Occupation · SOC 19-1029.04
Biologists
Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.
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
1,989 mapped
Core skills
ScienceWritingSpeakingReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive ListeningComplex Problem SolvingActive LearningMathematicsJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessInstructingSystems AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesLearning StrategiesCoordinationTime ManagementSystems EvaluationProgrammingPersuasionService OrientationNegotiationQuality Control AnalysisOperations MonitoringManagement of Material ResourcesTroubleshootingTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisManagement of Financial ResourcesOperation and ControlEquipment SelectionRepairingInstallationEquipment Maintenance
Knowledge areas
BiologyEnglish LanguageMathematicsChemistryLaw and GovernmentAdministration and ManagementCustomer and Personal ServiceComputers and ElectronicsGeographyAdministrativeEngineering and TechnologyPublic Safety and SecurityPersonnel and Human ResourcesCommunications and MediaEducation and TrainingPhysicsEconomics and AccountingSales and MarketingTransportationMechanicalSociology and AnthropologyBuilding and ConstructionPsychologyDesignProduction and ProcessingTelecommunicationsMedicine and DentistryHistory and ArcheologyPhilosophy and TheologyTherapy and CounselingForeign LanguageFine ArtsFood Production
Technology & tools
Adobe PhotoshopAgilent Technologies GeneSpring GXBLATBasic Local Alignment Search Tool BLASTBioKin PlateKiBlue Tractor Software DNADynamoC++CUBICDeoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequence analysis softwareEMBOSSESRI ArcGIS softwareEnzymeXExcavatorFASTAFoldXGene Codes SequencherGeographic information system GIS softwareIBM SPSS StatisticsIngenuity Systems Ingenuity Pathways AnalysisJaMBWJoint Prediction of Operons JPOPLinuxMacVectorMeyer Instruments OptimasMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WordMinitabNAMDNational Instruments LabVIEWOracle JavaPartek Incorporated Partek Genomics SuitePerlPhrapPhredProtein ExplorerPythonR
Representative tasks
Working with ComputersAnalyzing Data or InformationUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeProcessing InformationDocumenting/Recording InformationMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsGetting InformationInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkThinking CreativelyIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsScheduling Work and ActivitiesCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationTraining and Teaching OthersEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleCoaching and Developing OthersProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsPerforming General Physical ActivitiesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersDeveloping and Building TeamsMonitoring and Controlling ResourcesSelling or Influencing OthersHandling and Moving ObjectsStaffing Organizational UnitsControlling Machines and ProcessesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentAssisting and Caring for Others
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Biological data sets — collect and organize using established field protocols under faculty or senior scientist supervision in laboratory and field settings.Scientific software and spreadsheet tools — enter, process, and retrieve biological data under guidance within a research computing environment.Plant and animal specimens — identify and classify using taxonomic keys and reference literature under direct supervision in a natural history or ecology lab.Anatomical structures and physiological functions — describe and document basic principles of plant and animal life in supervised course-level or entry research contexts.Technical reports and research summaries — draft introductory sections and data tables following institutional templates under senior author direction.Peer-reviewed literature — read and summarize findings relevant to assigned research questions in academic or agency laboratory environments.Ecological relationships — recognize and record interactions among organisms and their environment during supervised field surveys.Geographic information system software — input spatial data and generate basic maps under direction to support biological field studies.Laboratory and field safety protocols — follow prescribed procedures for sample handling and equipment use in a university or government research facility.Research team meetings — listen actively and contribute observations during group debriefs in a collaborative biological research setting.
