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.
Analysing3
Collaborate with other researchers
+Share the latest RNA-seq QC summary, the draft methods section, and the frozen aliquot inventory with Dr.…
Collaborate with other researchers
+Share the latest RNA-seq QC summary, the draft methods section, and the frozen aliquot inventory with Dr. Elena Morales and the sequencing core this week, ask them to flag any inconsistencies and propose one meeting time on Thursday afternoon.
The tools that do the workGitjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Compile and analyze experimental data
+Aggregate raw qPCR and plate reader output, normalise against the housekeeping controls, run the differential…
Compile and analyze experimental data
+Aggregate raw qPCR and plate reader output, normalise against the housekeeping controls, run the differential expression script and produce a one-page results table with figures and variance estimates by Tuesday noon for the PI to review.
The tools that do the workThe MathWorks MATLABjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Interpret experimental results
+Review the latest sequencing and expression data from the knockout experiment, compare observed variant…
Interpret experimental results
+Review the latest sequencing and expression data from the knockout experiment, compare observed variant frequencies to expected controls, evaluate whether results support the hypothesis, and write a one-page interpretation with recommended next steps for the PI by Tuesday.
The tools that do the workThe MathWorks MATLABMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Get approval1
Write grant applications to obtain funding
+Draft the specific aims, preliminary data figures, and a three-year budget using our mutation load and cohort…
Write grant applications to obtain funding
+Draft the specific aims, preliminary data figures, and a three-year budget using our mutation load and cohort numbers, then send the draft to Dr. Patel and the departmental grants officer for edits by next Monday so we can submit the institutional routing form.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Fixing1
Maintain and operate laboratory equipment
+Run the weekly maintenance checklist on the real-time PCR and centrifuge units, log calibration readings,…
Maintain and operate laboratory equipment
+Run the weekly maintenance checklist on the real-time PCR and centrifuge units, log calibration readings, replace any consumables out of tolerance, and file the completed equipment log with the lab manager before end of day Friday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NETWikipedia
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Care1
Train and supervise junior staff
+Draft a two-hour training session for the junior technicians covering sample handling, contamination…
Train and supervise junior staff
+Draft a two-hour training session for the junior technicians covering sample handling, contamination controls, and the lab's incident reporting steps, include hands-on exercises and an assessment, and send it to the lab manager for approval by next Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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The daily work14
Prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or presentations
+Write and format the draft manuscript reporting the cohort sequencing results, include clear methods for…
Prepare or review reports, manuscripts, or presentations
+Write and format the draft manuscript reporting the cohort sequencing results, include clear methods for variant calling, tables of allele frequencies, three figures with legible labels, and a two-paragraph discussion of clinical significance for submission by next Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Evaluate new technologies for research enhancement
+Prepare a two-page evaluation comparing the new single-cell library prep kit to our current kit, list…
Evaluate new technologies for research enhancement
+Prepare a two-page evaluation comparing the new single-cell library prep kit to our current kit, list hands-on time, per-sample cost, expected capture efficiency, required equipment, and recommended pilot of ten samples starting Monday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Monitor and operate specialized laboratory equipment
+Run the daily QC on the sequencing instrument, record run metrics and reagent lot numbers, flag any channels…
Monitor and operate specialized laboratory equipment
+Run the daily QC on the sequencing instrument, record run metrics and reagent lot numbers, flag any channels with signal drift, restart the run only after notifying Sarah and documenting corrective steps in the equipment log.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Exceljob descriptionsO*NET
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Develop assays to monitor cell characteristics
+Design and document an assay to quantify cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, specify…
Develop assays to monitor cell characteristics
+Design and document an assay to quantify cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential, specify reagents, controls, fluorescence channels, gating strategy, acceptance criteria, and a two-week validation plan with 30 samples.
The tools that do the workThe MathWorks MATLABMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsO*NET
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Conduct research on cell organization and function
+Plan and draft the experimental roadmap to study cytoskeletal rearrangements during mitosis, list hypotheses,…
Conduct research on cell organization and function
+Plan and draft the experimental roadmap to study cytoskeletal rearrangements during mitosis, list hypotheses, live‑cell imaging parameters, fixation conditions, antibody panels, sample size by timepoint, and expected milestones over six months.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft Wordjob descriptionsWikipedia
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Conduct applied research aimed at improvements in areas such as disease testing, crop quality, pharmaceuticals, and the harnessing of microbes to recycle waste.
