Becoming a Biologist via Online Education?
At the very least, online education can help you lay a foundation and/or open up alternate career paths.
University of Maryland University College, one of the highest ranking online
schools,
is a US school (accredited) offering biology courses to train individuals
to become top-notch
biologists,
marine biologists,
wildlife biologists,
molecular biologists,
fish and wildlife biologists,
fisheries biologists,
molecular biology professors, etc.
Currently, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics there are 29,630 people employed as
biological scientists alone in America, and their average annual salary is
$69,430.
Microbiologists make on average $71,980
per year and there are about 16,260
of them employed today.
Colleges and universities like University of Maryland University College that provide online education are successfully launching workers into
this
field.
Typical Work Locations for a Biologist
- agricultural sectors
- forestry
- research centers
- medical departments
- investigation centers
- fire and safety departments
- department of insurance
- pests and disease control departments
- zoo
- hospitals
Potential Advantages and Benefits of Working as a Biologist
- increase your passion for nature
- learn and experiment
- interact with people
- learn from experiences
- inspired by the scientist
- motivate others
- satisfied by the completion of a task
- self motivated
- hardwork and increase your knowledge
- develop an understanding of nature and its inner workings
Potential Drawbacks
- bad smells in laboratory
- strange hours during experiments
- possible exposure to disease and chemicals
- high level of education necessary
- competitive fields
- publish or perish
- political implications of certain fields of study
- ethical issues when testing on animals
- work by yourself often
- travel may be required
Related Professions to Consider
- Chiropractor
- Geriatrics
- Osteopath Physician
- Pathologist
- Dermatologist
- Endocrinologist
- Thoracic Surgeon
- Neurosurgeon
- General or Family Practice
- Orthopaedist
Possible Interview Questions When Applying to be a Biologist
- Tell us something about yourself?
- Which part of the world have you visited up till now?
- What are your educational qualifications?
- Who is your role model?
- Which is the longest snake which you have caught?
- Have you made any album of your heroics in jungle?
- What type of research or projects are you currently involved in?
- Which scientific skills do you value the most in your current field?
- What made you consider this field of biological science?
- How do you see your field changing within the next 5 years?
Common Collaborating Professions
- Biomedical Scientist
- Molecular Biologist
- Biological Engineer
- Genetic Engineer
- Bio Technician
- Bio-informatic Engineer
- Biochemist
- Bio Instrumentation Engineer
- Biophysicist
- Marine Biologist
Biologist Training books
Biologist (More) Popular books
Potential Companies to Work For
Common College Majors
- Biodiversity Connections
- The Genetic Century
- Immune Defense: Friend or Foe
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Microbiology
- Biochemisty
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
- Human Reproduction and Sexuality
- Bioethics
Biologist Salary Information
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
|
Category: Biological technicians
| Total # Employed in the US |
74,560 |
| Average Hourly Wage: |
$19.78/hr |
| Hourly Wage Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $11.8 |
$14.74 |
$18.61 |
$23.72 |
$29.51 |
|
| Average Yearly Salary |
$41,140 |
| Yearly Salary Range |
| PERCENTILE |
| 10% | 25% | 50% | 75% | 90% |
| $24,540 |
$30,650 |
$38,700 |
$49,340 |
$61,380 |
|
| Employment Demographics |
| % OF WORKERS WITH |
| < High School Diploma |
High School Diploma |
Some College |
Associate Degree |
Bachelor Degree |
Master Degree |
Doctoral Degree |
| 2.9% |
18.9% |
17.4% |
10.7% |
35.3% |
6.9% |
7.8% |
|
Biological technicians — WAGES BY STATE, SORTED BY SALARY
| STATE | Average Hourly Wage | Average Annual Salary |
|---|
| Missouri |
$25.2/hr
|
$52,420
|
| Delaware |
$23.79/hr
|
$49,490
|
| Nebraska |
$22.71/hr
|
$47,250
|
| Mississippi |
$22.69/hr
|
$47,190
|
| Colorado |
$21.98/hr
|
$45,710
|
| North Dakota |
$21.76/hr
|
$45,250
|
| Utah |
$20.71/hr
|
$43,070
|
| Oklahoma |
$20.62/hr
|
$42,890
|
| Oregon |
$20.12/hr
|
$41,850
|
| Louisiana |
$19.87/hr
|
$41,330
|
| District of Columbia |
$19.8/hr
|
$41,180
|
| Kansas |
$19.55/hr
|
$40,660
|
| Idaho |
$19.51/hr
|
$40,580
|
| North Carolina |
$19.21/hr
|
$39,950
|
| Michigan |
$18.84/hr
|
$39,180
|
| Ohio |
$18.78/hr
|
$39,060
|
| Virginia |
$18.76/hr
|
$39,020
|
| Puerto Rico |
$18.65/hr
|
$38,780
|
| New Hampshire |
$18.55/hr
|
$38,590
|
| Maine |
$18.52/hr
|
$38,520
|
| Nevada |
$18.16/hr
|
$37,780
|
| Alabama |
$18.15/hr
|
$37,740
|
| South Carolina |
$17.89/hr
|
$37,210
|
| Wisconsin |
$17.62/hr
|
$36,650
|
| Tennessee |
$17.59/hr
|
$36,580
|
| Washington |
$17.59/hr
|
$36,580
|
| Alaska |
$17.55/hr
|
$36,500
|
| Hawaii |
$17.34/hr
|
$36,070
|
| New Mexico |
$17.32/hr
|
$36,020
|
| Wyoming |
$17.26/hr
|
$35,900
|
| Kentucky |
$17.2/hr
|
$35,780
|
| California |
$16.91/hr
|
$35,180
|
| Indiana |
$16.31/hr
|
$33,930
|
| Arkansas |
$16.23/hr
|
$33,760
|
| Massachusetts |
$16.2/hr
|
$33,700
|
| Guam |
$16.14/hr
|
$33,570
|
| Maryland |
$16.06/hr
|
$33,410
|
| New Jersey |
$15.84/hr
|
$32,950
|
| South Dakota |
$15.7/hr
|
$32,660
|
| New York |
$15.14/hr
|
$31,500
|
| Iowa |
$14.96/hr
|
$31,110
|
| West Virginia |
$14.54/hr
|
$30,240
|
Category: Molecular and Cellular Biologists
| 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% |
|
