Degree to Occupation Map
Occupations related to a biological science degree
NCES and BLS publish a crosswalk relating instructional programs to occupations. This page lists every occupation that crosswalk relates to biological science, with the BLS typical entry education, 2025 median wage and projected growth for each, and links to the RoleSprint page covering the role where one exists.
What occupations does the official crosswalk relate to a biological science degree?
The CIP 2020-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk published by NCES and BLS relates 92 CIP 2020 programs in biological science to 34 occupations. That maps a field of study to lines of work; it is not a statement that a biological science degree qualifies someone for any of them, and the crosswalk carries no figure for how many graduates enter each. Across the 33 with a published 2025 BLS wage the median is $87,220, ranging from $49,630 for Agricultural Technicians to $167,220 for Natural Sciences Managers. BLS typical entry-level education splits 1 at high school diploma or equivalent, 4 at associate's degree, 16 at bachelor's degree, 5 at master's degree, 7 at doctoral or professional degree: 21 at or below a bachelor's degree and 12 above it. Business Intelligence Analysts is projected to grow fastest at +34.6% over 2025-35. The highest-paid are Natural Sciences Managers ($167,220), Computer and Information Research Scientists ($140,300) and Biochemists and Biophysicists ($127,410).
- Related occupations
- 34, from 92 CIP 2020 programs in biological science (a further 1 related occupation has no BLS or O*NET row on this site and are not listed)
- What the mapping means
- NCES states only that it "crosswalks 2020 CIP Codes to 2018 SOC Codes". It relates a program to an occupation. It does not establish qualification, hiring, or how many graduates take that path.
- BLS typical entry-level education
- High school diploma or equivalent: 1; Associate's degree: 4; Bachelor's degree: 16; Master's degree: 5; Doctoral or professional degree: 7
- Median wage across these occupations
- $87,220 (2025); 33 of 34 have a published BLS wage
- Next step
- 11 of the 34 occupations have a dedicated RoleSprint page covering what the role requires and how the work is performed.
Source and method
2020 CIP / 2018 SOC Crosswalk, National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics, and BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2. Verified 2026-09-06. Program-to-occupation relationships are reproduced from the NCES/BLS crosswalk exactly as published; RoleSprint groups CIP programs into the field of study a person would search for and lists the union of their related occupations, showing every member CIP code. Wage, typical entry education and outlook are reproduced from BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 for the matching SOC code. Working-condition figures are O*NET 30.3 means. No relationship strength, employment share or qualification judgement is published, because no source supplies one.
What this list is, and what it is not
The crosswalk's own description of itself is one sentence: “This file crosswalks 2020 CIP Codes to 2018 SOC Codes in ascending order by CIP Code.” It relates a field of study to lines of work.
It does not say a biological science degree qualifies anyone for these occupations, that graduates usually enter them, or what share do: the crosswalk publishes no such figure. The wage and education columns come from a separate source, BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2, and describe the occupation rather than the degree. Typical entry education is what BLS observes most often among people already doing the work; it is not a rule about who may be hired.
The 34 related occupations
Ordered by BLS median wage, highest first. 33 of 34 have a published wage.
