Life, Physical & Social Science
Biologists
Also called: Aquatic Biologist, Biological Scientist, Biologist, Botanist
US median pay
$98,920
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+4.7%
about average or slower
Openings a year (US)
4,300
59,600 employed
Typical entry education
Bachelor's degree
Preparation 5/5 · Extensive preparation
What this job is
Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.
What they do day to day
- Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
- Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.
- Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
- 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.
- Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.
- 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.
- Review reports and proposals, such as those relating to land use classifications and recreational development, for accuracy, adequacy, or adherence to policies, regulations, or scientific standards.
- Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.
- Teach or supervise students and perform research at universities and colleges.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making3.8/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.8/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Systems Evaluation3.0/5
- Systems Analysis3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.0/5
- Programming3.0/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.0/5
Knowledge
- Biology5.0/5
- Education and Training4.2/5
- English Language4.1/5
- Mathematics3.6/5
- Administration and Management3.4/5
- Chemistry3.4/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 5 of 5 — Extensive preparation. Usually a graduate degree (master's, PhD, MD, JD) and extensive experience.
Typical entry education (BLS): Bachelor's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Master's degree55%
- Bachelor's degree23%
- Post-doctoral training22%
Who this job suits
Mostly Investigative
Ideas, research and solving problems
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.