Becoming a Biological Scientist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
Ashford University, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering science courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
scientists,
information scientists,
bioengineers,
biophysicists,
anthropologists,
biochemists,
biomathematicians,
biologists,
bioinformatics specialists, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 2,190 people employed as
animal scientists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$64,510.
Food scientists and technologists make on average $64,370
per year and there are about 10,790
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like Ashford University that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Biological Scientist
- medical colleges
- research and development laboratories
- universities
- government research organizations
- federal government agencies
- private foundations
- drug manufacturing companies
- veterinary colleges
- hospitals
- zoo
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Biological Scientist
- carry out laboratory tests
- help clinicians diagnose illness
- evaluate the effectiveness of treatment
- specialize in one of the medical laboratory sciences
- monitor the effects of medication
- analyze cultures grown from samples
- test human samples
- maintain and update professional knowledge
- responsible for continuing professional development
- develope new methods of investigation
Potential Drawbacks
- job competition
- must keep up with latest research discoveries
- usually work in laboratories and sometimes doing repetitive work (depending on job specialization)
- may be required to work odd ours depending on the type of biological scientist
- under pressure to meet research deadlines
- must conform to rigid grant-writing specifications when preparing proposals to seek funding
- work with others often
- some work long hours
- may work with dangerous or toxic substances
- may deal with wild and possibly dangerous animals
Related Professions to Consider
- Technical Officer
- Subject Tutor
- Research Fellow
- Marine Ecosystem Modeller
- Research Assistant
- Forestry Technician
- Entomologist
- Fishery Biologist
- General Biological Scientist
- Soil Conservationist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Biological Scientist
- What are Biotic factors ?
- How to keep stock for fungal strain?
- How to Construct mutant virus with BAC?
- Whether snake venom is acidic or alkaline?
- Describe your best work experience?
- What is biophysics?
- What is important to you?
- Explain about Brucella LPS extraction ?
- Which of these characteristics are unique to angiosperms?
- What are advantages of using immolized enzymes?
Common Collaborating Professions
- biomedical scientist
- molecular biologist
- biological engineer
- bioinformatic engineer
- genetic engineer
- bio technician
- biochemist
- bio instrumentation engineer
- biophysicist
- marine biologist
Biological Scientist Training books
Biological Scientist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Ecology, evolution, and behavior
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Plant Biology
- Genetics, cell biology, and development
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Horticulture
- Environmental Biology
- Stem Cells: A New Frontier in Biomedicine
Biological Scientist Salary Information
Category: Animal scientists
| Total # Employed in the US |
2,190 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.02/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $15.25 |