| Occupation | BLS typical entry-level education | Median wage | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|
Natural Sciences Managers SOC 11-9121 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 4.1 · Outdoors, all weather 1.5 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $167,220 2025 median | +8.2% 2025-35 · 9.2 openings/yr |
Computer and Information Research Scientists SOC 15-1221 Contact with others 4.4 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 4.5 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $140,300 2025 median | +21.8% 2025-35 · 2.9 openings/yr |
Biochemists and Biophysicists SOC 19-1021 Contact with others 3.8 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 3.6 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $127,410 2025 median | +12.3% 2025-35 · 2.9 openings/yr |
Mathematicians SOC 15-2021 Contact with others 3.4 · Time pressure 3.1 · Sitting 3.9 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $126,710 2025 median | +0.6% 2025-35 · 0.1 openings/yr |
Medical and Health Services Managers SOC 11-9111 Contact with others 4.8 · Time pressure 3.9 · Sitting 4.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.0 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $123,860 2025 median | +24.2% 2025-35 · 62.3 openings/yr |
Business Intelligence Analysts SOC 15-2051 Contact with others 3.3 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 4.8 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $120,230 2025 median | +34.6% 2025-35 · 24.8 openings/yr |
Web Administrators SOC 15-1299 Contact with others 3.6 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 4.7 · Outdoors, all weather 1.3 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $116,580 2025 median | +5.1% 2025-35 · 27 openings/yr |
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1071 Contact with others 4.8 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 3.9 · Outdoors, all weather 1.3 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $107,310 2025 median | +17.9% 2025-35 · 24.9 openings/yr |
Statisticians SOC 15-2041 Contact with others 3.4 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 4.7 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $105,650 2025 median | +11% 2025-35 · 1.9 openings/yr |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists SOC 19-1042 Contact with others 4.7 · Time pressure 3.7 · Sitting 3.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $103,410 2025 median | +12.6% 2025-35 · 10.5 openings/yr |
Forestry and Conservation Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1043 Contact with others 4.5 · Time pressure 3.9 · Sitting 3.5 · Outdoors, all weather 3.2 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $101,420 2025 median | +2.8% 2025-35 · 0.1 openings/yr |
Genetic Counselors SOC 29-9092 Contact with others 4.6 · Time pressure 3.9 · Sitting 4.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.0 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $100,040 2025 median | +10.4% 2025-35 · 0.3 openings/yr |
Bioinformatics Scientists SOC 19-1029 Contact with others 3.7 · Time pressure 3.4 · Sitting 4.8 · Outdoors, all weather 1.3 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $98,920 2025 median | +4.7% 2025-35 · 4.3 openings/yr |
Environmental Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1053 Contact with others 4.3 · Time pressure 3.6 · Sitting 3.6 · Outdoors, all weather 2.1 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $94,980 2025 median | +2.7% 2025-35 · 0.6 openings/yr |
Occupational Health and Safety Specialists SOC 19-5011 Contact with others 4.3 · Time pressure 3.6 · Sitting 3.1 · Outdoors, all weather 3.4 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $90,150 2025 median | +18.5% 2025-35 · 17.1 openings/yr |
Microbiologists SOC 19-1022 Contact with others 3.8 · Time pressure 4.1 · Sitting 3.5 · Outdoors, all weather 1.8 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $87,990 2025 median | +6.2% 2025-35 · 1.5 openings/yr |
Epidemiologists SOC 19-1041 Contact with others 4.2 · Time pressure 3.6 · Sitting 4.2 · Outdoors, all weather 1.6 of 5 | Master's degree Above bachelor's | $87,220 2025 median | +18.7% 2025-35 · 0.8 openings/yr |
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1042 Contact with others 4.4 · Time pressure 4.0 · Sitting 3.0 · Outdoors, all weather 1.9 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $84,620 2025 median | +7.3% 2025-35 · 4.7 openings/yr |
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health SOC 19-2041 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 4.4 · Outdoors, all weather 2.5 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $82,220 2025 median | +6.1% 2025-35 · 7.3 openings/yr |
