Molecular and Cellular Biologists build complex problem solving, judgment and decision making and instructing skills that carry over to other work. Below are 25 careers ranked by how closely their skills match, with pay from BLS May 2025. The closest match is Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary (78%).
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
Sorted by skill match.
| # | Career | Skill match | Median pay | Pay change | Extra education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 78% | $93,250 | — | None |
| 2 | Nanosystems Engineers | 77% | $122,930Pay for the broader BLS group “Engineers, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 3 | Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 77% | $84,620 | — | None |
| 4 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 76% | $81,490Pay for the broader BLS group “Mathematical Science Occupations, All Other” | Not compared | None |
| 5 | Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers | 76% | $109,370 | — | None |
| 6 | Natural Sciences Managers | 76% | $167,220 | — | None |
| 7 | Medical Dosimetrists | 73% | $147,470 | — | None |
| 8 | Astronomers | 73% | $128,820 | — | None |
| 9 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 72% | $82,220Pay for the broader BLS group “Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health” | Not compared | None |
| 10 | Statisticians | 71% | $105,650 | — | None |
Compared with Molecular and Cellular Biologists, median —. Skill match is our estimate (0–99) from O*NET 31.0 skills, knowledge, work activities and interests, adjusted for preparation and big pay drops. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025, national median.
How important each skill is in work as molecular and cellular biologists (O*NET importance, scale 1–5).
The gaps that show up most often across your top 10 matches.
Free and low-cost training: use the CareerOneStop training finder below.
A concrete first step, the skills to add, and the hard parts of each job, from O*NET 31.0 education, training and work context data.
78% skill match · $93,250
Service Orientation
77% skill match · $122,930 (broader BLS group)
Equipment Maintenance · Repairing · Technology Design
No work-context factor stands out as unusually hard in O*NET data.
77% skill match · $84,620
Repairing · Service Orientation · Time Management
If you want to stay close to what you do now, these roles are the nearest.
The closest matches are Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary (78% skill match, median $93,250), Nanosystems Engineers (77% skill match, median $122,930) and Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (77% skill match, median $84,620), based on O*NET 31.0 data and BLS May 2025 pay.
None of the 25 closest matches pays more than molecular and cellular biologists at the national median (BLS May 2025). Higher-paying moves usually need more training.
25 of the 25 matches usually need no more education than you have now, based on O*NET Job Zones.
We compare the importance of skills, knowledge, work activities and interests in O*NET 31.0 for your job and every other career, then adjust for extra preparation and big pay drops. The full method is on our Methodology page.