Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology
Biological & Biomedical Sciences
Median earnings by degree level
| Degree | Median earnings | Typical range | Schools | Clear the bar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree | $48,592 | $42,052 to $53,278 | 71 | 85% |
| Master's Degree | $82,419 | $66,516 to $95,714 | 26 | 100% |
| Doctoral Degree | $90,675 | $76,183 to $113,327 | 9 | 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 70,300 openings a year across the occupations this field commonly leads to.
| Occupation | Median pay | Growth | Openings/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | $107,310 | +17.9% | 24,900 |
| 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 ecology, evolution, systematics, and population biology program, of 303 that report one. Ordered by number of completions only: this is where people study it, not a judgement about where to.
- Columbia University in the City of New York
- Boston University
- Harvard University
- University of Miami
- Texas A&M University-College Station
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of California-San Diego
- University of Washington-Seattle Campus
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.