Earnings
 Because
the career paths open to those with a degree in biology
are so diverse, potential salaries also vary widely.
The figures
below show the most recent average annual earnings for biologists in
fields monitored by the U.S. government. The table below includes data from the
National
Occupational Employment and Wages Estimates Report and shows mean average annual earnings.
Salaries can vary considerably within a field, and the range varies
across different fields.
| Field Average |
Mean Annual Earnings |
|
Biochemistry & Biophysics |
$80,900 |
|
Conservation |
$55,410 |
|
Microbiology |
$65,200 |
|
Biological Scientists |
$63,560 |
|
Zoologists and Wildlife
Biology |
$56,120 |
| Other
Life Sciences |
$64,480 |
The table below shows the
variation in average annual earnings in different employment
sectors, using the field of Biochemistry and Biophysics as an example.
| Industry Average |
Annual Earnings |
| Colleges
and universities |
$48,660 |
| State government |
$48,940 |
| General
medical and surgical hospitals |
$80,330 |
|
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing |
$90,920 |
|
Scientific research and development services |
$84,080 |
According to the National
Association of Colleges and Employers, beginning salary offers in 2007
averaged $34,953 a year for bachelor's degree recipients in biological
and life sciences. In the Federal Government in 2007, general biological
scientists earned an average salary of $72,146; microbiologists,
$87,206; ecologists, $76,511; physiologists, $100,745; geneticists,
$91,470; zoologists, $110,456; and botanists, $67,218.
The table below shows the average salary for Biologists working for the
U.S. Federal Government in 2007.
| Field Average |
Annual Salary |
| Botany |
$67,218 |
| Ecology |
$76,511 |
|
Microbiology |
$87,206 |
|
Genetics |
$91,470 |
|
Physiology |
$100,745 |
| Zoology |
$110,456 |
According to the latest
data (2007) from the American
Federation of Teachers, the average teacher salary was $47,602.
For those just starting in the teaching profession, the 2004-05 school
year was
$31,753, up 3.1 percent from the year before. Science teachers are
currently in high demand throughout the U.S.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by
JGPerpich, LLC and the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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