What it pays
Government survey numbers — not estimates, not ads.
Half of all Biological Scientists, All Other in the U.S. earn more than $98,920 a year — the middle 80% land between $60,430 and $168,010. About 55,850 people in the U.S. do this work. Figures are for the U.S. occupation group “Biological Scientists, All Other”. (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics survey, published 2025.) In India, Professionals earn about ₹38,298 a month on average — around ₹4.6 lakh a year (government PLFS survey via ILOSTAT, occupation-family figure).
$98,920typical pay / year
55,850people in this work
$168,010+top 10% earn
₹4.6 lakha year in India (family avg)
Think you get this job?Six quick questions on how it really works — with a hint and the reason behind every answer.
Test yourself →The work, task by task
These are the real jobs-to-be-done, not a wish list. Each task shows where we found it, and the prompt underneath is written for that exact task.
Analysing4
Perform tests and experiments
+Run the planned assay series on the bacterial cultures today, record reagent lot numbers and instrument…
Perform tests and experiments
+Run the planned assay series on the bacterial cultures today, record reagent lot numbers and instrument settings, run blanks and controls, flag any anomalies, and save the verified raw data and brief method notes to the shared experiment folder by 17:00.
The tools that do the workLinuxESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Observe organism behaviors and habitats
+Spend the morning at Pond 4 observing frog activity across the shoreline transect, note microhabitats, start…
Observe organism behaviors and habitats
+Spend the morning at Pond 4 observing frog activity across the shoreline transect, note microhabitats, start timed focal follows for three individuals, photograph behaviors with scale, and upload annotated field notes and GPS-tagged photos before I leave site at 15:30.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptionsO*NET
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Collect samples and measurements
+Collect ten soil cores along the east transect at 5 m intervals, label tubes with sample ID and depth,…
Collect samples and measurements
+Collect ten soil cores along the east transect at 5 m intervals, label tubes with sample ID and depth, measure temperature and moisture at each point, spin aliquots for DNA and metabolite extraction, and log all sample metadata into the central project spreadsheet before leaving the field.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Conduct research in biology
+Design the next set of experiments testing enzyme activity under three pH conditions, write the stepwise…
Conduct research in biology
+Design the next set of experiments testing enzyme activity under three pH conditions, write the stepwise protocol with controls and expected outcomes, order needed reagents by Thursday, and schedule bench time next week so assays start Monday morning.
The tools that do the workOracle Javajob descriptionsWikipedia
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Keeping the record1
Prepare research reports and presentations
+Draft the research update summarising last quarter's growth curves and assay reproducibility, include two…
Prepare research reports and presentations
+Draft the research update summarising last quarter's growth curves and assay reproducibility, include two figures of mean ± SD, a one-page methods appendix, and prepare a ten-slide summary for Tuesday's lab meeting so we can approve it before circulation to collaborators.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work21
Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life.
+Collect water at the four monitoring points on the north pier today, measure salinity, pH, light intensity,…
Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life.
+Collect water at the four monitoring points on the north pier today, measure salinity, pH, light intensity, dissolved oxygen and temperature on site, log instrument IDs and calibration checks, then summarize correlations with observed invertebrate abundance.
The tools that do the workLinuxO*NET
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Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion, using scientific methods.
+Design and run exclusion trials this week using three trap types around the storage shed, record pest counts,…
Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion, using scientific methods.
+Design and run exclusion trials this week using three trap types around the storage shed, record pest counts, environmental conditions and non-target captures, then write a quantified risk assessment with recommended control actions for the facilities manager.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Analyze research data
+Compile the last six months of lab and field measurements, clean and code the variables, run exploratory…
Analyze research data
+Compile the last six months of lab and field measurements, clean and code the variables, run exploratory stats and regression models to test hypotheses, and produce a one-page results table with key effect sizes and p-values.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS Statisticsjob descriptions
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Maintain detailed records of observations
+Enter today's observation notes into the central project log, transcribe measured values and specimen IDs,…
Maintain detailed records of observations
+Enter today's observation notes into the central project log, transcribe measured values and specimen IDs, attach photo filenames, flag any anomalous readings for follow-up, and produce a weekly summarized observation sheet for the PI.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Accessjob descriptions
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Tag and track animal movements
+Affix GPS-enabled tags to the five adult trout, record tag IDs, capture location and condition, program the…
Tag and track animal movements
+Affix GPS-enabled tags to the five adult trout, record tag IDs, capture location and condition, program the receivers for hourly fixes, and upload the movement records to the team database for home-range analysis.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Investigate environmental impacts of species
+Survey the riparian zone for the invasive shrub next Monday, quantify cover and associated native species…
Investigate environmental impacts of species
+Survey the riparian zone for the invasive shrub next Monday, quantify cover and associated native species responses, compare to baseline transects, then write an impact summary with mitigation priorities for the conservation director.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptions
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Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
+Ingest the latest assay output files, standardise column names and units, run the quality filters we use for…
Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
+Ingest the latest assay output files, standardise column names and units, run the quality filters we use for plate reads, calculate means and standard errors by treatment group, then save the cleaned dataset and analysis script with version note March 18.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelPerlO*NET
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Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
+Schedule the weekly bench review, compile last month’s assay failure log and training records for Priya and…
Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
+Schedule the weekly bench review, compile last month’s assay failure log and training records for Priya and Mateo, draft the talking points on protocol deviations and staffing gaps, and send the agenda to the team with a request for updates by Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeO*NET
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Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.
