Occupation · SOC 19-1029
Biological Scientists, All Other
All biological scientists not listed separately.
Median wage
$93,330
$54,500–$159,780
Projected growth
+1.3%
Slower than average
Annual openings
80
per year
Employed (US)
59,710
Job Zone 5
Typical preparation
Extensive preparation
Stackable credential programs
1,984 mapped
Core skills
Reading ComprehensionActive ListeningCritical ThinkingSpeakingWritingComplex Problem SolvingJudgment and Decision MakingActive Learning
Knowledge areas
English LanguageMathematicsComputers and ElectronicsEducation and TrainingBiology
Technology & tools
Computer aided design CAD softwareGeographic information systemData base user interface and query softwareSpreadsheet softwareOffice suite software
Representative tasks
Maintain accurate laboratory records and data.Design molecular or cellular laboratory experiments, oversee their execution, and interpret results.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.Write grant applications to obtain funding.Maintain laboratory notebooks that record research methods, procedures, and results.Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for genetic research goals.Write grants and papers or attend fundraising events to seek research funds.Perform laboratory procedures following protocols including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing, cloning and extraction, ribonucleic acid (RNA) purification, or gel electrophoresis.Review, approve, or interpret genetic laboratory results.Develop new software applications or customize existing applications to meet specific scientific project needs.Attend clinical and research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current genetic research findings.Communicate research results through conference presentations, scientific publications, or project reports.Conduct research on cell organization and function, including mechanisms of gene expression, cellular bioinformatics, cell signaling, or cell differentiation.Create novel computational approaches and analytical tools as required by research goals.Prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or meeting presentations.Consult with researchers to analyze problems, recommend technology-based solutions, or determine computational strategies.Evaluate genetic data by performing appropriate mathematical or statistical calculations and analyses.Instruct undergraduate and graduate students within the areas of cellular or molecular biology.Direct, coordinate, organize, or prioritize biological laboratory activities.Analyze determinants responsible for specific inherited traits, and devise methods for altering traits or producing new traits.Extract deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or perform diagnostic tests involving processes such as gel electrophoresis, Southern blot analysis, and polymerase chain reaction analysis.Compile and analyze molecular or cellular experimental data and adjust experimental designs as necessary.Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.Evaluate new technologies to enhance or complement current research.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.Provide scientific direction for project teams regarding the evaluation or handling of devices, drugs, or cells for in vitro and in vivo disease models.Supervise technical personnel and postdoctoral research fellows.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.Analyze large molecular datasets, such as raw microarray data, genomic sequence data, or proteomics data, for clinical or basic research purposes.Keep abreast of new biochemistries, instrumentation, or software by reading scientific literature and attending professional conferences.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.Develop data models and databases.Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.Monitor or operate specialized equipment, such as gas chromatographs and high pressure liquid chromatographs, electrophoresis units, thermocyclers, fluorescence activated cell sorters, and phosphorimagers.
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Nutritional requirements of research animals — identify and document under direct supervision in a university or government laboratory setting.Scientific literature on animal feed materials — read and summarize comprehensively to support ongoing research projects at an advanced-degree entry level.Research findings on animal biology — compile and organize into draft written reports under the guidance of a senior investigator.Data collection protocols for feeding trials — follow precisely and record observations accurately in a controlled experimental facility.Database and spreadsheet software — enter, retrieve, and format biological research data under direction within a life sciences research environment.Active listening skills — apply during laboratory briefings and team meetings to accurately interpret complex methodological instructions from senior scientists.Geographic information system tools — operate at a basic level to map animal population or habitat data as directed on research projects.Sanitation and biosecurity protocols for animal housing — follow established procedures under supervision to maintain compliance in a research vivarium.Critical thinking — apply when reviewing experimental results to flag anomalies or inconsistencies for senior review in a biological research context.Presentation software — prepare introductory slide decks summarizing literature or preliminary data for internal laboratory meetings under supervisor guidance.