$19.68 |
$27.38 |
$39.68 |
$51.77 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$64,510 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $31,730 |
$40,930 |
$56,960 |
$82,540 |
$107,680 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.5% |
4.2% |
8.9% |
7.5% |
41.4% |
23.4% |
14.2% |
|
Animal scientists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Mississippi |
$50.84/hr
|
$105,750
|
| North Dakota |
$38.64/hr
|
$80,370
|
| New Hampshire |
$32.86/hr
|
$68,350
|
| Louisiana |
$32.77/hr
|
$68,170
|
| Maine |
$32.55/hr
|
$67,700
|
| Maryland |
$31.25/hr
|
$65,010
|
| Michigan |
$30.43/hr
|
$63,300
|
| South Dakota |
$30.25/hr
|
$62,930
|
| Hawaii |
$27.81/hr
|
$57,850
|
| Wyoming |
$27.67/hr
|
$57,540
|
| Nebraska |
$26.79/hr
|
$55,720
|
| South Carolina |
$24.75/hr
|
$51,490
|
| Nevada |
$22.75/hr
|
$47,310
|
| West Virginia |
$17.83/hr
|
$37,080
|
Category: Food scientists and technologists
| Total # Employed in the US |
10,790 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$30.95/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16.6 |
$21.25 |
$28.67 |
$38.43 |
$49.6 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$64,370 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $34,530 |
$44,190 |
$59,630 |
$79,920 |
$103,160 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.5% |
4.2% |
8.9% |
7.5% |
41.4% |
23.4% |
14.2% |
|
Food scientists and technologists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| North Dakota |
$42.48/hr
|
$88,360
|
| Missouri |
$35.77/hr
|
$74,410
|
| Nebraska |
$35.68/hr
|
$74,220
|
| Colorado |
$33.54/hr
|
$69,760
|
| Oklahoma |
$32.49/hr
|
$67,590
|
| Mississippi |
$32.46/hr
|
$67,510
|
| Maine |
$32.09/hr
|
$66,760
|
| Maryland |
$31.88/hr
|
$66,310
|
| Wyoming |
$31.64/hr
|
$65,820
|
| South Carolina |
$31.15/hr
|
$64,780
|
| Utah |
$30.83/hr
|
$64,120
|
| Idaho |
$30.73/hr
|
$63,910
|
| Puerto Rico |
$30.71/hr
|
$63,880
|
| Montana |
$30.51/hr
|
$63,470
|
| Delaware |
$30.27/hr
|
$62,960
|
| Guam |
$30.17/hr
|
$62,750
|
| Iowa |
$29.46/hr
|
$61,280
|
| Pennsylvania |
$29.06/hr
|
$60,440
|
| New Hampshire |
$28.68/hr
|
$59,650
|
| Kansas |
$28.4/hr
|
$59,080
|
| Louisiana |
$27.9/hr
|
$58,020
|
| Washington |
$27.51/hr
|
$57,210
|
| Arkansas |
$27.17/hr
|
$56,520
|
| Wisconsin |
$26.75/hr
|
$55,650
|
| Nevada |
$25.53/hr
|
$53,110
|
| Kentucky |
$24.38/hr
|
$50,700
|
| Hawaii |
$24.07/hr
|
$50,060
|
| California |
$23.64/hr
|
$49,180
|
| Oregon |
$23.26/hr
|
$48,380
|
| New Mexico |
$23.08/hr
|
$48,010
|
| West Virginia |
$22.95/hr
|
$47,730
|
| South Dakota |
$22.51/hr
|
$46,830
|
| Tennessee |
$22.19/hr
|
$46,150
|
Category: Soil and plant scientists
| Total # Employed in the US |
11,830 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$31.34/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16.79 |
$21.67 |
$28.45 |
$37.79 |
$51.76 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$65,180 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $34,930 |
$45,070 |
$59,180 |
$78,590 |
$107,670 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.5% |
4.2% |
8.9% |
7.5% |
41.4% |
23.4% |
14.2% |
|
Soil and plant scientists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| New York |
$68.64/hr
|
$142,770
|
| Mississippi |
$41.55/hr
|
$86,420
|
| Delaware |
$38.32/hr
|
$79,710
|
| New Hampshire |
$37.77/hr
|
$78,550
|
| Hawaii |
$37.2/hr
|
$77,370
|
| Colorado |
$35.99/hr
|
$74,860
|
| Missouri |
$35.14/hr
|
$73,080
|
| Alabama |
$35.08/hr
|
$72,960
|
| Nebraska |
$34.93/hr
|
$72,650
|
| Alaska |
$34.57/hr
