Biologists

At a Glance

Study plants and animals
Mostly do research
Typically specialize in a subfield
Have at least a bachelor's degree
Work for the government, hospitals, research firms, or universities
Often work in a laboratory

Career summary

Biologists study plants, animals, and their environments.

There are many specialties within the biological sciences field. Common job titles include aquatic biologists, botanists, cellular biologists, biochemists, biophysicists, ecologists, entomologists, evolutionary biologists, geneticists, microbiologists, astrobiologists, and molecular biologists.

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Biologists study plant and animal life ranging from single cell organisms to large animals. Their findings help solve problems, such as plant diseases or possible extinction of some animals. They also research ways to solve problems in human health.

Some biologists do basic research. They study the world to gain knowledge. Other biologists do applied research. They use knowledge gained from research to create new products or processes.

Biologists read articles and attend conferences to learn more about their research area. They determine research questions and design experiments to study those questions. Depending on the type of organism they study, biologists conduct experiments in a lab, forest, or other site.

They may work with the organisms themselves, or have research assistants do much of the work for them. If they have assistants, scientists train them how to conduct the research and keep records.

Once data is gathered, biologists analyze the data. They interpret the results and write reports. They may present their findings at conferences.

Some biologists teach at colleges and universities. If they have a teaching certificate, they can also teach at high schools.

There are several subfields in biology:

Biochemists study the chemical makeup and processes of living things.
Biophysicists study the electrical and mechanical energy properties of cells and organisms.
Microbiologists study the growth, development, and characteristics of bacteria and other small organisms.

Related careers

This career is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

Military careers

Life Scientists

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to biologists.

Study the basic principles of plants, animals, and cells.
Design experiments and research programs to test ideas and find out new things.
Design equipment and tests used in research.
Collect biological data on organisms and their environment.
Collect biological data on organisms and their environment.
Use complex laboratory instruments for research.
Use computers to organize, store, and analyze complex data.
Write reports and make recommendations based on findings.
Prepare proposals for research funding.
Study how one thing impacts another.
May prepare plans for how to manage renewable resources.
Review technical reports and discuss observations with other scientists.
Supervise and teach other researchers, students, or technicians.
Attend seminars and read scientific papers to update knowledge.

Common work activities

Biologists perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

Update and use job-related knowledge
Analyze data or information
Get information needed to do the job
Process information
Use computers
Document and record information
Make decisions and solve problems
Identify objects, actions, and events
Explain the meaning of information to others
Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
Think creatively
Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
Organize, plan, and prioritize work
Teach others
Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
Communicate with people outside the organization
Develop goals and strategies
Schedule work and activities
Guide, direct, and motivate others
Evaluate information against standards
Coach others
Establish and maintain relationships
Judge the value of objects, services, or people
Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
Provide advice and consultation to others
Coordinate the work and activities of others
Perform administrative tasks
Control machines and processes

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, biologists:

Interpersonal relationships

Have a moderate level of social contact. Biologists often work alone while collecting and analyzing data.
Are not usually responsible for others health and safety. However, microbiologists working with viruses and bacteria are greatly responsible for the health and safety of coworkers.
Are responsible for the work outcomes and results of the technicians and students they supervise.
Understand that it is very important to work cooperatively on teams.
Communicate with other scientists daily by phone, e-mail, or in person.

Physical work conditions

Work indoors in laboratories. However, wildlife biologists do fieldwork outdoors.
Wear protective gear when working with hazardous materials or animals.
Are sometimes exposed to contaminants, such as toxic chemicals. However, the use of safety equipment and procedures greatly reduces the chance of injury.
Microbiologists are exposed daily to diseases or dangerous organisms. Safety procedures and protective clothing reduce the risk of getting sick.

Work performance

Must be sure that all details of the job are completed.
Must be very exact in their work and follow precise steps in their observations. Errors could ruin months of work or endanger the environment.
Meet strict deadlines weekly.
Often make decisions that strongly affect their coworkers.
Can set some tasks and goals and make most decisions without talking to a supervisor.

Hours/travel

Usually work a standard 40-hour work week.
May travel to remote areas and live in primitive conditions while conducting studies. This mainly applies to wildlife biologists.

Physical demands

Biologists frequently:

Sit for long periods of time.
Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.

It is important for biologists to be able to:

See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Understand the speech of another person.
See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for biologists to be able to:

See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
Determine the distance between objects.
Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.

Skills and abilities

Biologists need to:

Communicate

Understand written information.
Read and understand work-related materials.
Write clearly so other people can understand.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Understand spoken information.
Listen to others and ask questions.

