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Field of degree: Biology

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Biology field of degree. Employment: 3,524,740. Median annual wage: $71,000.

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Table 1. Biology degree, 2022
Data	Biology	All fields
Employment	3,524,740	62,187,580
Median wage	71,000	66,000
Percent employed part time	15	14
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	69	62
Percent with an advanced degree	59	38
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

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Chart 1. Types of biology, 2022
Biology majors	Major share
Biology	64%
Biochemical Sciences	8
Physiology	4
Molecular Biology	4
Microbiology	4
Other	15
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a biology degree, by occupational group, 2022.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a biology degree, by occupational group, 2022
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	34%
Management occupations	12
Life, physical, and social science occupations	11
Educational instruction and library occupations	9
Business and financial operations occupations	6
Other	28
Note: The sum of percents by major may not total 100 due to rounding. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a biology degree.

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Table 2. Top-employing occupations for workers with a biology degree
Occupational Outlook Handbook profile	Percent growth, projected 2023–33	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2022	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2022
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary	19%	Doctoral or professional degree	4%	72%
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists	11	Doctoral or professional degree	2	69
Managers, all other	6	Bachelor's degree	4	21
Registered nurses	6	Bachelor's degree	3	14
Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians	5	Bachelor's degree	2	10
Dentists, general	5	Doctoral or professional degree	3	100
Pharmacists	5	Doctoral or professional degree	3	73
Physicians, all other	4	Doctoral or professional degree	13	100
Physical scientists, all other	2	Bachelor's degree	4	68
Elementary school teachers, except special education	-1	Bachelor's degree	2	49
Note: Occupational profiles may comprise multiple SOC occupations, which may have differing education categories. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program (projected growth, entry-level education) and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (degree holders, advanced degrees).

Suggested citation:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Field of degree: Biology,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/field-of-degree/biology/biology-field-of-degree.htm (visited June 20, 2025).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 29, 2024