+Write the applied research proposal to improve microbial waste degradation, include target organisms,…
Conduct applied research aimed at improvements in areas such as disease testing, crop quality, pharmaceuticals, and the harnessing of microbes to recycle waste.
+Write the applied research proposal to improve microbial waste degradation, include target organisms, proposed genetic modifications, assay endpoints, biosafety risk assessment, projected timelines, and a budget for a six‑month pilot.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Analyze molecular interactions and chemical bonds
+Analyze the protein–ligand interaction dataset from last week's pull-downs, map hydrogen bonds and…
Analyze molecular interactions and chemical bonds
+Analyze the protein–ligand interaction dataset from last week's pull-downs, map hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic contacts, quantify binding energy differences between wild-type and mutant samples, and return an annotated figure and short results paragraph by Friday.
The tools that do the workThe MathWorks MATLABWikipedia
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Apply knowledge to develop medical or biotechnological solutions
+Design experimental modifications to the therapeutic antibody project to improve affinity and reduce…
Apply knowledge to develop medical or biotechnological solutions
+Design experimental modifications to the therapeutic antibody project to improve affinity and reduce off-target binding, propose three testable constructs with rationale, expected assays, and a prioritized development plan for the next two months.
The tools that do the workPythonWikipedia
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Ensure compliance with safety and ethical standards in research
+Review the ongoing CRISPR cell-line work for biosafety and ethics: list all genetic changes, confirm…
Ensure compliance with safety and ethical standards in research
+Review the ongoing CRISPR cell-line work for biosafety and ethics: list all genetic changes, confirm containment level and waste disposal steps, identify missing approvals or consent items, and produce a compliance checklist to sign off before next run.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordWikipedia
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Develop guidelines for procedures such as the management of viruses.
+Draft biosafety and virus-handling guidelines for the lab that set containment levels, specimen flow, PPE…
Develop guidelines for procedures such as the management of viruses.
+Draft biosafety and virus-handling guidelines for the lab that set containment levels, specimen flow, PPE requirements, decontamination steps, waste disposal, and training verification so we can sign off before the next grant audit on March 1.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordO*NET
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Verify all financial, physical, and human resources assigned to research or development projects are used as planned.
+Reconcile project budgets, equipment inventories, and staff time records against planned allocations for the…
Verify all financial, physical, and human resources assigned to research or development projects are used as planned.
+Reconcile project budgets, equipment inventories, and staff time records against planned allocations for the BRCA sequencing project, flag any overruns or unassigned hours, and produce a one-page variance summary for Monday's resource review meeting.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft AccessO*NET
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Instruct undergraduate and graduate students
+Design the next quarter's undergraduate and graduate practicals: list learning objectives, required…
Instruct undergraduate and graduate students
+Design the next quarter's undergraduate and graduate practicals: list learning objectives, required pre-reads, stepwise lab protocols for PCR and gel work, assessment rubrics, and a schedule so instructors can review before term starts.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft WordMicrosoft PowerPointjob descriptions
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Participate in all levels of bioproduct development
+Outline stage-gate tasks for our peptide therapeutic program from discovery through scale-up: key…
Participate in all levels of bioproduct development
+Outline stage-gate tasks for our peptide therapeutic program from discovery through scale-up: key experiments, acceptance criteria, CMC milestones, and who owns each deliverable so we have a clear plan for the next investor update.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Wordjob descriptions
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Present research findings publicly
+Prepare a 12-minute talk of our CNV analysis results, including one clear hypothesis, two key figures with…
Present research findings publicly
+Prepare a 12-minute talk of our CNV analysis results, including one clear hypothesis, two key figures with concise captions, and a slide with clinical implications so I can present at the departmental seminar next Thursday.
The tools that do the workMicrosoft PowerPointAgilent CGH Analyticsjob descriptions
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Built on public evidence: O*NET®, ESCO, Wikipedia, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, ILOSTAT. All sources & licenses