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Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

Teach courses in biological sciences. Includes both teachers primarily engaged in teaching and those who do a combination of teaching and research.

Kinds of work

  • Social: Helping, teaching, caring for and supporting other people.
  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $84,620 Median per year Most earn $52,150–$169,900

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Act as advisers to student organizations.
  • Prepare materials for laboratory activities and course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
  • Write grant proposals to procure external research funding.
  • Participate in student recruitment, registration, and placement activities.
  • Provide professional consulting services to government or industry.
  • Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth

United States
7% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 4,700 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools78.2%
  • Junior colleges20.4%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 2 to 4 years

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: Doctoral or professional degreeExperience before this job: 2 to 4 years

This isn't an entry-level job. Most people need a doctoral degree and some experience doing research or teaching first, which usually takes about 10 to 14 years after high school. The path is long, but each step builds skills you'll use as a professor.

  1. Bachelor's degree in biology or a related science

    4 years

    You learn the core of biology and build lab skills, and a strong record here is what gets you into graduate programs.

  2. Doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in biological sciences

    4-6 years

    You spend most of your time on an original research project, write a dissertation, and often begin teaching undergraduate labs or classes as a teaching assistant.

  3. Postdoctoral researcher or visiting lecturer

    2-4 years

    You run research projects and publish papers under a senior scientist, and you may teach courses, which builds the experience universities look for when hiring.

  4. Biological Science Teacher, Postsecondary

    Career entry point

    You teach biology courses at a college or university, and some professors also run their own research labs.

Where it can lead

  1. Associate Professor of Biology

    5-7 years as an assistant professor of experience first

    You earn tenure by showing strong teaching, a steady record of published research, and service to your department and school.

  2. Professor of Biology

    5-10 years as an associate professor of experience first

    You become a senior faculty member who leads major research grants, mentors other scientists, and shapes what the department teaches.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and the highest math you canStrong science and math classes build the foundation you'll need for a college biology major.
  • Join a science club or Science Olympiad-style teamWorking on experiments and competitions with others builds research skills and shows you whether you enjoy science.
  • Volunteer or job-shadow in a lab or science museumSeeing real research and teaching up close helps you understand what scientists do every day.
  • Tutor younger students in scienceExplaining concepts to others is practice for teaching, and it's a common first job for students who like science.

In college

  • Major in biology and take upper-level coursesAdvanced courses like genetics, ecology, or molecular biology prepare you for graduate study and for teaching those subjects later.
  • Join an undergraduate research labWorking with a professor on real research is one of the best ways to learn the work and to get a strong letter of recommendation.
  • Work as a lab assistant or teaching assistantA campus job helping with biology labs gives you teaching experience and shows graduate programs you can explain science to others.
  • Present at a student research event or conferencePresenting your project builds communication skills and gives you a line on your résumé for graduate school applications.

Tips for getting started

  • Get hands-on lab or research experience early, since universities look for it when they hire and when they admit students to Ph.D. programs.
  • Practice explaining science clearly to others, whether by tutoring, presenting at a club, or helping in a class, because teaching is a big part of this job.
  • Talk with a few biology professors or graduate students about their daily work and what they wish they had known, so you can decide if the research and teaching mix is right for you.

Related jobs that often lead here

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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