Reason and problem solve

Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
Develop rules that group items in various ways.
Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Think of new ideas about a topic.
Recognize the nature of a problem.
Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
Identify what must be changed to reach goals.

Use math and science

Use scientific methods to solve problems.
Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.
Use math skills to solve problems.
Add, subtract, multiply, and divide quickly and correctly.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

Check how well one is learning or doing something.
Motivate, develop, and direct people as they work.
Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
Teach others how to do something.
Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
Change behavior in relation to others' actions.

Perceive and visualize

Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.
Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

Other programs of study to consider

Training

To work as a biologist, you typically need to:

have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
have at least a bachelor's degree in a biological science.

Education after high school

With a bachelor's degree in biology you can be a research assistant. You usually need a master's degree in biology for jobs in applied research. In biology, you study life science, chemistry, math, and computer science. You also learn to work in a lab and use computerized equipment.

You must have a doctoral degree (PhD) to lead research projects or teach at a college or university. When working on your doctoral degree you focus on an area of biology, such as microbiology or botany.

Many colleges and universities have bachelor's degree programs in biology. Fewer have doctoral and master's programs.

On-the-job training

Biologists may spend six months to a year doing on-the-job training. You learn about equipment, procedures, and goals of the lab you are working in.

Work experience

After completing a doctoral degree, some biologists work as postdoctoral fellows (postdocs). These university positions last for several years. Postdocs get experience working with other biologists. This research can lead to a teaching or research job at a university.

Military training

The military provides advanced training for some types of life scientists. However, it does not provide the training to become a biologist.

Helpful high school courses

In high school, take classes that prepare you for college. A college preparatory curriculum may be different from your state's graduation requirements. Biologists need a strong background in math and science. Take as many of these courses as possible.

You should also consider taking some advanced courses in high school. This includes Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses if they are available in your school. If you do well in these courses, you may receive college credit for them. Advanced courses can also strengthen your college application.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

Anatomy and Physiology
Computer Applications

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Many employers look for applicants who have computer experience. They prefer to hire biologists who can apply computer skills to research tasks and operation of lab equipment. Employers in research and development often look for applicants who can work well as part of a team. They look for applicants with leadership skills and good oral and written skills.

Employers generally prefer applicants who have experience in the field of biology. Students can gain experience in college laboratories or through internships in industry. Many employers, especially in research, prefer to hire applicants with a PhD or at least a master's degree. Universities choose candidates based on their area of research and the quality of their published articles.

A bachelor's degree and field experience are the minimum requirements for jobs such as research assistant and laboratory technician.

Obtaining the broadest possible undergraduate background in biology and other sciences is helpful. Courses in computer science, physics, economics, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, or business administration during high school and college are very important. Most people interested in a career in this field should plan to obtain an advanced degree. However, for those who wish to work in natural resource management, practical field experience is often more important than a graduate degree.

Tips

People considering entering the biological sciences, particularly those in high school or at the undergraduate level, should gain experience through volunteer work or part-time employment working with plants or animals, such as in nurseries, hospitals, or university research programs. Younger people might explore opportunities in 4-H.

Since many positions are not advertised, meeting people in the field is very important. Attending professional meetings is one way to make contacts and obtain current information. Be willing to move to jobs in remote areas to get experience. This field changes very rapidly. You have to be flexible and ready to grow as it changes. Combining biology with math-oriented specialties like bioinformatics or business-oriented specialties like biotechnology will make you more employable.

Costs to workers

After entering this field, a worker may wish to join a professional association, which pertains to his or her area of specialization. Most associations have annual dues. Biologists may wish to subscribe to professional journals. Workers may have to pay tuition costs for continuing education.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website (external link) .

Wages

Biochemists and biophysicists (SOC 19-1021)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	$21.17	$26.09	$32.56	$41.21	$51.55
	Monthly	$3,669	$4,521	$5,643	$7,142	$8,934
	Yearly	$44,040	$54,260	$67,730	$85,710	$107,220
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	$20.71	$24.89	$31.30	$37.56	$46.31
	Monthly	$3,589	$4,313	$5,424	$6,509	$8,026
	Yearly	$43,083	$51,770	$65,104	$78,126	$96,322
Vancouver	Hourly	$39.67	$42.39	$46.94	$80.40	$93.21
	Monthly	$6,875	$7,346	$8,135	$13,933	$16,153
	Yearly	$82,510	$88,171	$97,651	$167,219	$193,861
United States	Hourly	$23.67	$30.88	$44.85	$62.48	$85.42
	Monthly	$4,102	$5,352	$7,773	$10,828	$14,803
	Yearly	$49,230	$64,230	$93,280	$129,950	$177,680

