Life, Physical & Social Science
Geneticists
Also called: Cardiovascular Geneticist, Medical Geneticist, Research Scientist, Scientist
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 and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders.
What they do day to day
- Supervise or direct the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working on genetics research projects.
- Plan or conduct basic genomic and biological research related to areas such as regulation of gene expression, protein interactions, metabolic networks, and nucleic acid or protein complexes.
- Prepare results of experimental findings for presentation at professional conferences or in scientific journals.
- Maintain laboratory notebooks that record research methods, procedures, and results.
- Write grants and papers or attend fundraising events to seek research funds.
- Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for genetic research goals.
- Review, approve, or interpret genetic laboratory results.
- Attend clinical and research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current genetic research findings.
- Evaluate genetic data by performing appropriate mathematical or statistical calculations and analyses.
- Analyze determinants responsible for specific inherited traits, and devise methods for altering traits or producing new traits.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Judgment and Decision Making4.0/5
- Complex Problem Solving4.0/5
- Instructing3.8/5
- Systems Analysis3.6/5
- Social Perceptiveness3.5/5
- Persuasion3.1/5
- Management of Personnel Resources3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
Knowledge
- Biology4.8/5
- English Language4.3/5
- Education and Training3.7/5
- Mathematics3.7/5
- Chemistry3.5/5
- Computers and Electronics3.0/5
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:
- Post-doctoral training36%
- Master's degree32%
- Doctoral degree20%
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.