within biology. I thought I loved microbiology until I really got interested in evolutionary genetics.

5 Organizations for Biology Professionals

• American Institute of Biological Sciences: AIBS provides resources such as education materials, public policy monitoring, peer review services, scientific literature publication, and public outreach programs. It also offers networking opportunities through its diverse community of 118 member organizations which includes scientific societies, museums, and universities.
• American Society for Cell Biology: ASCB offers training and development opportunities for students and professionals, annual and summer meetings, and research publications. Networking opportunities are also available through mentorships and job search assistance.
• National Association of Biology Teachers: NABT promotes biology education at all educational levels. Members have access to a wide range of resources, including the peer-reviewed journal The American Biology Teacher. It also hosts the annual Professional Development Conference, offers various awards to recognize outstanding teachers and students, and provides support to educators in teaching controversial topics.
• American Association for the Advancement of Science: AAAS is a leading organization for the advancement of science around the world. It provides numerous resources for scientists and students, including fellowships, grants, and career resources. AAAS also publishes a range of scientific journals, including Science, Science Advances, and Science Translational Medicine.
• Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology: FASEB supports biomedical researchers by providing a forum for educational meetings, developing publications, and disseminating research results. They also serve as the policy voice for biological and biomedical researchers. FASEB represents 30 scientific societies and over 130,000 researchers worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions About Careers in Biology