Bioinformatics Technicians SOC 15-2099 Contact with others 3.9 · Time pressure 3.4 · Sitting 4.7 · Outdoors, all weather 1.1 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $81,490 2025 median | +7.1% 2025-35 · 0.2 openings/yr |
Mathematical Science Teachers, Postsecondary SOC 25-1022 Contact with others 4.3 · Time pressure 3.6 · Sitting 3.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.0 of 5 | Doctoral or professional degree Above bachelor's | $79,940 2025 median | +1.7% 2025-35 · 3.9 openings/yr |
Soil and Plant Scientists SOC 19-1013 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 2.9 · Outdoors, all weather 3.9 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $78,850 2025 median | +6.7% 2025-35 · 1.4 openings/yr |
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists SOC 19-1023 Contact with others 4.4 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 3.6 · Outdoors, all weather 3.4 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $76,780 2025 median | +3.6% 2025-35 · 1.4 openings/yr |
Conservation Scientists SOC 19-1031 Contact with others 3.9 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 3.2 · Outdoors, all weather 3.9 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $73,010 2025 median | +5.3% 2025-35 · 2.1 openings/yr |
Forensic Science Technicians SOC 19-4092 Contact with others 4.2 · Time pressure 3.9 · Sitting 3.1 · Outdoors, all weather 3.9 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $72,060 2025 median | +13.3% 2025-35 · 2.8 openings/yr |
Secondary School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education SOC 25-2031 Contact with others 4.8 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 3.0 · Outdoors, all weather 2.1 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $72,040 2025 median | -0.2% 2025-35 · 63.5 openings/yr |
Occupational Health and Safety Technicians SOC 19-5012 Contact with others 4.4 · Time pressure 3.8 · Sitting 3.1 · Outdoors, all weather 3.5 of 5 | High school diploma or equivalent At or below bachelor's | $61,560 2025 median | +19.4% 2025-35 · 3.8 openings/yr |
Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians SOC 17-3025 Contact with others 4.4 · Time pressure 3.5 · Sitting 3.3 · Outdoors, all weather 3.7 of 5 | Associate's degree At or below bachelor's | $59,920 2025 median | +3.1% 2025-35 · 1.1 openings/yr |
Exercise Physiologists SOC 29-1128 Contact with others 4.8 · Time pressure 3.1 · Sitting 2.5 · Outdoors, all weather 2.0 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $59,460 2025 median | +12.8% 2025-35 · 1.4 openings/yr |
Biological Technicians SOC 19-4021 Contact with others 4.2 · Time pressure 3.3 · Sitting 3.2 · Outdoors, all weather 1.5 of 5 | Bachelor's degree At or below bachelor's | $57,510 2025 median | +7.4% 2025-35 · 9.4 openings/yr |
Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health SOC 19-4042 Contact with others 3.9 · Time pressure 4.3 · Sitting 3.2 · Outdoors, all weather 3.6 of 5 | Associate's degree At or below bachelor's | $55,090 2025 median | +6.9% 2025-35 · 5.3 openings/yr |
Food Science Technicians SOC 19-4013 Contact with others 4.6 · Time pressure 4.4 · Sitting 2.3 · Outdoors, all weather 1.3 of 5 | Associate's degree At or below bachelor's | $52,130 2025 median | +4.8% 2025-35 · 3 openings/yr |
Agricultural Technicians SOC 19-4012 Contact with others 4.0 · Time pressure 3.2 · Sitting 2.7 · Outdoors, all weather 4.3 of 5 | Associate's degree At or below bachelor's | $49,630 2025 median | +5.4% 2025-35 · 2.8 openings/yr |
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists SOC 29-2011 Contact with others 4.6 · Time pressure 4.4 · Sitting 3.0 · Outdoors, all weather 1.0 of 5 | Not published | Not published | Not published |
The crosswalk relates 1 further occupation to this field (19-1099) for which BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2 publishes no line item on this site. They are counted here rather than listed, because there would be nothing to show beside the name.
BLS typical entry-level education for these occupations
21 of the 34 have a BLS typical entry-level education at or below a bachelor's degree; 12 are above it. "Typical" is BLS's word: it describes the workers already in the occupation.
- High school diploma or equivalent
- 1
- Associate's degree
- 4
- Bachelor's degree
- 16
- Master's degree
- 5
- Doctoral or professional degree
- 7
This is BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2's description of the education most workers in each occupation typically hold when they enter it. It is not a list of requirements, and it says nothing about licences, certifications or experience, which BLS records separately and this page does not show.
Which programs this covers
“Biological science” groups 92 CIP 2020 instructional programs. The occupation list above is the union of everything the crosswalk relates to them.