developing
Nutritive values of common animal feed materials — analyze and compare routinely using established assay methods in a research or agricultural testing laboratory.Research manuscripts and technical reports — draft and revise with reduced oversight to communicate findings to scientific and producer audiences.Animal feeding and husbandry practice improvements — propose evidence-based modifications based on review of current literature and trial data in production settings.Complex biological data sets — query, clean, and interpret using database and spreadsheet tools to support multi-phase research projects independently.Oral presentations of research results — deliver clearly to both scientific peers and agricultural producers at regional conferences or extension events.Parasite and disease control protocols — adapt and implement standard procedures for varying animal species and housing environments with limited supervision.Inductive reasoning — apply to identify emerging patterns across multiple feeding trials and draw preliminary conclusions for team discussion.Producer advisory communications — develop written guidance documents recommending improved animal production techniques based on completed research outcomes.Geographic information systems — use with proficiency to analyze spatial relationships in wildlife or livestock distribution studies across field sites.Active learning — pursue independently through professional development activities to integrate new methodologies into routine biological research practice.
proficient
Nutritional requirement models for diverse animal species — design and execute original research programs autonomously in academic, government, or industry research environments.Research findings — communicate authoritatively through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and public-facing materials directed at scientific and agricultural stakeholder audiences.Animal housing, feeding, and sanitation systems — evaluate comprehensively and develop improved practice frameworks addressing non-routine challenges across multiple production contexts.Producer advisory programs — lead independently, translating complex biological research into actionable recommendations that measurably enhance animal production outcomes.Complex problem solving — apply across full research scope to resolve novel experimental challenges involving disease control, nutrition, or environmental factors in animal populations.Multi-source biological data — integrate from databases, field studies, and laboratory assays to produce authoritative interpretations supporting regulatory or production decisions.Judgment and decision making — exercise autonomously when evaluating experimental design trade-offs, resource allocation, and ethical considerations in biological research programs.CAD and modeling software — utilize to design improved animal housing systems or experimental apparatus tailored to specific research and welfare requirements.Cross-disciplinary knowledge in chemistry, biology, and mathematics — synthesize to address complex questions about nutrient metabolism and feed composition in research programs.Mentorship of graduate students and junior scientists — provide structured guidance on research methodology, scientific writing, and professional development within research laboratories.
advanced
National or institutional research agenda for animal biological sciences — set strategic direction by identifying priority gaps and securing sustained funding from government and industry partners.Scientific communication strategy — lead organization-wide efforts to disseminate high-impact findings to research communities, policymakers, producers, and the public at national scale.Transformative improvements in animal production practices — champion adoption across industry sectors by synthesizing research programs, forging producer partnerships, and influencing policy frameworks.Senior scientific advisory function — serve authoritatively for agricultural agencies, industry boards, and international bodies on animal nutrition, disease control, and welfare standards.Large-scale interdisciplinary research programs — design and direct, integrating biology, chemistry, data science, and agricultural economics to solve systemic animal production challenges.Organizational research culture — cultivate intellectual curiosity, integrity, and rigorous attention to detail by modeling exemplary scientific standards and establishing institutional norms.Next-generation biological scientists — develop through doctoral mentorship, fellowship program leadership, and executive sponsorship of early-career researchers across the life sciences.Advanced analytical infrastructure — lead procurement, implementation, and governance of GIS platforms, research databases, and computational tools at an institutional or multi-site level.High-stakes judgment — exercise at the executive level when advising on outbreak response, regulatory submissions, or controversial animal production technologies with broad societal implications.Knowledge translation — orchestrate systematic conversion of research discoveries into extension education, producer training programs, and policy guidance that drives measurable industry improvement.
Also known as
21 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
AlgologistAstrobiologistBioanalystBioassayistBiologistBiomedical ScientistBotanistBryologistCollector of Aquarium SpecimensEmbryologistEtiologistMorphologistMycologistOlericulturistOsteologistPaleobotanistPhysiologistPhytopathologistPlant EtiologistPlant TaxonomistTaxonomist