Bioinformatics Scientists
Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. May design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic information, or other biological information.
Also called: Bioinformaticist · Bioinformatics Scientist · Research Associate · Research Scientist · Scientific Database Curator · Scientist
Median pay (national)
$93,330
$54,500–$159,780 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
59,710
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+1.2%
~4,800 openings/yr
Typical entry
Bachelor's degree
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for bioinformatics scientists shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $159,780 versus $54,500 at the bottom 10% — 2.9x. The median of $93,330 leaves roughly 71% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +1.2% from 2024 to 2034 — slower than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 4,800 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 53 states with released data, Connecticut pays the most for this role (median $120,880, +30% vs the national median), while Missouri sits lowest at $63,290 — a 91% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking, Active Listening as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list. On the tools side, O*NET flags Amazon Web Services AWS software, Bash, Bioconductor software, C as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Writing
- Science
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
- Monitoring
- Learning Strategies
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Communicate research results through conference presentations, scientific publications, or project reports.
- Consult with researchers to analyze problems, recommend technology-based solutions, or determine computational strategies.
- Keep abreast of new biochemistries, instrumentation, or software by reading scientific literature and attending professional conferences.
- Develop data models and databases.
- Manipulate publicly accessible, commercial, or proprietary genomic, proteomic, or post-genomic databases.
- Direct the work of technicians and information technology staff applying bioinformatics tools or applications in areas such as proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, or clinical bioinformatics.
- Develop new software applications or customize existing applications to meet specific scientific project needs.
- Create novel computational approaches and analytical tools as required by research goals.
- Analyze large molecular datasets, such as raw microarray data, genomic sequence data, or proteomics data, for clinical or basic research purposes.
- Compile data for use in activities, such as gene expression profiling, genome annotation, or structural bioinformatics.
Tools & technology
- Amazon Web Services AWS software
- Bash
- Bioconductor software
- C
- C++
- Docker
- Git
- GitHub
- Linux
- Oracle Java
- Perl
- Python
- R
- Snakemake
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
Knowledge areas
- Biology
- Computers and Electronics
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Chemistry
- Education and Training
- Administrative
- Engineering and Technology