Biology
Biological & Biomedical Sciences · federal classification: Biology, General
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Associate's Degree | $44,428 | $37,949 to $49,919 | 45 | 84% |
| Bachelor's Degree | $56,157 | $49,370 to $62,871 | 893 | 93% |
| Master's Degree | $62,526 | $46,208 to $73,520 | 84 | 87% |
| Doctoral Degree | $103,070 | $84,075 to $134,991 | 16 | 100% |
"Clear the bar" is the share of programs whose graduates out-earn a typical high-school graduate (the federal earnings-premium test). Typical range is the 25th to 75th percentile of program medians.
Job outlook
Projected employment growth +7% (2025 to 2035), about 110,600 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education | $72,040 | -0.2% | 63,500 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $103,410 | +12.6% | 10,500 |
| Biological Technicians | $57,510 | +7.4% | 9,400 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $167,220 | +8.2% | 9,200 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $84,620 | +7.3% | 4,700 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $98,920 | +4.7% | 4,300 |
Occupation pay and outlook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS wages, Employment Projections). A field maps to several occupations, and the same occupations serve many majors, so these are the jobs this major commonly leads to, not positions reserved for its graduates; the openings should not be added up across majors.
Where this is studied
The 8 colleges where the most students complete a biology program, of 1,706 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- University of South Florida
- Texas A&M University-College Station
- Arizona State University Campus Immersion
- Florida International University
- University of Central Florida
- University of California-Irvine
- Rutgers University-New Brunswick
- University of California-Riverside
Earnings source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (release 2026-06-10), median earnings of graduates measured up to four years after completing. Figures describe past graduates and are never a promise. Method: methodology. Report an error.