When you get to the stage of life where you have to decide what you want to learn or become, that’s the point you start shaping your future career. Everybody has different interests and so are bachelors to pursue. So if you’re wondering – what jobs can I get with a bachelors in Biology – this article is gonna answer that question for you.
Biology studies living beings, such as humans, animals, microorganisms, and plants. If your field of interest is in the world and how it lives, then you might consider majoring in biology. If you pursue a bachelor’s in Biology, you’ll be learning courses like anatomy, math, and chemistry, and will be spending some quality time in the laboratories too.
There are many benefits to obtaining a Biology degree like research possibilities, competitive salary, job opportunities, different internships, and the ability to follow your passion in medicine or research. As a Biology graduate, your career path can develop in the clinical or medical field, allied health profession, research and biotechnology, public health and epidemiology, etc.
With a biology degree, you can choose your career path in many different industries because it gives you the applicable knowledge and skills that can be used in various fields. As a study of science, Biology helps you to understand the living species, and how they evolve, function, and interact. With Biology, you can advance in medicine, biotechnology, and agriculture. And with this knowledge, you will have the ability to improve the quality of life.
Top Jobs You Can Get with a Bachelor’s in Biology
Jobs you can get with a biology bachelor’s degree vary by industry. With the skills and knowledge you can pursue in this field, many paths become available for you. Let’s discuss some of the jobs that may be interesting for you:
Research Scientist
The main goal of scientific research is to collect information and generate knowledge using theoretical and experimental means. Research scientists make their contribution to the fields of medical science, environmental science, natural science, and computer science. They create hypotheses, gather data, and analyze results to answer questions about the living world or humans. Work activities for research scientists involve planning and executing experiments, searching for data to create theories, writing research grant letters, and managing a research team. If this feels like something you would gladly do or be interested in, then your question about ‘what jobs can I get with a bachelors in Biology’ is answered here.
Lab Technician
A Lab Technician is a scientific and technical worker who is the assistant of scientists in the laboratory. This mainly means working with complex systems to support the effective functioning of scientific projects. It also includes recording results and aiding in the daily processes that take place in the lab. Some routine procedure tasks for Lab Technicians can include – preparing laboratory tests, operating standard lab equipment, taking accurate notes of experiments, preparing samples, and supervising experiments.
Laboratory Technicians also often work in clinical settings, where they test different samples and provide appropriate results to doctors to help them diagnose their patients. They usually work in clinics, physician offices, or hospitals.
Environmental Consultant
If we’re still on what jobs can biology major get you, let’s review the next field you might be interested in. An environmental Consultant is an earth scientist who assists in creating, enforcing, and analyzing government policies, which are usually designed to protect our environment from industrial hazards. They collect and analyze survey data from the sites, write scientific reports, and interpret findings. This includes property acquisition, construction and development; safety regulations; public works; and a lot more.
Environmental consultants mainly take their own field research tasks and the work of environmental engineers, combine them, and present to management. The purpose of it is to help them make sustainable and safer business decisions.
Healthcare Professional
If your interest in pursuing a Biology degree is to continue your studies in medicine, this is one of the paths you can take. Healthcare professionals are people who maintain health in humans through evidence-based medicine and caring. Students who choose this career study, diagnose and treat human illness, injury, or other impairments according to the needs of the populations they are in the service for.
If you’re a healthcare professional, it means you’re a medical doctor, nursing professional, dentist, public health nurse, or pharmacist. You can choose which one of them is close to your interest and continue learning more in the industry.
Healthcare professionals also improve concepts, conduct research, and work on theories or operational methods to develop and advance health care. They apply curative measures and support health with the goal to meet the health needs and expectations every individual has, so they can improve population well-being results.
Biotechnology Specialist
What jobs can you do with a biology degree? – Another one is a Biotechnology Specialist. Biotechnology merges technology and research in biology to discover life-improving findings in areas like medicine and farming, or beverage and food. As a Biotechnology Specialist, you’ll learn the chemicals, and physical and genetic attributes of cells and organisms to develop new technologies, products, or processes. With this kind of study, you could address some of the biggest issues facing humanity.