- 26.0101 Biology/Biological Sciences, General
- 26.0102 Biomedical Sciences, General
- 26.0202 Biochemistry
- 26.0203 Biophysics
- 26.0204 Molecular Biology
- 26.0205 Molecular Biochemistry
- 26.0206 Molecular Biophysics
- 26.0207 Structural Biology
- 26.0208 Photobiology
- 26.0209 Radiation Biology/Radiobiology
- 26.0210 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- 26.0299 Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other
- 26.0301 Botany/Plant Biology
- 26.0305 Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
- 26.0307 Plant Physiology
- 26.0308 Plant Molecular Biology
- 26.0399 Botany/Plant Biology, Other
- 26.0401 Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
- 26.0403 Anatomy
- 26.0404 Developmental Biology and Embryology
- 26.0406 Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
- 26.0407 Cell Biology and Anatomy
- 26.0499 Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other
- 26.0502 Microbiology, General
- 26.0503 Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology
- 26.0504 Virology
- 26.0505 Parasitology
- 26.0506 Mycology
- 26.0507 Immunology
- 26.0508 Microbiology and Immunology
- 26.0509 Infectious Disease and Global Health
- 26.0599 Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other
- 26.0701 Zoology/Animal Biology
- 26.0702 Entomology
- 26.0707 Animal Physiology
- 26.0708 Animal Behavior and Ethology
- 26.0709 Wildlife Biology
- 26.0799 Zoology/Animal Biology, Other
- 26.0801 Genetics, General
- 26.0802 Molecular Genetics
- 26.0803 Microbial and Eukaryotic Genetics
- 26.0804 Animal Genetics
- 26.0805 Plant Genetics
- 26.0806 Human/Medical Genetics
- 26.0807 Genome Sciences/Genomics
- 26.0899 Genetics, Other
- 26.0901 Physiology, General
- 26.0902 Molecular Physiology
- 26.0903 Cell Physiology
- 26.0904 Endocrinology
- 26.0905 Reproductive Biology
- 26.0907 Cardiovascular Science
- 26.0908 Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology
- 26.0909 Vision Science/Physiological Optics
- 26.0910 Pathology/Experimental Pathology
- 26.0911 Oncology and Cancer Biology
- 26.0912 Aerospace Physiology and Medicine
- 26.0913 Biomechanics
- 26.0999 Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences, Other
- 26.1001 Pharmacology
- 26.1002 Molecular Pharmacology
- 26.1003 Neuropharmacology
- 26.1004 Toxicology
- 26.1005 Molecular Toxicology
- 26.1006 Environmental Toxicology
- 26.1007 Pharmacology and Toxicology
- 26.1099 Pharmacology and Toxicology, Other
- 26.1101 Biometry/Biometrics
- 26.1102 Biostatistics
- 26.1103 Bioinformatics
- 26.1104 Computational Biology
- 26.1199 Biomathematics, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, Other
- 26.1201 Biotechnology
- 26.1301 Ecology
- 26.1302 Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
- 26.1303 Evolutionary Biology
- 26.1304 Aquatic Biology/Limnology
- 26.1305 Environmental Biology
- 26.1306 Population Biology
- 26.1307 Conservation Biology
- 26.1308 Systematic Biology/Biological Systematics
- 26.1309 Epidemiology
- 26.1310 Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
- 26.1311 Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- 26.1399 Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other
- 26.1401 Molecular Medicine
- 26.1501 Neuroscience
- 26.1502 Neuroanatomy
- 26.1503 Neurobiology and Anatomy
- 26.1504 Neurobiology and Behavior
- 26.1599 Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Other
- 26.9999 Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other
Grouping is RoleSprint's, and it is printed here so it can be checked. CIP's own grain is finer than the phrase anyone searches; the alternative is one page per code, which would put near-identical lists in front of the same question. How this map is built.
Working out which of these is realistic
A related occupation is a starting point, not a verdict. Three different questions decide whether one is worth pursuing, and each has its own page.
Program-to-occupation relationships from the 2020 CIP / 2018 SOC Crosswalk, National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wage, typical entry education and outlook from BLS Employment Projections, Table 1.2. Working-condition figures from the O*NET 30.3 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA and RoleSprint has modified some of this information.
What to do next
A crosswalk relates a field of study to lines of work. Whether one specific opening is worth your time depends on what you can actually show, which is a different question and the one RoleSprint answers.