developing
Field and laboratory data — collect, quality-check, and analyze using analytical or scientific software with limited oversight on multiseason ecological studies.Species identification and distribution records — compile and interpret to characterize population structure and habitat associations across assigned study areas.Technical and environmental impact reports — write, revise, and finalize with minimal editorial oversight for submission to agency or industry clients.GIS platforms and database query tools — query, manipulate, and map biological datasets to support land-use assessment and resource management projects.Biological technicians and field assistants — coordinate day-to-day assignments and verify data quality on applied research or monitoring programs.Research findings — present to agency staff and informed public audiences using presentation and graphics software in regulatory or stakeholder contexts.Physiology, ecology, and behavior literature — critically evaluate and integrate into study designs for species of management concern.Interagency working groups and cooperative research partners — maintain regular communication and share interim findings to support coordinated management strategies.Statistical and modeling software — apply standard quantitative methods to test hypotheses about organism–environment relationships in academic or consulting environments.Draft project proposals and land-use classification reviews — assess for scientific accuracy and regulatory compliance before formal submission.
proficient
Complex biological datasets spanning multiple taxa and environments — analyze autonomously using advanced analytical software and custom scripts to generate publishable findings.Non-routine field conditions and ambiguous species identification challenges — resolve independently using expert taxonomic knowledge, ecological theory, and primary literature.Comprehensive technical and environmental impact reports — author and finalize for regulatory agencies, industry partners, and general public audiences with full scientific accountability.Biological monitoring programs — design, implement, and evaluate end-to-end, integrating GIS, remote sensing, and database systems in government or consulting contexts.Multidisciplinary research teams including technicians, technologists, and early-career scientists — supervise, mentor, and evaluate performance across the full project life cycle.Inter-organizational liaisons with agencies, industry, and community groups — negotiate cooperative management agreements and translate scientific findings into actionable recommendations.Quantitative ecological models and statistical frameworks — develop and validate to predict species distribution, population dynamics, or ecosystem function for applied management decisions.Proposals and land-use or recreational development reports — review critically for scientific rigor, regulatory adherence, and adequacy under tight agency or legal deadlines.Mathematical and chemical principles — integrate into study designs examining nutrient cycling, toxicology, or physiological ecology in cross-disciplinary research programs.Findings from long-term ecological studies — synthesize and communicate through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations to advance disciplinary knowledge.
advanced
Organizational research strategy and scientific priorities — set and champion across multi-year programs at institutional, agency, or industry scale, aligning with national biological objectives.Large cross-disciplinary research collaborations — lead as principal investigator, coordinating scientists, technologists, and external partners across government, academia, and private sectors.Emerging methodologies in biological data science, genomics, and remote sensing — evaluate, adopt, and institutionalize to keep organizational capabilities at the scientific frontier.Evidence-based policies on species management, land use, and environmental protection — inform and shape by synthesizing complex biological evidence for legislative and executive decision-makers.Institutional training programs and mentorship pipelines — design and sustain to develop the next generation of professional biologists across all career stages.High-stakes environmental impact assessments and regulatory reviews — provide definitive scientific authority and final approval within organizational governance structures.Strategic inter-agency and international partnerships — initiate and steward long-term cooperative frameworks that advance shared biological conservation or research missions.Organizational data management infrastructure and scientific computing standards — establish and oversee to ensure reproducibility, security, and long-term accessibility of biological research assets.Resource allocation, budget planning, and grant portfolio management — direct at divisional or programmatic scale to sustain robust biological research and monitoring operations.Public science communication campaigns and high-visibility stakeholder engagement — lead to translate complex biological research into policy influence and broad societal understanding.
Also known as
38 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Aquatic BiologistAquatic ScientistBioanalytical ScientistBiological Operations Scientist (Biological Ops Scientist)Biological ScientistBiologistBiology ScientistBotanistCell BiologistCell Culture ScientistClinical Laboratory Scientist (Clinical Lab Scientist)Clinical ResearcherComputational BiologistComputational ScientistDolphin ResearcherEndangered Species SpecialistEntomologistField BiologistFisheries and Wildlife BiologistFisheries BiologistForest BotanistMarine BiologistMarine ScientistMolecular Biology ScientistMolecular Research BiologistMycologistNematologistNeurobiologistNeurophysiologistOcean BiologistPhysiologistPostdoctoral Associate (Postdoc Associate)Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Postdoc Research Fellow)Rare Species SpecialistResearch BiologistResearch Fishery BiologistResearch ScientistScientist