Biotechnology Specialists also operate in various roles such as manufacturing, quality assurance, or research and development. Many of them work in a laboratory and conduct experiments or perform research. Often they design experiments themselves, collect data, and analyze the results of the conducted experiment.
High School Biology Teacher
From the very beginning, many people have the will to become teachers or lecturers. So if you’re one of them and still have the question of – what jobs can I get with a bachelors in biology – you can think about becoming a High School Biology Teacher.
Biology teachers instruct secondary school students in the fundamentals of biology in public and private schools. They develop engaging curriculums, present lessons, perform laboratory and other scientific experiments, and evaluate students’ achievements. High School Biology Teachers are usually expected to take part in ongoing professional developments and stay up to date about new trends in their field.
Entry-Level Jobs for Biology Graduates
After graduation despite what field, it often becomes frustrating to take the first steps in your career. You start to look for entry-level jobs that can suit your interests and skills. If you’re a biology graduate, here you can find different entry-level jobs that might be interesting to try. But first, remember that if you plan to pursue a position in the field, understand the factors and requirements included in entering the biology field’s job market so you can increase your chances of getting a job.
The common entry-level positions for biology graduates are:
- Medical laboratory technician – the duties are to collect and analyze bodily matters such as biopsy, or blood and urine. You could do that using lab equipment and technology. After analyzing, you should record and document all findings and submit them with the patient’s clinical records. The required skills for this position typically are – eye-hand coordination, attention to detail, computer literacy, technical expertise, and critical thinking.
- Research scientist/assistant – they conduct laboratory-based experiments that span different fields from one another such as environmental science, computer science, ecology, and medicine. Also, a research scientist assistant creates hypotheses, and then designs and performs experiments to test them. After testing, they record all findings and analyze the experimental discoveries. For this position, the required skills include data analysis, effective communication, technical proficiency, problem-solving, and math knowledge.
- Biological technicians – they’re also called laboratory assistants and help medical scientists prepare some samples for analysis. They often conduct basic experiments too and interpret data from them. At first, all the experiments are conducted under the supervision of a senior scientist, but after gaining enough knowledge and experience, you’ll be able to do it independently. To enter this position you need to consider the required skills – analytical thinking, observational skills, data collection, and technical knowledge.
Advanced Career Paths with Further Education
Masters and PhD are very important parts of every educational path, for some fields, it’s more than necessary to pursue them and get these degrees. A PhD is the highest level of education you can get and it sets you apart from other job seekers when you apply for any job. Especially when you pursue your career in medical or research fields. A Master’s or PhD shows your determination, commitment to the field, and will to cover and learn all information in the chosen field.
Obtaining a master’s or PhD degree can help to make you an industry expert, which will result in more credibility and respect in your career. When you have a Biology master’s or PhD, it means you can step into higher-level research fields or get more knowledge and experience in specialized medical fields.
PhD opens many doors for you in the fields beyond academia because different universities provide opportunities for postdoctoral research fellowships. Such roles give you the ability to work in the university itself, resume your research, and receive compensation for your contributions.
Careers in Healthcare for Biology Majors
What jobs can I get with a bachelors in biology?! This is the question many students have while deciding whether to pursue their career in this field. To help you make a more firm decision, let’s overview some other jobs that you can get with your biology background.
Physician’s Assistant – A physician’s assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional who works with doctors and prescribes medical treatment. You can find PAs in all specialty medical fields. Their duties vary and are dependent on their supervisor. Physician’s assistant jobs typically include patient exams, diagnosing illness, writing prescriptions, helping doctors to perform surgeries, etc.
Despite the fact that PAs work with supervising doctors, it doesn’t mean they work under their direct supervision. Instead, PAs are in partnership with these doctors. Physician’s assistants are independent clinicians within the scope of state law. To become PA you should consider earning a bachelor of science with a major in biology or chemistry. Anatomy and physiology courses are a must.
Nurse – A nurse is someone who is a licensed professional in healthcare and practices independently or is supervised by different field doctors. Nurses take care of the sick or infirm and promote and maintain their health. If you earned a degree in Biology then you can use it to enter a nursing career. Biology degrees help you to become a nurse more quickly and smoother than some other students.
