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What kinds of careers can I do if I major in biological science?
I am interested in biology and chemistry, and currently thinking about major in biological science, but this major has a wide range of occupations, I do want to know some of the popular and specific careers and what are their average annual income?
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Kathleen’s Answer
Greetings! As you see from the previous reply there are many options. It always strikes me that laboratory medicine is overlooked. It's not always the highest paid option, but is fascinating and critical to making accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans. And you will not have difficulty finding a job anywhere!
Best to you,
Kathie
Best to you,
Kathie
Updated
bill’s Answer
ok lets see your interest in biological sciences can take you to many different careers most in medicine or alternative medicine other fields outside of medicine such as marine biology , veterinary medicine but again thats medicine 1st thing you have to do is find something that interests you or excites you or fits your attitude or personality the most lucrative of those is general medicine M.D, D.O. DDS, DMD others not as great as to what kind of money you make BUT might suit you better mentally and physically or emotionally these are more important than money so look into things that interest you 1st before you make any deciesions some of these careers take more schooling and money to get thru so thats an issue you have to face if you like school or hate it if you have money to get thru or rely on student loans anyway you have a long and winding road ahead of you think it over and as Einstein did sleep on it contemplation is the best way to decide take your time take lots of different sciences along the way you may find something that suits you in all ways dont be hasty or just think about money your happiness is the most important thing especially since you ll be doing IT for 40 or more years GOOD LUCK
Updated
Thirada’s Answer
Hello! I was a neuroscience major in college, so I'll tell you what my friends in the life sciences majors were planning for their careers.
1) Healthcare-related
The most popular thing is to go to medical school after your bachelor's degree and become a doctor. You can also do a MD/PhD, which is an 8-year program that gives you both an MD and a PhD. However, I had friends who were pharmacy majors, who became pharmacists after doing a 6-year pharmacy program. I also had friend who were nursing majors, and became nurses after their 4-year bachelor's degree finished. I knew people who went to PA school after undergrad to become a physician's assistant. Finally, there was a friend who went to nursing school after undergrad to become a nurse practitioner (this is different from the undergrad nursing program, but I don't know the details). You'll have to search up the income for each of these professions, but from what I know, certain types of doctors make more money than others. My nursing friend also said that traveling nurses make more money, but I don't know much about income in healthcare professions.
2) Research
There are many ways for you to be a full time researcher. The main ways are: biotechnology company (or other science company), academia (working in a university lab), doing research in a hospital setting, working at a government institute for science research, etc. Out of these, I've had some experience working at university labs, and at a biotech company. The biotech company pays more, and the research will be directly related to developing drugs/treatments that the company wants to sell. University labs usually do basic science research that doesn't have to do with disease or treatment. These basic science labs are more interested in how biological systems work, rather than how to cure a disease. However, there are university labs that investigate disease states, and these labs might have connections with a biotech company (for example, Klein lab at Northwestern University has connections with Acumen Pharmaceuticals company). You can do a masters or PhD in one of these labs and then switch to biotech afterward. People who stay in academia get a PhD, do a postdoc, and then apply for faculty positions. They basically become a professor and run their own lab at a university.
3) Other biotech roles/Industry
At biotech companies, you don't have to do research. You can do business-related roles. I don't know much about this, but just know that there are things you can do in industry with your science degree.
4) Consulting/business
Some people go into life sciences consulting. This is where you use your knowledge (and skills of looking up info) to advise businesses/clients about their projects. If I remember correctly, consulting pays more than research does. In general, if you want to make lots of money, business is probably your best bet. I've also heard that people start their own science-related company. For example, one guy was a biology major in college, and he created a bee company that puts bee hives in people's gardens so they can harvest fresh honey.
5) Science journalism
One person told me that she traveled around the world writing science-related articles as a full time job. This sounds interesting if you like to travel.
I hope this gives you some inspiration! I'm sorry I don't know much about income specifically, but you should be able to search it up. Keep in mind that the degrees you have will impact your pay. For example, having a masters or PhD will get you a higher pay than just a bachelor's, but PhDs take 5 years or more, which is why it might not be worth the investment for some people. It's all case by case, depending on what kind of career you want. I encourage you to seek out more information and talk to people who are doing these careers you're interested in. Good luck!
1) Healthcare-related
The most popular thing is to go to medical school after your bachelor's degree and become a doctor. You can also do a MD/PhD, which is an 8-year program that gives you both an MD and a PhD. However, I had friends who were pharmacy majors, who became pharmacists after doing a 6-year pharmacy program. I also had friend who were nursing majors, and became nurses after their 4-year bachelor's degree finished. I knew people who went to PA school after undergrad to become a physician's assistant. Finally, there was a friend who went to nursing school after undergrad to become a nurse practitioner (this is different from the undergrad nursing program, but I don't know the details). You'll have to search up the income for each of these professions, but from what I know, certain types of doctors make more money than others. My nursing friend also said that traveling nurses make more money, but I don't know much about income in healthcare professions.
2) Research
There are many ways for you to be a full time researcher. The main ways are: biotechnology company (or other science company), academia (working in a university lab), doing research in a hospital setting, working at a government institute for science research, etc. Out of these, I've had some experience working at university labs, and at a biotech company. The biotech company pays more, and the research will be directly related to developing drugs/treatments that the company wants to sell. University labs usually do basic science research that doesn't have to do with disease or treatment. These basic science labs are more interested in how biological systems work, rather than how to cure a disease. However, there are university labs that investigate disease states, and these labs might have connections with a biotech company (for example, Klein lab at Northwestern University has connections with Acumen Pharmaceuticals company). You can do a masters or PhD in one of these labs and then switch to biotech afterward. People who stay in academia get a PhD, do a postdoc, and then apply for faculty positions. They basically become a professor and run their own lab at a university.
