Biological Sciences Degree & Career Guide
What Is Biological Science?
Biological science is the study of life, from single-celled organisms to complex plants and animals. Biological scientists study living organisms to better understand life processes. They also study the ways organisms interact with their environments. Applied research is problem-oriented, while people perform basic research for the sake of learning.
Biological science jobs include forensic biologists, cytotechnologists, and medical technologists. Biochemists and business biologists are two other potential careers. Forensic biologists work with law enforcement, while business biologists generally work with chemical or pharmaceutical companies. Biotechnologists work in a laboratory setting and help develop environmental products or medical treatments.
Careers in Biology
by Jennifer Lee
Updated July 22, 2024
Frequently Asked Questions About Biological Sciences
According to Payscale, as of March 2022, biological scientists earned an average base salary of $81,850 per year. Most biological science careers require at least a bachelor’s degree, while research positions may require a doctoral degree. Whether it is worth it depends on the cost of the degree, the salary earned after graduation, and the amount of satisfaction a job in the field brings a graduate.
For example, if it cost $115,000 for tuition, room, and board and you lost $120,000 in wages while attending school for four years, your total cost was $235,000. If you earn $80,000 per year after graduation, you have increased your income by $50,000. So, your degree will pay for itself in 4.7 years.
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