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.
Analysing1
Perform tests and experiments
+Draft the experimental protocol and data sheet for the lab tests on amphibian water quality: list reagents,…
Perform tests and experiments
+Draft the experimental protocol and data sheet for the lab tests on amphibian water quality: list reagents, sample volumes and QC blanks, outline the statistical comparisons to run, and schedule three replicate runs with results due to the lab supervisor by June 2.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS StatisticsMicrosoft WordESCOjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Learning3
Observe organism behaviors and habitats
+Spend the morning at the north marsh station recording bird and amphibian behaviours, note microhabitat,…
Observe organism behaviors and habitats
+Spend the morning at the north marsh station recording bird and amphibian behaviours, note microhabitat, time, weather, and GPS coordinates, take three 10-minute focal follows on tagged individual 12, and upload observations to the project log by 1700.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptionsO*NET
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Collect samples and measurements
+Collect soil cores and leaf litter at plots A1, B3, and C2, measure temperature, moisture and pH on site,…
Collect samples and measurements
+Collect soil cores and leaf litter at plots A1, B3, and C2, measure temperature, moisture and pH on site, label samples with plot, date and collector name, and deliver chilled samples to the lab by 1600 for processing.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Conduct research in biology
+Run the planned experiment on predator-prey interactions: set up three predator and three control arenas,…
Conduct research in biology
+Run the planned experiment on predator-prey interactions: set up three predator and three control arenas, introduce specimens from cohort June-03, record behaviour for four hours, log survival and attack rates, then prep samples for lab assays tomorrow.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS Statisticsjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Keeping the record1
Prepare research reports and presentations
+Draft the seasonal field report summarising nest success and foraging shifts, insert site maps and charts,…
Prepare research reports and presentations
+Draft the seasonal field report summarising nest success and foraging shifts, insert site maps and charts, produce a 10-slide presentation for Friday's lab meeting, and circulate both files to Dr. Morales and the funding officer by Thursday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work21
Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
+Load the field sampling spreadsheets, clean and standardise the species and GPS fields, run the summary…
Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
+Load the field sampling spreadsheets, clean and standardise the species and GPS fields, run the summary scripts to calculate abundance and effort-adjusted rates, then export a validated dataset and brief methods note for the ecology team by Wednesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
+Hold a weekly supervision review: collate each technician's sample logs and QC notes, flag missing assays,…
Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
+Hold a weekly supervision review: collate each technician's sample logs and QC notes, flag missing assays, assign corrective actions with deadlines, and send a consolidated task list and performance concerns to the lab manager by Friday noon.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft OfficeO*NET
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Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.
+Draft the research grant narrative that links our field objectives to hypotheses, paste the latest pilot data…
Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.
+Draft the research grant narrative that links our field objectives to hypotheses, paste the latest pilot data tables and methods appendix, calculate the two-year budget with itemised field costs, and produce a submission-ready package for the program officer before the next deadline.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work.
+Write the statement of work describing our survey design, deliverables, sampling schedule, QA procedures and…
Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work.
+Write the statement of work describing our survey design, deliverables, sampling schedule, QA procedures and payment milestones, include staffing roles and travel estimates, and produce a clean PDF to issue to three vendors by Tuesday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences.
+Prepare the conference technical brief: condense our latest habitat modelling results into a 12-minute talk,…
Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences.
+Prepare the conference technical brief: condense our latest habitat modelling results into a 12-minute talk, assemble three clear figures, write speaker notes explaining methods and limitations, and submit the abstract and slides to the organisers by next Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointO*NET
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Prepare plans for management of renewable resources.
+Produce the five-year resource management plan: map current stock assessments, define harvest thresholds and…
Prepare plans for management of renewable resources.
+Produce the five-year resource management plan: map current stock assessments, define harvest thresholds and monitoring triggers, schedule adaptive management checkpoints, and deliver a one-page executive summary and full plan to the regional manager by the end of the month.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISO*NET
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Use laboratory equipment to develop or improve chemical-based products
+Develop and test the new herbivore lure formulation using lab glassware, a pH meter, and GC sample…
Use laboratory equipment to develop or improve chemical-based products
+Develop and test the new herbivore lure formulation using lab glassware, a pH meter, and GC sample preparation; run triplicate assays, record yield and stability, then draft conclusions on efficacy and next adjustments for field trials next Tuesday.
The tools that do the workLinuxESCO
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Compile reports
+Compile the seasonal field report: integrate the last three weeks of observation notes, assay results, and…
Compile reports
+Compile the seasonal field report: integrate the last three weeks of observation notes, assay results, and GPS transect tables into a single narrative with methods, results, and three clear management recommendations by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Maintain laboratory stock
+Inventory and restock the lab reagents and consumables: count remaining solvents, buffers, and assay kits,…
Maintain laboratory stock
+Inventory and restock the lab reagents and consumables: count remaining solvents, buffers, and assay kits, flag any below two-week supply, place orders to the procurement lead and note lot numbers and expiry dates in the stock log before Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelESCO
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Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life.