Medical Sales Representative – A medical sales representative’s main duty is to sell medical supplies to doctors, hospitals, clinics, or other facilities. This job includes finding and contacting future customers, answering questions about the meds, explaining the benefits and features of the product, and making the deal. A biology or biomedical science degree can get you the job of a medical sales representative.
Careers in Environmental Science and Conservation
The careers you can pursue in environmental science or conservation are different and can be customized to your interests. The positions you can get in this field include:
Conservation Scientist – People with this job improve, manage, and protect natural resources. They work with federal and private landowners, or state and local governments to find ways of using and improving the land while safeguarding the environment. The Conversation Scientist’s duties are undertaking scientific research, analyzing data, communicating results, and managing time and budget.
Wildlife Biologist – Wildlife Biologists study animals in the wild and captivity. They usually focus on undomesticated animals and their behavior, therefore on the impact humans have on the natural habitats and wildlife. With a bachelor’s in Biology or conservation Biology, you can get a job as a Wildlife Biologist.
Environmental Educator – Environmental education teaches people about environmental issues and nature. Environmental educators usually work in schools, nonprofits, and nature reserves to raise awareness of environmental issues. This lets people know what they can do to contribute to sustainability.
Careers in Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals
Still thinking of ‘what jobs can I get with a biology degree?!’ If yes, let’s discuss some more fields that you can search for different roles and apply as a biology bachelor.
Roles in biotech firms – A degree in biology or biotechnology can prepare you for a career in biotechnology, therefore in biotech firms. The roles you can pursue include quality control analyst, clinical research associate, research scientist, bioinformatics specialist, etc. It depends on your skills, knowledge, and interests which position will be the best for you.
Roles in Pharmaceuticals – An education in biology can create a way of a promising career for you in pharmaceutics, from working in clinical trials to participating in drug development and discovery. Many graduates start their careers as laboratory or technical assistants, but there are many other roles you can consider. These roles are in biomedicine, microbiology, bioinformatics, or biochemistry. You can decide which of these roles in pharmaceutics will be suitable for you.
Roles in medical research companies – In medical research companies there are many roles that are needed for the development of drugs, new treatments discovery, or healthcare technologies. These roles may include laboratory technician, forensic scientist, biologist, geneticist, microbiologist, clinical scientist, etc. There could be other different roles that may be pursued in medical research companies, but it’s up to you on what positions you intend to apply.
The Importance of Internships and Research Experience
To plan your career success, one of the best ways is to gain practical experience after or during your university studies. You can get this kind of practical experience through volunteering, research work, or internships. They give you opportunities to work in a specific organization for a limited period, typically with a stipend or no pay at all.
Volunteering and internships are important for your career as they take part in developing valuable skills, making connections with industry professionals, and discovering your passions or interests. They also help you to enhance your CV and therefore increase your chances of admission to higher education or getting recruited for your desired position.
By gaining field experience with different research works, internships, or volunteering you will have a clearer understanding about your future career and can be hired more easily in prestigious organizations.
Transferable Skills Gained from a Biology Degree
When you pursue a biology degree, that doesn’t mean you only acquire skills that are used in the medical or research fields. Throughout your studies, you gain skills that could be transferable and valuable for other industries as well. So if you somehow decide to change your field and continue your career in another direction, you already have some important skills that you can use in the future.
Having a biology degree means you have data analysis skills that can be relevant in many different careers; critical thinking that is very important for seeing things from every perspective and evaluating risks; and communication skills which are a must for every job or every organization. So it’s not like a biology degree only gives knowledge in the field.
Job Outlook and Salary Expectations for Biology Majors
Still on the subject of what jobs can I get with a bachelors in biology?? Now it’s time to dive into the most frequently asked question and analyze job demand and expected salaries for biology-related careers. High-paying careers and therefore most demanded ones for biology bachelors include bioinformatics specialists, biomedical scientists, medical science liaisons, clinical research associates, quality control specialists, etc.
The average salary for these jobs varies from $60,000 to $120,000+ depending on the experience and the exact position. For example, bioinformatics specialists’ average salary is $80,000 – $100,000 per year. So if you plan to pursue your career in the biology field, decide on what field you want to be in exactly and expect to have the salary in this given range.