|
$71,910
|
| Kansas |
$34.47/hr
|
$71,700
|
| Indiana |
$33.93/hr
|
$70,580
|
| North Dakota |
$33.72/hr
|
$70,130
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.45/hr
|
$69,570
|
| Ohio |
$32.82/hr
|
$68,280
|
| Nevada |
$32.54/hr
|
$67,680
|
| Kentucky |
$32.44/hr
|
$67,470
|
| Puerto Rico |
$32.2/hr
|
$66,980
|
| Oklahoma |
$31.56/hr
|
$65,650
|
| Washington |
$31.26/hr
|
$65,030
|
| Louisiana |
$31.18/hr
|
$64,860
|
| Oregon |
$30.72/hr
|
$63,890
|
| Tennessee |
$30.57/hr
|
$63,580
|
| Connecticut |
$29.52/hr
|
$61,400
|
| California |
$29.15/hr
|
$60,640
|
| Utah |
$28.45/hr
|
$59,170
|
| Guam |
$28.17/hr
|
$58,600
|
| Wisconsin |
$28.14/hr
|
$58,530
|
| Arkansas |
$27.75/hr
|
$57,710
|
| Pennsylvania |
$27.32/hr
|
$56,820
|
| Montana |
$27.29/hr
|
$56,760
|
| District of Columbia |
$27.03/hr
|
$56,220
|
| Iowa |
$26.99/hr
|
$56,130
|
| South Carolina |
$26.54/hr
|
$55,210
|
| Maine |
$26.52/hr
|
$55,150
|
| Wyoming |
$25.98/hr
|
$54,030
|
| Michigan |
$25.34/hr
|
$52,720
|
| South Dakota |
$25.25/hr
|
$52,530
|
| West Virginia |
$25.05/hr
|
$52,100
|
| Idaho |
$24.99/hr
|
$51,980
|
| Maryland |
$24.95/hr
|
$51,900
|
| New Jersey |
$24.88/hr
|
$51,750
|
| New Mexico |
$24.22/hr
|
$50,370
|
Category: Microbiologists
| Total # Employed in the US |
16,260 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$34.61/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $18.82 |
$23.92 |
$32.01 |
$42.84 |
$54.4 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$71,980 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $39,150 |
$49,750 |
$66,580 |
$89,110 |
$113,150 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.9% |
2.6% |
3.3% |
43.2% |
30.2% |
19.8% |
|
Microbiologists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Mississippi |
$46.46/hr
|
$96,640
|
| Florida |
$45.56/hr
|
$94,770
|
| Idaho |
$42.81/hr
|
$89,030
|
| Delaware |
$39.04/hr
|
$81,190
|
| Colorado |
$38.21/hr
|
$79,470
|
| Iowa |
$37.33/hr
|
$77,650
|
| North Dakota |
$36.62/hr
|
$76,160
|
| Utah |
$35.85/hr
|
$74,570
|
| Louisiana |
$34.74/hr
|
$72,250
|
| Kansas |
$34.29/hr
|
$71,320
|
| Oklahoma |
$34.02/hr
|
$70,760
|
| Missouri |
$33.93/hr
|
$70,580
|
| New Hampshire |
$33.06/hr
|
$68,760
|
| Michigan |
$32.69/hr
|
$68,000
|
| New Jersey |
$32.49/hr
|
$67,570
|
| New Mexico |
$32.19/hr
|
$66,960
|
| South Carolina |
$31.98/hr
|
$66,520
|
| District of Columbia |
$31.44/hr
|
$65,400
|
| California |
$30.99/hr
|
$64,460
|
| Connecticut |
$30.83/hr
|
$64,120
|
| Nevada |
$30.65/hr
|
$63,750
|
| Nebraska |
$29.62/hr
|
$61,600
|
| Oregon |
$29.58/hr
|
$61,530
|
| Montana |
$29.51/hr
|
$61,390
|
| Indiana |
$28.7/hr
|
$59,700
|
| Alabama |
$27.96/hr
|
$58,150
|
| Alaska |
$27.71/hr
|
$57,630
|
| Wyoming |
$27.69/hr
|
$57,590
|
| Guam |
$27.66/hr
|
$57,540
|
| Hawaii |
$27.42/hr
|
$57,030
|
| Arkansas |
$27.33/hr
|
$56,840
|
| Washington |
$27.28/hr
|
$56,740
|
| Kentucky |
$26.36/hr
|
$54,830
|
| Wisconsin |
$24.3/hr
|
$50,550
|
| Maryland |
$24.15/hr
|
$50,240
|
| Maine |
$23.97/hr
|
$49,850
|
| West Virginia |
$23.45/hr
|
$48,780
|
Category: Zoologists and wildlife biologists
| Total # Employed in the US |
17,460 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$29.17/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $16.96 |
$21.55 |
$27.16 |
$34.61 |
$44.78 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$60,670 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $35,280 |
$44,830 |
$56,500 |
$71,990 |
$93,140 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.9% |
2.6% |
3.3% |
43.2% |
30.2% |
19.8% |
|