+Collect water at three depth points at the north and south transects, 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 three depth points at the north and south transects, measure salinity, pH, light intensity and dissolved oxygen on site, log instrument IDs and timestamps, then compare readings to the nearest aquatic species abundance notes and flag anomalies for lab follow-up.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion, using scientific methods.
+Survey crop margins and storage areas for pest signs, set up exclusion trials with bait and control plots,…
Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion, using scientific methods.
+Survey crop margins and storage areas for pest signs, set up exclusion trials with bait and control plots, record incidence and environmental conditions daily for two weeks, then run a risk matrix to prioritise control measures for the farm manager.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelO*NET
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Analyze research data
+Clean and merge field sampling sheets and lab assay outputs, calculate summary statistics and effect sizes…
Analyze research data
+Clean and merge field sampling sheets and lab assay outputs, calculate summary statistics and effect sizes for each treatment group, generate diagnostic plots and a written methods-and-results draft for the principal investigator.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS Statisticsjob descriptions
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Maintain detailed records of observations
+Transcribe daily observation logs into a single chronological register, tag each entry with GPS location,…
Maintain detailed records of observations
+Transcribe daily observation logs into a single chronological register, tag each entry with GPS location, species and behaviour codes, back up the register, and prepare a one-page weekly highlights brief for the research lead.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Tag and track animal movements
+Attach numbered tags and deploy GPS loggers on ten focal animals, record deployment condition, capture…
Tag and track animal movements
+Attach numbered tags and deploy GPS loggers on ten focal animals, record deployment condition, capture coordinates and timestamp, upload movement files, and produce a short report of first-week displacement and any device failures.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Investigate environmental impacts of species
+Map occupied and disturbed habitats along the study shoreline, collect species presence and disturbance…
Investigate environmental impacts of species
+Map occupied and disturbed habitats along the study shoreline, collect species presence and disturbance metrics, run a comparative impact score between invaded and reference sites, and draft mitigation recommendations for the conservation officer.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISjob descriptions
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Operate scientific equipment
+Calibrate the field spectrometer, run the water and soil sample assay using the fluorescence protocol, log…
Operate scientific equipment
+Calibrate the field spectrometer, run the water and soil sample assay using the fluorescence protocol, log instrument QC results, and flag any readings outside tolerance before I pack the kit for tomorrow's transect.
The tools that do the workLinuxjob descriptions
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Study life on Earth, including cells and organisms
+Collect leaf, soil and plankton samples along the coastal transect, prepare wet mounts and slides, run cell…
Study life on Earth, including cells and organisms
+Collect leaf, soil and plankton samples along the coastal transect, prepare wet mounts and slides, run cell counts and stain tests, record species observations and specimen photos with GPS tags for the lab report due Monday.
The tools that do the workESRI ArcGISWikipedia
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Specialize in a particular branch of biology
+Design and run a targeted survey of pollinator visits to the experimental meadow, set up timed observations,…
Specialize in a particular branch of biology
+Design and run a targeted survey of pollinator visits to the experimental meadow, set up timed observations, label specimens by family in the field, and compile results to test the specialist's hypothesis on floral preference.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelWikipedia
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Advance knowledge about the natural world
+Plan and execute a three-week sampling campaign to quantify biodiversity across elevation bands, standardise…
Advance knowledge about the natural world
+Plan and execute a three-week sampling campaign to quantify biodiversity across elevation bands, standardise trap effort, log metadata for each site, and prepare the dataset and methods section for submission to the journal.
The tools that do the workIBM SPSS StatisticsWikipedia
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Develop applications such as in biotechnology
+Prototype a bacteria assay workflow for the biotech partner: validate growth conditions, run sensitivity…
Develop applications such as in biotechnology
+Prototype a bacteria assay workflow for the biotech partner: validate growth conditions, run sensitivity tests on the reagent panel, document SOP changes, and package the protocol and validation data for tech transfer.
The tools that do the workPerlWikipedia
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Work in various sectors like academia, nonprofits, industry, or government
+Prepare the quarterly fieldwork summary for the agency: consolidate sample counts and chain-of-custody logs…
Work in various sectors like academia, nonprofits, industry, or government
+Prepare the quarterly fieldwork summary for the agency: consolidate sample counts and chain-of-custody logs from university, NGO and contractor teams, reconcile discrepancies, and send the cleaned report to the program manager by Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft ExcelWikipedia
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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