+Draft a 3‑page research summary focused on our preliminary CRISPR off‑target data, list specific aims, budget…
Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.
+Draft a 3‑page research summary focused on our preliminary CRISPR off‑target data, list specific aims, budget for reagents and personnel for twelve months, attach preliminary figures and a Gantt showing milestones, and prepare it for internal review before Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work.
+Assemble a clear statement of work describing assay deliverables, acceptance criteria, timelines and…
Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work.
+Assemble a clear statement of work describing assay deliverables, acceptance criteria, timelines and reporting cadence for the protein stability screen, include required lab certifications and liability clauses, and circulate it to procurement and the legal lead for comments by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences.
+Prepare a 12‑minute talk summarising methods, key results, and biological implications of the mitochondrial…
Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences.
+Prepare a 12‑minute talk summarising methods, key results, and biological implications of the mitochondrial stress project, build three slides: background, results with one clear figure, and next steps, and send the slide PDF to Clara for her conference registration packet.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointO*NET
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Prepare plans for management of renewable resources.
+Draft a draft management plan that maps harvesting and restoration actions to ecological indicators, define…
Prepare plans for management of renewable resources.
+Draft a draft management plan that maps harvesting and restoration actions to ecological indicators, define monitoring frequency, responsible staff and a 5‑year budget, then circulate to the conservation manager and the regional ecologist for signoff.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Use laboratory equipment to develop or improve chemical-based products
+Run the new synthesis protocol on bench 3 using the high-shear reactor to make 2 liters of the surfactant…
Use laboratory equipment to develop or improve chemical-based products
+Run the new synthesis protocol on bench 3 using the high-shear reactor to make 2 liters of the surfactant blend at 5% active, record reaction time, temperature and pH every five minutes, and flag any off-spec batches to R&D by end of day Friday.
The tools that do the workLinuxESCO
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Compile reports
+Write the monthly formulation report summarising three trial runs, include yield, stability observations, QC…
Compile reports
+Write the monthly formulation report summarising three trial runs, include yield, stability observations, QC assay results and deviation notes, attach chromatograms and raw measurement tables, and send the draft to Priya in formulation and Mark in QA by Tuesday morning.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Maintain laboratory stock
+Audit reagent and consumable levels on the prep bench, order missing solvents and standards to bring ethanol,…
Maintain laboratory stock
+Audit reagent and consumable levels on the prep bench, order missing solvents and standards to bring ethanol, buffer salts and HPLC columns back to two weeks' stock, update the inventory sheet and notify procurement by Wednesday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Operate scientific equipment
+Run the cell counter, calibrate the pipette set, and log temperature and run IDs while processing sample…
Operate scientific equipment
+Run the cell counter, calibrate the pipette set, and log temperature and run IDs while processing sample batch 47 on the incubator; flag any readings outside protocol and stop the run if contamination appears.
The tools that do the workLinuxjob descriptions
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Study life on Earth, including cells and organisms
+Collect tissue biopsies from patient cohort A, prepare slides, perform the staining series, record microscope…
Study life on Earth, including cells and organisms
+Collect tissue biopsies from patient cohort A, prepare slides, perform the staining series, record microscope fields and cell counts, and write the raw observations into the experiment notebook for tomorrow's analysis meeting.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Specialize in a particular branch of biology
+Design and run the enzyme activity assay focused on metabolic pathway X, vary substrate concentration across…
Specialize in a particular branch of biology
+Design and run the enzyme activity assay focused on metabolic pathway X, vary substrate concentration across five conditions, record kinetics, and save the results with reagent lot numbers for traceability.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelWikipedia
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Advance knowledge about the natural world
+Set up the field sampling schedule, collect soil and leaf specimens, run the standard extractions in the lab,…
Advance knowledge about the natural world
+Set up the field sampling schedule, collect soil and leaf specimens, run the standard extractions in the lab, and compile the measurement dataset with metadata so we can test the hypothesis at Friday's group seminar.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISWikipedia
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Develop applications such as in biotechnology
+Prototype the bacterial expression construct, transform the expression strain, verify insert by colony PCR,…
Develop applications such as in biotechnology
+Prototype the bacterial expression construct, transform the expression strain, verify insert by colony PCR, and document growth curves and yield so the process can be handed to process development next week.
The tools that do the workC++Wikipedia
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Work in various sectors like academia, nonprofits, industry, or government
+Coordinate the grant-funded project across university labs and the NGO partner: collect deliverables from…
Work in various sectors like academia, nonprofits, industry, or government
+Coordinate the grant-funded project across university labs and the NGO partner: collect deliverables from each site, harmonise protocols into a master SOP, and prepare the quarter report with the finance codes before Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeWikipedia
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Activities this job lives in
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses
Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses