Biological scientists, all other salary
| Measure | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $60,430 | $29.05 |
| Median (50th percentile) | $98,920 | $47.56 |
| Mean (average) | $106,330 | $51.12 |
| 90th percentile | $168,010 | $80.77 |
These wages describe everyone employed in the occupation, from new entrants to experienced workers. They are not starting salaries and not earnings of graduates from any particular program. Verified data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, National. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Biological scientists, all other pay by state and metro area
AK$107KME$105KVT$78.0KNH$83.7KWA$108KID$83.3KMT$91.6KNDMN$76.4KIL$82.6KWI$78.5KMI$81.5KNY$104KRI$102KMA$107KOR$86.3KNV$74.2KWY$91.6KSD$73.9KIA$82.7KIN$84.6KOH$95.6KPA$101KNJ$105KCT$112KCA$114KUT$93.3KCO$94.0KNE$82.8KMO$63.3KKY$79.4KWV$84.6KVA$96.0KMD$122KDE$113KAZ$90.3KNM$84.1KKS$76.4KAR$76.4KTN$80.5KNC$100KSC$91.6KDC$84.6KOK$80.0KLA$69.6KMS$91.2KAL$87.3KGA$96.8KHI$95.6KTX$80.9KFL$83.8K
$63.3K$122K
Table: median wage and employment for all 52 states and territories
| State | Median | 10th pct | 90th pct | Employment | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $87,260 | $61,620 | $116,900 | 340 | 0.44 |
| Alaska | $106,870 | $71,390 | $130,270 | 370 | 3.14 |
| Arizona | $90,290 | $62,420 | $114,580 | 760 | 0.65 |
| Arkansas | $76,400 | $41,910 | $112,400 | 360 | 0.78 |
| California | $113,530 | $69,770 | $189,710 | 11,880 | 1.82 |
| Colorado | $93,970 | $63,930 | $128,440 | 850 | 0.82 |
| Connecticut | $111,940 | $68,950 | $187,060 | 170 | 0.28 |
| Delaware | $113,400 | $67,330 | $159,570 | ||
| District of Columbia | $84,590 | $51,510 | $211,910 | 850 | 3.39 |
| Florida | $83,780 | $43,680 | $119,540 | 1,920 | 0.54 |
| Georgia | $96,820 | $66,380 | $122,570 | 1,230 | 0.7 |
| Guam | $78,850 | $54,870 | $100,420 | 50 | 1.98 |
| Hawaii | $95,600 | $74,530 | $120,270 | 370 | 1.63 |
| Idaho | $83,320 | $49,940 | $109,300 | 430 | 1.41 |
| Illinois | $82,640 | $56,520 | $134,530 | 1,300 | 0.59 |
| Indiana | $84,570 | $55,240 | $173,010 | 640 | 0.56 |
| Iowa | $82,720 | $51,910 | $117,440 | 550 | 0.98 |
| Kansas | $76,400 | $51,150 | $130,100 | 760 | 1.47 |
| Kentucky | $79,400 | $52,020 | $109,300 | 260 | 0.36 |
| Louisiana | $69,590 | $42,390 | $106,330 | 580 | 0.83 |
| Maine | $104,570 | $70,680 | $142,650 | 340 | 1.49 |
| Maryland | $121,680 | $75,240 | $195,000 | 4,970 | 5.01 |
| Massachusetts | $107,100 | $69,500 | $194,050 | 2,930 | 2.24 |
| Michigan | $81,540 | $50,200 | $127,830 | 860 | 0.54 |
| Minnesota | $76,400 | $44,600 | $119,160 | 750 | 0.71 |
| Mississippi | $91,170 | $41,660 | $161,890 | 320 | 0.76 |
| Missouri | $63,290 | $42,540 | $122,050 | 1,120 | 1.07 |
| Montana | $91,560 | $60,830 | $113,610 | 550 | 3.02 |
| Nebraska | $82,770 | $51,290 | $132,830 | 240 | 0.65 |
| Nevada | $74,210 | $55,460 | $104,020 | 410 | 0.74 |
| New Hampshire | $83,740 | $63,790 | $131,750 | 310 | 1.28 |
| New Jersey | $104,750 | $72,010 | $161,660 | 540 | 0.35 |
| New Mexico | $84,120 | $50,960 | $110,470 | 420 | 1.34 |
| New York | $104,120 | $67,030 | $169,890 | 2,520 | 0.72 |
| North Carolina | $100,070 | $65,460 | $152,170 | 2,780 | 1.56 |
| Ohio | $95,560 | $52,120 | $157,920 | 610 | 0.31 |
| Oklahoma | $79,950 | $49,940 | $110,670 | 300 | 0.49 |
| Oregon | $86,260 | $60,380 | $120,950 | 700 | 0.99 |
| Pennsylvania | $100,780 | $63,790 | $164,940 | 1,810 | 0.83 |
| Puerto Rico | $76,400 | $40,900 | $109,300 | 260 | 0.77 |
| Rhode Island | $101,750 | $82,540 | $159,600 | 100 | 0.56 |
| South Carolina | $91,560 | $63,130 | $161,260 | 240 | 0.29 |
| South Dakota | $73,920 | $49,940 | $100,420 | 170 | 1.03 |
| Tennessee | $80,500 | $44,070 | $109,300 | 420 | 0.35 |
| Texas | $80,870 | $49,940 | $126,050 | 2,480 | 0.49 |
| Utah | $93,250 | $64,160 | $135,190 | 590 | 0.95 |
| Vermont | $77,960 | $49,940 | $109,300 | 90 | 0.84 |
| Virginia | $96,030 | $64,650 | $151,100 | 1,650 | 1.11 |
| Washington | $108,110 | $72,040 | $172,800 | 2,620 | 2.05 |
| West Virginia | $84,590 | $58,640 | $112,260 | 230 | 0.91 |
| Wisconsin | $78,480 | $61,760 | $108,120 | 740 | 0.7 |
| Wyoming | $91,560 | $63,130 | $109,300 | 170 | 1.7 |
A location quotient above 1 means the occupation is more concentrated in that state than in the nation overall.
