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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Last Modified Date:
Thursday, September 8, 2022