Biological scientists, all other (SOC 19-1029)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	$24.14	$29.80	$38.26	$45.86	$58.19
	Monthly	$4,183	$5,164	$6,630	$7,948	$10,084
	Yearly	$50,220	$61,980	$79,590	$95,390	$121,030
Bremerton-Silverdale	Hourly	$29.96	$37.02	$44.10	$48.73	$58.26
	Monthly	$5,192	$6,416	$7,643	$8,445	$10,096
	Yearly	$62,312	$77,000	$91,744	$101,366	$121,180
Olympia-Tumwater	Hourly	$29.53	$33.56	$37.02	$48.01	$50.61
	Monthly	$5,118	$5,816	$6,416	$8,320	$8,771
	Yearly	$61,406	$69,809	$77,009	$99,857	$105,254
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	$23.77	$29.52	$39.09	$49.36	$63.18
	Monthly	$4,119	$5,116	$6,774	$8,554	$10,949
	Yearly	$49,428	$61,395	$81,308	$102,677	$131,423
Spokane-Spokane Valley	Hourly	$28.04	$31.95	$37.09	$41.87	$45.47
	Monthly	$4,859	$5,537	$6,428	$7,256	$7,880
	Yearly	$58,329	$66,440	$77,148	$87,092	$94,570
Vancouver	Hourly	$27.16	$34.98	$41.94	$48.29	$53.84
	Monthly	$4,707	$6,062	$7,268	$8,369	$9,330
	Yearly	$56,499	$72,761	$87,223	$100,429	$111,992
United States	Hourly	$21.65	$28.97	$38.27	$47.13	$60.76
	Monthly	$3,752	$5,021	$6,632	$8,168	$10,530
	Yearly	$45,030	$60,250	$79,590	$98,040	$126,390

Microbiologists (SOC 19-1022)

Location	Pay Period
Location	Pay Period	10%	25%	Median	75%	90%
Washington	Hourly	$18.87	$23.90	$34.56	$44.64	$58.52
	Monthly	$3,270	$4,142	$5,989	$7,736	$10,142
	Yearly	$39,260	$49,700	$71,880	$92,850	$121,730
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue	Hourly	$21.50	$25.70	$36.10	$45.41	$59.03
	Monthly	$3,726	$4,454	$6,256	$7,870	$10,230
	Yearly	$44,723	$53,446	$75,084	$94,455	$122,778
Vancouver	Hourly	$16.94	$18.96	$27.63	$35.05	$43.15
	Monthly	$2,936	$3,286	$4,788	$6,074	$7,478
	Yearly	$35,227	$39,442	$57,480	$72,901	$89,740
United States	Hourly	$20.11	$24.88	$34.45	$50.91	$64.21
	Monthly	$3,485	$4,312	$5,970	$8,823	$11,128
	Yearly	$41,820	$51,740	$71,650	$105,890	$133,550

Wages for biologists vary by subject area. Wages also vary by level of education. Biologists who have a master's degree earn more than those who have a bachelor's degree. Those who have a PhD earn more than those who have a master's degree. In general, salaries are highest for those working in private industry and lowest for those working for colleges or universities.

Biologists who work full time usually receive benefits. Typical benefits include sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance. Some employers also provide a retirement plan.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings. These figures do not include biologists who teach at colleges or universities.

Biochemists and Biophysicists (SOC 19-1021)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	352	15.1%	16.1%	43
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	22	4.5%	13.4%	2
King County	244	17.6%	19.6%	31
Snohomish County	12	25.0%	12.4%	1
United States	30,400	6.3%	5.2%	3,100

Biological Scientists, All Other (SOC 19-1029)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	1,307	9.8%	16.1%	141
Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties	51	0.0%	13.4%	4
Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties	104	4.8%	8.6%	10
Benton and Franklin Counties	61	8.2%	15.0%	6
Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties	19	5.3%	11.9%	2
Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties	22	9.1%	15.2%	2
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	87	3.4%	14.1%	8
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	79	20.3%	14.6%	10
King County	720	13.8%	19.6%	85
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	24	0.0%	13.8%	2
Pierce County	13	7.7%	15.2%	1
Snohomish County	18	11.1%	12.4%	2
Spokane County	36	5.6%	13.9%	3
United States	47,100	5.7%	5.2%	4,700

Microbiologists (SOC 19-1022)