Metro areas with the most jobs
Highest paying metro areas
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, State. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Metropolitan areas. May 2025 reference period. Published April 30, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Job outlook for biological scientists, all other
- Average annual openings, 2025 to 2035: 4,300. Openings include new jobs plus replacement needs when workers retire or leave the occupation. Official projection
- Share of workers who are self-employed (2025): 1.5%.
These are official BLS projections. ConnectPrep does not alter them or present its own forecasts as official statistics.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Table 1.2: Occupational projections, 2025-35, and worker characteristics, 2025. Base year 2025, projected year 2035. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Education and training for biological scientists, all other
- Typical entry education
- Bachelor's degree
- Related work experience
- None
- On-the-job training
- None
Highest education of people working in this occupation
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, Education and training tables 5.1 to 5.4. Attainment 2023-24 (ACS); wages 2025; projections 2025-35. Published August 27, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Degrees and programs that lead to this career
Programs officially mapped to this occupation in the NCES and BLS CIP to SOC crosswalk. A mapping means the program commonly prepares students for the occupation, not that every graduate works in it. Official crosswalk
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General CIP 26.0101
- Molecular Biology CIP 26.0204
- Structural Biology CIP 26.0207
- Photobiology CIP 26.0208
- Radiation Biology/Radiobiology CIP 26.0209
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology CIP 26.0210
- Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other CIP 26.0299
- Botany/Plant Biology CIP 26.0301
- Plant Pathology/Phytopathology CIP 26.0305
- Plant Physiology CIP 26.0307
- Plant Molecular Biology CIP 26.0308
- Botany/Plant Biology, Other CIP 26.0399
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology CIP 26.0401
- Anatomy CIP 26.0403
- Developmental Biology and Embryology CIP 26.0404
- Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology CIP 26.0406
- Cell Biology and Anatomy CIP 26.0407
- Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other CIP 26.0499
- Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology CIP 26.0503
- Virology CIP 26.0504
- Parasitology CIP 26.0505
- Mycology CIP 26.0506
- Immunology CIP 26.0507
- Microbiology and Immunology CIP 26.0508
- Infectious Disease and Global Health CIP 26.0509
- Entomology CIP 26.0702
- Animal Physiology CIP 26.0707
- Genetics, General CIP 26.0801
- Molecular Genetics CIP 26.0802
- Microbial and Eukaryotic Genetics CIP 26.0803
Source: National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 Crosswalk. CIP 2020 and SOC 2018 taxonomies. Published April 30, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Skills, knowledge, and daily work
Most important skills
Most important knowledge areas
This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ConnectPrep has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Source: National Center for O*NET Development for USDOL/ETA, O*NET 31.0 Database (August 2026 release). Database release 31.0, August 2026; element dates vary by occupation. Published August 25, 2026. Retrieved October 18, 2026. Methodology.
Is it worth it? Model the cost of getting there
Use the ROI calculator to compare the cost of the education this career usually requires against staying on your current path. It starts from the official wage distribution above, and you can change every assumption.
Frequently asked questions
How much do biological scientists, all other make?
The national median annual wage for biological scientists, all other was $98,920 in May 2025, according to the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics program. The lowest paid 10 percent earned less than $60,430 and the highest paid 10 percent earned more than $168,010. These figures cover all workers in the occupation, not only new entrants.
What education do biological scientists, all other need?
BLS lists bachelor's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation, with none of related work experience and none on-the-job training typically needed to become competent.
Is biological scientists, all other a growing career?
BLS projects employment of biological scientists, all other to change +4.7% from 2025 to 2035, compared with +3.5% for all occupations. About 4,300 openings are projected each year on average, including openings from workers who retire or change occupations.
Which states pay biological scientists, all other the most?
By median annual wage in May 2025, the highest paying states were Maryland ($121,680), California ($113,530), Delaware ($113,400). Pay differences partly reflect differences in living costs.