Jobs Similar to Biologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to biologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Geneticists, Bioinformatics Scientists and Microbiologists.
Biologists: $98,920 (broader BLS group) · usual preparation: Graduate degree.
Updated October 2026 · Data: O*NET 31.0 and BLS OEWS May 2025 · How we match careers
The 20 most similar careers
| # | Career | Similarity | Median pay (vs. Biologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GeneticistsSame group | 81% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | Bioinformatics ScientistsSame group | 81% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 3 | MicrobiologistsSame group | 80% | $87,990 | Bachelor's degree |
| 4 | Molecular and Cellular BiologistsSame group | 80% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSame group | 79% | $103,410 | Graduate degree |
| 6 | Soil and Plant ScientistsSame group | 79% | $78,850 | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 78% | $82,220 | Bachelor's degree |
| 8 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 78% | $81,490Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 9 | Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsSame group | 78% | $76,780 | Bachelor's degree |
| 10 | Animal ScientistsSame group | 78% | $68,940 | Graduate degree |
| 11 | Biochemists and BiophysicistsSame group | 77% | $127,410 | Graduate degree |
| 12 | Conservation ScientistsSame group | 76% | $73,010 | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Physicians, Pathologists | 76% | $312,400 | Graduate degree |
| 14 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 76% | $101,920 | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Environmental Restoration Planners | 75% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 16 | Industrial Ecologists | 75% | $82,220Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Medical Dosimetrists | 75% | $147,470 | Bachelor's degree |
| 18 | Statisticians | 75% | $105,650 | Graduate degree |
| 19 | Biostatisticians | 74% | $105,650Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Hydrologists | 74% | $96,600 | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Geneticists
81% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Bioinformatics Scientists
81% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 3Microbiologists
80% similar · $87,990 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 4Molecular and Cellular Biologists
80% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
79% similar · $103,410 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 6Soil and Plant Scientists
79% similar · $78,850 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
78% similar · $82,220 · Bachelor's degree
- 8Bioinformatics Technicians
78% similar · $81,490 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 9Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
78% similar · $76,780 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 10Animal Scientists
78% similar · $68,940 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 11Biochemists and Biophysicists
77% similar · $127,410 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 12Conservation Scientists
76% similar · $73,010 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 13Physicians, Pathologists
76% similar · $312,400 · Graduate degree
- 14Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
76% similar · $101,920 · Bachelor's degree
- 15Environmental Restoration Planners
75% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 16Industrial Ecologists
75% similar · $82,220 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 17Medical Dosimetrists
75% similar · $147,470 · Bachelor's degree
- 18Statisticians
75% similar · $105,650 · Graduate degree
- 19Biostatisticians
74% similar · $105,650 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 20Hydrologists
74% similar · $96,600 · Bachelor's degree
Similarity: weighted correlation of O*NET 31.0 transferable skills (35%), knowledge (25%), work activities (15%) and interests (15%). Pay and schooling do not change it. Pay change compares BLS May 2025 national medians; careers with only a broader BLS group wage are not compared. “Same group”: the same BLS occupation group (SOC minor group). Methodology
Similar jobs that need less preparation
- Microbiologists80% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Bioinformatics Technicians78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists78% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Conservation Scientists76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers76% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for biologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where biologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Environmental Restoration Planners (79)
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers (78)
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary (77)
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (75)
- Industrial Ecologists (75)
- Statisticians (75)
- Biostatisticians (74)
- Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary (74)
- Bioinformatics Technicians (73)
- Environmental Economists (73)
Questions about jobs like biologists
What jobs are most similar to biologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Geneticists (81% similar), Bioinformatics Scientists (81% similar), Microbiologists (80% similar), Molecular and Cellular Biologists (80% similar) and Medical Scientists (79% similar).
Do jobs like biologists pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than biologists where a direct comparison is possible.
How is the similarity percentage worked out?
We compare how important each transferable skill, knowledge area, work activity and interest area is in both jobs (O*NET 31.0 ratings) with a weighted correlation. 100% would mean the same profile. Unlike our career-change matches, pay and extra schooling do not lower the similarity on this page.