Biologists
Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.
Also called: Aquatic Biologist · Biological Scientist · Biologist · Botanist · Fisheries and Wildlife Biologist · Fisheries Biologist
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 biologists 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 Science, Reading Comprehension, Writing 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 Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Python, R as in-demand technologies for this role.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Science
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Monitoring
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
- Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings.
- Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function.
- Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment.
- Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.
- Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work.
- Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences.
- Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
- Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
- Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Python
- R
- Adobe Photoshop
- C++
- ESRI ArcGIS software
- IBM SPSS Statistics
- Linux
- Oracle Java
- Perl
- Structured query language SQL
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- UNIX
- Agilent Technologies GeneSpring GX
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
Knowledge areas
- Biology
- Education and Training
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Administration and Management
- Chemistry
- Administrative
- Engineering and Technology