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What Can You Do With a Biology Degree?

Living systems, from single cells and DNA up to whole ecosystems and human health. Graduates earn a median $45,000 early in their careers and $83,000 by mid-career. We track 33 careers that a Biology degree commonly leads to, with median pay from $47,380 to $281,870 depending on the role and how far you take it.

How these numbers work: A major does not have its own salary. Early and mid-career pay is what people who hold this degree earn at the start of their careers and midway through them. Career pay comes from the 33 careers a Biology degree commonly leads to, and counts everyone in those jobs, including people who have been doing them for thirty years. The two answer different questions, which is why they do not match.

64% of people with this degree go on to a graduate degree, so the higher-paying careers below usually mean more school after the bachelor's.

Careers this major leads to

Psychiatrist$281,870 median · Faster than averagePhysician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median · About averageNurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median · Much faster than averageDentist$170,950 median · About averageNatural Sciences Manager$167,220 median · About averagePharmacist$140,910 median · Faster than averageOptometrist$136,570 median · Much faster than averagePhysician Assistant$135,880 median · Much faster than averageVeterinarian$130,100 median · Much faster than averageBiochemist$127,410 median · Faster than averageBiomedical Engineer$109,370 median · Faster than averageBiomedical Scientist / Researcher$103,410 median · Much faster than averagePhysical Therapist$102,760 median · Much faster than averageOccupational Therapist$100,330 median · Much faster than averageGenetic Counselor$100,040 median · Much faster than averageBiologist$98,920 median · Slower than averageDental Hygienist$98,100 median · Much faster than averageAudiologist$95,780 median · Much faster than averageMicrobiologist$87,990 median · About averageEpidemiologist$87,220 median · Much faster than averageRespiratory Therapist$82,280 median · Much faster than averageEnvironmental Scientist$82,220 median · About averageRadiologic Technologist$80,110 median · About averageChiropractor$79,200 median · Much faster than averageZoologist / Wildlife Biologist$76,780 median · Slower than averageDietitian / Nutritionist$76,400 median · Faster than averageConservation Scientist$73,010 median · About averageForensic Science Technician$72,060 median · Much faster than averagePublic Health Specialist$64,070 median · Faster than averageMedical Laboratory Scientist$62,930 median · Slower than averageMedical Laboratory Technician$62,930 median · Slower than averageBiological Technician$57,510 median · About averageVeterinary Technologist$47,380 median · Much faster than average

Related majors

ChemistryBiochemistryEnvironmental ScienceEarth ScienceEpidemiologyStatistics

Frequently asked questions

What can you do with a Biology degree?

A Biology degree commonly leads to 33 careers we track, including Psychiatrist, Physician (Family Medicine), and Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA). Graduates earn a median $45,000 early in their careers.

How much do Biology majors make?

Graduates with a Biology degree earn a median of $45,000 a year early in their careers, and $83,000 by mid-career (Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 2024 data).

What jobs can a Biology major get?

Common roles include Psychiatrist, Physician (Family Medicine), Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA), and Dentist. Psychiatrist is among the higher-paying, at $281,870 median.

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Is Biology right for you?

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Where these pay figures come from

Early and mid-career pay is the median annual wage of full-time workers who hold a bachelor's degree in that major, ages 22 to 27 and ages 35 to 45, from 2024 data. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (IPUMS). Published as Outcomes by Major by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).

All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.

Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).