Jobs Similar to Molecular and Cellular Biologists
The careers below use the most similar skills, knowledge and work activities to molecular and cellular biologists, according to O*NET 31.0. The closest are Geneticists, Microbiologists and Medical Scientists.
Molecular and Cellular 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. Molecular and Cellular Biologists) | Usual preparation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GeneticistsSame group | 84% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 2 | MicrobiologistsSame group | 83% | $87,990 | Bachelor's degree |
| 3 | Medical Scientists, Except EpidemiologistsSame group | 82% | $103,410 | Graduate degree |
| 4 | Biochemists and BiophysicistsSame group | 82% | $127,410 | Graduate degree |
| 5 | Physicians, Pathologists | 80% | $312,400 | Graduate degree |
| 6 | BiologistsSame group | 80% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 7 | Bioinformatics ScientistsSame group | 78% | $98,920Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 8 | Animal ScientistsSame group | 77% | $68,940 | Graduate degree |
| 9 | Soil and Plant ScientistsSame group | 77% | $78,850 | Graduate degree |
| 10 | Medical Dosimetrists | 76% | $147,470 | Bachelor's degree |
| 11 | Bioinformatics Technicians | 75% | $81,490Broader BLS group · not compared | Bachelor's degree |
| 12 | Materials Scientists | 74% | $117,790 | Bachelor's degree |
| 13 | Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health | 74% | $82,220 | Bachelor's degree |
| 14 | Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers | 74% | $101,920 | Bachelor's degree |
| 15 | Zoologists and Wildlife BiologistsSame group | 74% | $76,780 | Bachelor's degree |
| 16 | Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary | 74% | $93,250 | Graduate degree |
| 17 | Astronomers | 73% | $128,820 | Graduate degree |
| 18 | Occupational Health and Safety Specialists | 73% | $90,150 | Bachelor's degree |
| 19 | Nanosystems Engineers | 73% | $122,930Broader BLS group · not compared | Graduate degree |
| 20 | Food Scientists and TechnologistsSame group | 73% | $88,720 | Bachelor's degree |
- 1Geneticists
84% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 2Microbiologists
83% similar · $87,990 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 3Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
82% similar · $103,410 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 4Biochemists and Biophysicists
82% similar · $127,410 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 5Physicians, Pathologists
80% similar · $312,400 · Graduate degree
- 6Biologists
80% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 7Bioinformatics Scientists
78% similar · $98,920 (broader group) · Graduate degree · Same group
- 8Animal Scientists
77% similar · $68,940 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 9Soil and Plant Scientists
77% similar · $78,850 · Graduate degree · Same group
- 10Medical Dosimetrists
76% similar · $147,470 · Bachelor's degree
- 11Bioinformatics Technicians
75% similar · $81,490 (broader group) · Bachelor's degree
- 12Materials Scientists
74% similar · $117,790 · Bachelor's degree
- 13Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
74% similar · $82,220 · Bachelor's degree
- 14Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers
74% similar · $101,920 · Bachelor's degree
- 15Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
74% similar · $76,780 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
- 16Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
74% similar · $93,250 · Graduate degree
- 17Astronomers
73% similar · $128,820 · Graduate degree
- 18Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
73% similar · $90,150 · Bachelor's degree
- 19Nanosystems Engineers
73% similar · $122,930 (broader group) · Graduate degree
- 20Food Scientists and Technologists
73% similar · $88,720 · Bachelor's degree · Same group
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
- Microbiologists83% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Medical Dosimetrists76% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Bioinformatics Technicians75% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Materials Scientists74% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health74% similar · Bachelor's degree
- Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and Geographers74% similar · Bachelor's degree
Thinking of a career change?
Similar is not the same as a good next step. Our career-change list for molecular and cellular biologists also weighs pay drops and extra schooling, and puts jobs outside the field first.
Jobs that can lead here
Careers where molecular and cellular biologists is one of the best career-change matches (match score in brackets).
- Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary (80)
- Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary (78)
- Nanosystems Engineers (77)
- Bioengineers and Biomedical Engineers (74)
- Bioinformatics Technicians (74)
- Biostatisticians (74)
- Environmental Restoration Planners (72)
- Human Factors Engineers and Ergonomists (70)
- Astronomers (69)
- Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary (69)
Questions about jobs like molecular and cellular biologists
What jobs are most similar to molecular and cellular biologists?
By O*NET 31.0 data, the closest are Geneticists (84% similar), Microbiologists (83% similar), Medical Scientists (82% similar), Biochemists and Biophysicists (82% similar) and Physicians (Pathologists) (80% similar).
Do jobs like molecular and cellular biologists pay more?
None of the 20 most similar careers has a higher BLS median pay than molecular and cellular 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.