3) Other biotech roles/Industry
At biotech companies, you don't have to do research. You can do business-related roles. I don't know much about this, but just know that there are things you can do in industry with your science degree.
4) Consulting/business
Some people go into life sciences consulting. This is where you use your knowledge (and skills of looking up info) to advise businesses/clients about their projects. If I remember correctly, consulting pays more than research does. In general, if you want to make lots of money, business is probably your best bet. I've also heard that people start their own science-related company. For example, one guy was a biology major in college, and he created a bee company that puts bee hives in people's gardens so they can harvest fresh honey.
5) Science journalism
One person told me that she traveled around the world writing science-related articles as a full time job. This sounds interesting if you like to travel.
I hope this gives you some inspiration! I'm sorry I don't know much about income specifically, but you should be able to search it up. Keep in mind that the degrees you have will impact your pay. For example, having a masters or PhD will get you a higher pay than just a bachelor's, but PhDs take 5 years or more, which is why it might not be worth the investment for some people. It's all case by case, depending on what kind of career you want. I encourage you to seek out more information and talk to people who are doing these careers you're interested in. Good luck!
Updated
Mbah Wai-Tanyi’s Answer
Hello Yingjun!
Majoring in Biological Science offers diverse career paths. Here are popular and specific careers, average annual incomes (USD), and growth prospects:
Research and Academia
1. Research Scientist ($61,000 - $110,000)
2. Professor/Lecturer ($80,000 - $160,000)
3. Postdoctoral Researcher ($45,000 - $65,000)
Healthcare and Medicine
1. Clinical Research Coordinator ($55,000 - $80,000)
2. Medical Scientist ($80,000 - $150,000)
3. Pharmaceutical Researcher ($70,000 - $120,000)
4. Physician Assistant ($108,000 - $160,000)
5. Epidemiologist ($70,000 - $110,000)
Environmental and Conservation
1. Wildlife Biologist ($50,000 - $90,000)
2. Environmental Consultant ($60,000 - $100,000)
3. Conservation Biologist ($55,000 - $90,000)
4. Ecologist ($50,000 - $80,000)
Industry and Government
1. Biotechnology Researcher ($60,000 - $100,000)
2. Science Policy Advisor ($60,000 - $100,000)
3. Regulatory Affairs Specialist ($60,000 - $90,000)
4. Science Writer ($40,000 - $70,000)
Other Careers
1. Forensic Scientist ($50,000 - $80,000)
2. Science Teacher ($40,000 - $80,000)
3. Biomedical Engineer ($60,000 - $100,000)
4. Data Analyst ($50,000 - $80,000)
Factors Influencing Salary
1. Location (e.g., San Francisco tends to have higher salaries)
2. Experience
3. Education (Master's or Ph.D.)
4. Industry
5. Specialization
Growth Prospects
1. Biotechnology (10% - 15% growth)
2. Healthcare (10% - 15% growth)
3. Environmental Conservation (5% - 10% growth)
4. Research and Development (5% - 10% growth)
To maximize career opportunities:
1. Gain research experience.
2. Develop transferable skills (e.g., communication, data analysis).
3. Network.
4. Consider graduate studies.
5. Stay updated on industry trends.
You can explore more career paths and salaries on websites like:
1. National Science Foundation (NSF)
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
3. Glassdoor
4. LinkedIn
Best of luck with your Biological Science major, Yingjun!
Majoring in Biological Science offers diverse career paths. Here are popular and specific careers, average annual incomes (USD), and growth prospects:
Research and Academia
1. Research Scientist ($61,000 - $110,000)
2. Professor/Lecturer ($80,000 - $160,000)
3. Postdoctoral Researcher ($45,000 - $65,000)
Healthcare and Medicine
1. Clinical Research Coordinator ($55,000 - $80,000)
2. Medical Scientist ($80,000 - $150,000)
3. Pharmaceutical Researcher ($70,000 - $120,000)
4. Physician Assistant ($108,000 - $160,000)
5. Epidemiologist ($70,000 - $110,000)
Environmental and Conservation
1. Wildlife Biologist ($50,000 - $90,000)
2. Environmental Consultant ($60,000 - $100,000)
3. Conservation Biologist ($55,000 - $90,000)
4. Ecologist ($50,000 - $80,000)
Industry and Government
1. Biotechnology Researcher ($60,000 - $100,000)
2. Science Policy Advisor ($60,000 - $100,000)
3. Regulatory Affairs Specialist ($60,000 - $90,000)
4. Science Writer ($40,000 - $70,000)
Other Careers
1. Forensic Scientist ($50,000 - $80,000)
2. Science Teacher ($40,000 - $80,000)
3. Biomedical Engineer ($60,000 - $100,000)
4. Data Analyst ($50,000 - $80,000)
Factors Influencing Salary
1. Location (e.g., San Francisco tends to have higher salaries)
2. Experience
3. Education (Master's or Ph.D.)
4. Industry
5. Specialization
Growth Prospects
1. Biotechnology (10% - 15% growth)
2. Healthcare (10% - 15% growth)
3. Environmental Conservation (5% - 10% growth)
4. Research and Development (5% - 10% growth)
To maximize career opportunities:
1. Gain research experience.
2. Develop transferable skills (e.g., communication, data analysis).
3. Network.
4. Consider graduate studies.
5. Stay updated on industry trends.
You can explore more career paths and salaries on websites like:
1. National Science Foundation (NSF)
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
3. Glassdoor
4. LinkedIn
Best of luck with your Biological Science major, Yingjun!