Explore national salary, projected growth, education requirements, and career opportunities across the United States.
A concise view of this occupation’s national scale, compensation, and projected demand.
National median annual wage for this occupation.
Estimated jobs currently supported nationwide.
Projected employment change through 2034.
Estimated openings created each year.
The typical education, prior experience, and on-the-job training associated with entry into this career.
Bachelor's degree
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These are the highest-rated capabilities associated with success in this occupation. Scores are derived from occupational skill analysis and are measured on a 100-point scale.
Based on skills, knowledge, and work activities, these occupations are the closest match to your current career.
Explore the states and metropolitan areas offering the strongest combination of salary, employment, demand, and long-term opportunity.
Discover metro markets where compensation, hiring demand, and long-term momentum align.
Understand the salary, outlook, education, and geographic opportunities shaping this career.
Biological scientists, all other, work at the intersection of science, data, and problem solving. Nationally, about 64,000 people are employed in this occupation, with a projected employment growth of 1.2%. There are an estimated 5,000 annual openings, reflecting ongoing needs for new talent due to hiring, turnover, and movement within the field. The national median annual salary is $93,330, offering solid earning potential for those who build the right combination of knowledge and skills. This career typically requires at least a bachelor’s degree, supported by strengths in science, writing and reading, critical and analytical thinking, mathematics, and computers and information technology. Additional skills such as project management, creativity and innovation, attention to detail, problem solving and decision making, and adaptability can help professionals navigate complex work environments. For people who enjoy scientific inquiry and analytical thinking, biological scientist roles can provide a structured yet evolving long-term career path.
Biological scientists, all other, earn a national median annual salary of $93,330. Pay varies across states and metro areas. Among the top states by opportunity score, median salaries range from $93,970 in Colorado to $113,530 in California. Massachusetts, New York, and Washington also offer median salaries above $100,000 for this occupation. At the metro level, several areas stand out for higher pay. The San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA metro shows a median salary of $138,160, and San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA reports $133,790. The New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ metro has a median salary of $111,380, while Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH report $114,920 and $110,410, respectively. These figures indicate that professionals who are geographically flexible may find particularly strong earning potential in selected California and East Coast metros.
Biological scientists, all other, have national employment of about 64,000. Projected employment growth is 1.2%, indicating modest expansion over the projection period. With an estimated 5,000 annual openings, this field offers ongoing entry points for new graduates and career changers as positions are created or become available. The combination of existing employment size, steady projected growth, and recurring openings suggests that opportunities are distributed across new roles and replacement needs. Several states and metros show the same 1.2% growth figure as the national rate, including California, Massachusetts, New York, Colorado, and Washington, as well as all listed metro areas. For people planning a long-term path, these data support viewing biological science as a career with continuing, if measured, hiring activity. Individuals can use this outlook, along with salary and location information, to decide where and how actively to pursue roles in this occupation.
Location can significantly shape the experience of biological scientists, all other. By CareerGPS opportunity score, California ranks highest among states, with a score of 67.38, a median salary of $113,530, employment of 11,880, and 1.2% growth. Massachusetts and New York follow with opportunity scores of 65.87 and 65.78, both combining median salaries above $100,000 with several thousand employed. Washington and Colorado also appear among the top states, though with somewhat lower opportunity scores, at 56.29 and 56.97. At the metro level, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, CA and New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY–NJ lead the rankings with opportunity scores above 77. These areas pair strong salaries with notable employment levels. San Francisco–Oakland–Fremont, CA; Washington–Arlington–Alexandria, DC–VA–MD–WV; and Boston–Cambridge–Newton, MA–NH also show high median pay and substantial employment. Together, these data highlight several coastal and mountain-region hubs where this field is particularly prominent.
Biological scientists, all other, typically need at least a bachelor’s degree. This educational background provides the foundation for the core skills used in the field. Success in these roles relies on strong science knowledge, along with solid writing and reading abilities to interpret and communicate information clearly. Critical and analytical thinking and mathematics support data-driven conclusions and careful evaluation of evidence. Competence with computers and information technology is also important, reflecting the role of digital tools in modern scientific work. Beyond technical capabilities, several professional skills stand out. Project management helps coordinate tasks and timelines, while creativity and innovation support generating new ideas and approaches. Being detail oriented is essential for accuracy, and problem solving and decision making are central to addressing complex questions. Adaptability rounds out the profile, helping professionals adjust to new information, tools, and priorities over the course of their careers.
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