Zoologists and wildlife biologists — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Mississippi |
$43.78/hr
|
$91,050
|
| Virginia |
$37.23/hr
|
$77,440
|
| Colorado |
$35.17/hr
|
$73,160
|
| Delaware |
$34.61/hr
|
$71,990
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.24/hr
|
$69,150
|
| Indiana |
$32.86/hr
|
$68,360
|
| Missouri |
$32.04/hr
|
$66,650
|
| Montana |
$31.07/hr
|
$64,620
|
| Oregon |
$30.42/hr
|
$63,270
|
| Tennessee |
$30.33/hr
|
$63,080
|
| Ohio |
$30.27/hr
|
$62,960
|
| North Dakota |
$30.22/hr
|
$62,860
|
| Kansas |
$29.55/hr
|
$61,470
|
| Alaska |
$29.24/hr
|
$60,830
|
| Nevada |
$29.1/hr
|
$60,520
|
| Oklahoma |
$29.07/hr
|
$60,460
|
| Iowa |
$28.6/hr
|
$59,490
|
| Connecticut |
$28.51/hr
|
$59,300
|
| Alabama |
$28.39/hr
|
$59,040
|
| New York |
$28.31/hr
|
$58,890
|
| Utah |
$27.74/hr
|
$57,710
|
| New Jersey |
$27.4/hr
|
$56,990
|
| Washington |
$26.82/hr
|
$55,780
|
| Pennsylvania |
$26.78/hr
|
$55,700
|
| North Carolina |
$26.64/hr
|
$55,400
|
| Louisiana |
$26.53/hr
|
$55,180
|
| Nebraska |
$26.01/hr
|
$54,110
|
| Hawaii |
$25.83/hr
|
$53,720
|
| South Carolina |
$25.34/hr
|
$52,710
|
| New Mexico |
$25.23/hr
|
$52,490
|
| Arkansas |
$25.15/hr
|
$52,310
|
| Guam |
$24.99/hr
|
$51,980
|
| California |
$24.76/hr
|
$51,500
|
| Michigan |
$24.54/hr
|
$51,050
|
| South Dakota |
$24.39/hr
|
$50,730
|
| Idaho |
$24.21/hr
|
$50,350
|
| West Virginia |
$24.16/hr
|
$50,260
|
| New Hampshire |
$24.12/hr
|
$50,180
|
| Wisconsin |
$23.59/hr
|
$49,060
|
| Wyoming |
$21.98/hr
|
$45,710
|
Category: Biological scientists, all other
| Total # Employed in the US |
29,630 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$33.38/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $17.67 |
$24.24 |
$31.98 |
$39.26 |
$48.36 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$69,430 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $36,750 |
$50,420 |
$66,510 |
$81,650 |
$100,580 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 0.1% |
0.9% |
2.6% |
3.3% |
43.2% |
30.2% |
19.8% |
|
Biological scientists, all other — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Florida |
$50.17/hr
|
$104,350
|
| Mississippi |
$43.75/hr
|
$91,000
|
| North Dakota |
$38.11/hr
|
$79,270
|
| Kansas |
$36.71/hr
|
$76,350
|
| Oregon |
$35.51/hr
|
$73,850
|
| Louisiana |
$35.1/hr
|
$73,010
|
| New Mexico |
$34.89/hr
|
$72,580
|
| Delaware |
$34.8/hr
|
$72,380
|
| South Dakota |
$34.39/hr
|
$71,530
|
| Colorado |
$34.39/hr
|
$71,520
|
| Indiana |
$34.37/hr
|
$71,490
|
| Idaho |
$34.17/hr
|
$71,070
|
| Alaska |
$34.08/hr
|
$70,880
|
| North Carolina |
$33.81/hr
|
$70,330
|
| Wisconsin |
$33.61/hr
|
$69,910
|
| Massachusetts |
$33.6/hr
|
$69,890
|
| Oklahoma |
$33.47/hr
|
$69,620
|
| Puerto Rico |
$32.92/hr
|
$68,470
|
| Connecticut |
$32.73/hr
|
$68,080
|
| Utah |
$32.22/hr
|
$67,020
|
| Washington |
$31.58/hr
|
$65,690
|
| South Carolina |
$31.52/hr
|
$65,560
|
| Alabama |
$31.02/hr
|
$64,510
|
| Wyoming |
$30.69/hr
|
$63,830
|
| New York |
$30.53/hr
|
$63,500
|
| Montana |
$30.51/hr
|
$63,450
|
| New Hampshire |
$30.4/hr
|
$63,230
|
| Maine |
$30.25/hr
|
$62,920
|
| Nebraska |
$30.22/hr
|
$62,860
|
| Tennessee |
$30/hr
|
$62,390
|
| Guam |
$29.47/hr
|
$61,290
|
| California |
$28.89/hr
|
$60,080
|
| Ohio |
$28.85/hr
|
$60,000
|
| Iowa |
$28.67/hr
|
$59,630
|
| Arkansas |
$28.31/hr
|
$58,880
|
| Kentucky |
$27.5/hr
|
$57,200
|
| Maryland |
$27.41/hr
|
$57,020
|
| Missouri |
$27.27/hr
|
$56,710
|
| New Jersey |
$26.98/hr
|
$56,120
|
| Hawaii |
$26.23/hr
|
$54,560
|
| District of Columbia |
$25.28/hr
|
$52,580
|
