Geneticists
Job Zone 5 - Extensive preparation needed
Research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders.
Median pay: $98,920/yr (U.S. national, May 2025)
Typical range nationwide (10th–90th percentile). This is a population snapshot, not a personal prediction - actual pay varies by location, employer, and experience.
Job outlook: +1.2% projected growth, 2024–2034 — about as fast as average.
About 4,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS and Employment Projections.
• Supervise or direct the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working on genetics research projects.
• Plan or conduct basic genomic and biological research related to areas such as regulation of gene expression, protein interactions, metabolic networks, and nucleic acid or protein complexes.
• Prepare results of experimental findings for presentation at professional conferences or in scientific journals.
• Maintain laboratory notebooks that record research methods, procedures, and results.
• Write grants and papers or attend fundraising events to seek research funds.
• Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for genetic research goals.
• Review, approve, or interpret genetic laboratory results.
• Attend clinical and research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current genetic research findings.
What's the median pay for Geneticists?
The median pay for Geneticists is $98,920 per year, per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What's the job outlook for Geneticists?
Employment for Geneticists is projected to change +1.2% from 2024 to 2034 - about as fast as average.
What education is typically required for Geneticists?
Typical entry-level education: Bachelor's degree.
How many job openings are there each year for Geneticists?
About 4,800 openings per year, on average, over the decade.