		This occupation	All occupations
Location	Current employment	Growth over 10 years		Annual openings
Washington	384	8.9%	16.1%	41
Asotin, Columbia, Ferry, Garfield, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Walla Walla, and Whitman Counties	23	4.3%	8.6%	2
Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap Counties	11	0.0%	11.9%	1
Clark, Cowlitz, and Wahkiakum Counties	18	11.1%	15.2%	2
Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston Counties	35	2.9%	14.1%	3
Island, San Juan, Skagit, and Whatcom Counties	10	0.0%	14.6%	1
King County	207	10.6%	19.6%	22
Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania, and Yakima Counties	21	4.8%	13.8%	2
Pierce County	16	6.3%	15.2%	2
Snohomish County	54	7.4%	12.4%	5
United States	21,700	4.6%	5.2%	2,100

National employment

Major employers:

Research and testing firms
Drug manufacturing firms
Colleges and universities

National outlook

Growth is expected to be about as fast as average. There will be strong competition for basic and applied research positions. Federal funding for basic research has grown. However, at the same time, the number of newly trained scientists has increased. Thus, the job market for research positions and research funding will remain competitive.

Drug manufacturing firms should continue to create new jobs for biologists. Biologists will also have a good chance of finding work at biotechnology firms. They will be needed to correct environmental problems, such as the negative effects of pesticide use. Some will find opportunities in environmental regulatory agencies.

Job prospects will be best for those with advanced degrees.

Other resources

American Association for the Advancement of Science
1200 New York Ave, NW
Washington,DC20005

American Fisheries Society
425 Barlow Place, Suite 110
Bethesda, MD 20814-2144
301.897.8616

American Institute of Biological Sciences
1800 Alexander Bell Drive, Suite 400
Reston, VA 20191
703.674.2500

American Institute of Fishery Research Biologists

American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
11200 Rockville Pike
Ste 302
Rockville, MD 20852-3110
240.283.6600

American Society for Cell Biology

American Society for Microbiology
1752 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
202.737.3600

American Society for Microbiology Podcasts

American Society for Virology

American Society of Agronomy
5585 Guilford Road
Madison, WI 53711
608.273.8080

American Society of Mammalogists

American Society of Plant Biologists

Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography

Association of Field Ornithologists

Bioinformatics Organization

Bio-Link

Biophysical Society
5515 Security Lane, Suite 1110
Rockville, MD 20852
240.290.5600

Botanical Society of America
4344 Shaw Blvd
St. Louis, MO 63110
314.577.9566

Careers in Biotechnology

Careers in Botany
(from The Botanical Society of America)

Careers in the Aquatic Sciences
(from the Association for the Sciences of Liminology and Oceanography)

Careers in the Biological Sciences
From the American Institute of Biological Sciences

Council for Agricultural Science and Technology
4420 West Lincoln Way
Ames, IA 50014
515.292.2125

Ecological Society of America
1990 M Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
202.833.8773

Entomological Society of America
3 Park Place, Suite 307
Annapolis, MD 21401
301.731.4535

Explore Ecology as a Career

Genetics Education Center (University of Kansas Medical Center)

Genetics Society of America
6120 Executive Boulevard, Suite 550
Rockville, MD 20852

Life Science Washington
188 East Blaine Street
Suite 150
Seattle, WA 98102
206.456.9567

Marinecareers.net

National Academy of Sciences Interviews

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Room 5128
Washington, DC 20230
202.482.6090

National Science Foundation
2415 Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria, Virginia 2231

Profiles in Ocean Careers

Science Careers

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Seaweb Aquaculture Clearing House

Society for Developmental Biology
6120 Executive Blvd, Suite 725
Rockville, MD 20852,

Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics
3600 Market Street, 6th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215.382.9800

Society for Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
3929 Old Lee Highway, Suite 92A
Fairfax, VA 22030-2421
703.691.3357

Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
950 Herndon Parkway, Suite 450
Herndon, VA 20170
800.955.1236
703.790.1745

Society for Neuroscience
1121 14th Street NW, Suite 1010
Washington, DC 20005

Society for Range Management
6901 South Pierce Street, Suite 230
Littleton, CO 80128
303.986.3309

The American Physiological Society
9650 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.634.7164

The Wildlife Society
425 Barlow Place, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814
301.897.9770

United States Environmental Protection Agency

Washington State Science & Engineering Fair

You're a what? Mycologist
U.S.Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Outlook, December 2019

References

Career cluster

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Career path

Investigative (Science)

O*Net occupations

O*Net job zone

Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience.

DOT occupations

Strong Interest Inventory

Biologist

Holland occupational clusters

Investigative/Artistic/Realistic
Investigative/Realistic/Conventional

COPSystem

Science Professional