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Field of degree: Biology

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Biology field of degree. Employment: 3,107,000. Median annual wage: $65,000.

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Table 1. Biology degree, 2019
Data	Biology	All fields
Employment	3,107,000	56,820,460
Median wage	65,000	60,000
Percent employed part time	16	15
Percent employed in occupations requiring at least a bachelor's degree	69	60
Percent with an advanced degree	58	37
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.

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Chart 1. Types of biology majors, 2019
Biology majors	Major share
Biology	64%
Biochemical Sciences	8
Physiology	5
Microbiology	5
Molecular Biology	4
Other	14
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, 2019.

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Chart 2. Employment distribution of workers with a biology degree, by occupational group, 2019
Occupational group	Occupational group share
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations	35%
Management occupations	11
Life, physical, and social science occupations	11
Educational instruction and library occupations	10
Business and financial operations occupations	5
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 2021–31	Typical entry-level education	Percent degree holders in this field, this occupation, 2019	Percent of this occupation with an advanced degree, 2019
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists	17%	Doctoral or professional degree	2%	74%
Postsecondary teachers	12	Doctoral or professional degree	4	73
Managers, all other	6	Bachelor's degree	3	20
Dentists, general	6	Doctoral or professional degree	3	100
Registered nurses	6	Bachelor's degree	3	12
Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education	5	Bachelor's degree	2	54
Elementary school teachers, except special education	4	Bachelor's degree	2	48
Physicians, all other	2	Doctoral or professional degree	15	100
Pharmacists	2	Doctoral or professional degree	2	69
Physical scientists, all other	0	Bachelor's degree	3	70
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 January 18, 2023).

Last Modified Date: Thursday, September 8, 2022