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Biologists

Typical education: Master's degreeModerate pressure

What they do

Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.

Kinds of work

  • Investigative: Science, research, figuring out how things work and solving complex problems.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.
  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.

Moderate 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 $98,920 Median per year · $47.56/hr Most earn $60,430–$168,010

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.
  • Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life.
  • Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
  • Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences.
  • Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion, using scientific methods.
  • Research environmental effects of present and potential uses of land and water areas, determining methods of improving environmental conditions or such outputs as crop yields.

Job outlook

United States
5% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 4,300 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

  • Federal government, excluding postal service35.4%
  • Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences25.9%
  • Colleges, universities, and professional schools10.8%
  • Management, scientific, and technical consulting services4.8%
  • Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing3.7%

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

Experience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Career path

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

Typical education: Master's degreeExperience before this job: 4 to 6 years

Biologist is not an entry-level job. Most people need a master's degree and about 4 to 6 years of related work experience, so the path usually takes roughly 7 to 10 years after high school. Students who explore it early can plan the research experience they will need along the way.

  1. Bachelor's degree in biology

    4 years

    You learn core biology, lab methods, and how to read scientific papers, which sets up the hands-on work and graduate study that come next.

  2. Biological Technician

    2-3 years

    You run experiments, collect samples, and keep careful lab records under a scientist, which builds the related work experience employers look for.

  3. Master's degree in biology

    2-3 years

    You design and carry out your own research project, usually with a thesis, which prepares you to lead studies rather than only support them.

  4. Biologist

    Ongoing

    You study how plants and animals live, grow, and relate to one another, and you plan and run research projects in this career.

Where it can lead

  1. Senior Biologist

    4-6 years of experience first

    You take on bigger projects, guide junior staff, and often write grant proposals and lead the direction of research.

  2. Natural Sciences Manager

    4-6 years of experience first

    You oversee teams and budgets for science projects instead of doing most of the hands-on research yourself, which usually calls for a master's degree and strong leadership skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take biology, chemistry, and mathThese classes form the foundation for college science and show you whether you enjoy the subject.
  • Join a science club or science fairWorking on a project with a team teaches you how to ask a question, test it, and explain your results.
  • Volunteer at a nature center, zoo, or parkHelping with animal care or plant surveys gives you real exposure to the living things biologists study.
  • Get a starter job or summer jobAny job that teaches responsibility, such as a garden center or animal shelter job, builds skills employers value later.
  • Practice reading and writing about scienceReading science articles and writing short lab reports prepares you for the writing demands of a biology degree.

In college

  • Major in biology and take statisticsA biology major gives you the core knowledge, and statistics helps you analyze the data that biologists work with every day.
  • Get a research or lab assistant job on campusWorking in a professor's lab gives you paid hands-on experience, which is the kind of related work experience this career asks for.
  • Join a biology or environmental clubStudent groups offer field trips, guest speakers, and friends who share your interest, and they look good on applications.
  • Seek out a summer internship or field jobSummer work with a park, research station, or environmental agency lets you try the job before committing to graduate school.
  • Learn common lab and data toolsLearning basic lab techniques and software such as spreadsheets or R makes you a stronger candidate for technician and graduate positions.

Tips for getting started

  • Get lab or field experience early. Volunteering in a university lab or working as a lab assistant shows you whether you enjoy research day to day.
  • Build strong writing and data skills. Biologists spend a lot of time writing reports, papers, and grant proposals, and analyzing data on a computer.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

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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