If you’ve earned a biology degree and decided to begin your career rather than attending medical school, it’s helpful to learn which careers are available to graduates with your educational background. Learning what types of positions biology graduates often pursue can help you determine which career path aligns with your professional objectives. Choosing a job that matches your interests and goals can also help you improve your level of job satisfaction, regardless of the industry in which you work.
Recommended
In this article, we list nine jobs that you can do with a biology degree and no med school, including the national average salary and primary job duties for each position.
What can you do with a biology degree if you don’t go to med school?
Biology degrees provide students with an in-depth understanding of topics related to the overall function of life and of the human body. A biology degree incorporates diverse elements of other types of sciences and provides students with a broad understanding of how they work together to create and sustain life. While completing your degree, you may study subjects like:
-
Botany
-
Ecology
-
Human Anatomy
-
Pathology
-
Physiology
-
Pathophysiology
-
Physics
-
Chemistry
There are many jobs that you can pursue if you choose not to go to med school after getting your biology degree. Often, these jobs may be in related fields, such as ecology, scientific research, or scientific instruction.
READ ALSO: BEST ONLINE BIOLOGY DEGREES
9 jobs you can do with a biology degree and no med school
Here are eight jobs that you can do with a biology degree and no med school. For the most up-to-date Indeed salaries, please click on the links below:
1. Science teacher
National average salary: $63,683 per year
Primary duties: Science teachers are responsible for creating and maintaining lesson plans for the courses they teach. They also focus on grading assignments and maintaining student records. Additionally, they may provide one-on-one student support and collaborate with other teachers and school staff to ensure student success. Science teachers of all grade levels sometimes require additional education, so they may pursue a master’s degree in a specific subject, such as biology.
2. Research Assistant
National average salary: $40,425 per year
Primary duties: A research assistant works in a lab setting, sometimes within a university or college. These professionals are primarily responsible for supporting and managing ongoing research projects. Their additional duties may include performing statistical analyses, completing scientific studies of a variety of biologically oriented topics, and compiling reports for use in scientific publications.
3. Health advocate
National average salary: $41,225 per year
Primary duties: Health advocates are professionals who help patients engage in their health care effectively. They may help patients complete administrative tasks and explain complex diagnoses. They may also offer patients emotional support and accompany them to appointments. Health advocates may work within a small healthcare facility or a larger medical organization.
4. Nutritionist
National average salary: $41,657 per year
Primary duties: The primary duties of a nutritionist include creating individualized dietary plans for patients, assisting patients in reaching their health goals naturally or via supplementation, and offering patient education for preventing illness and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Depending on the state in which they live, these professionals may fulfill specific certification requirements. Nutritionists often work in hospitals, medical centers, and independent practices.
5. Laboratory technician
National average salary: $51,389 per year
Primary duties: Laboratory technicians are responsible for collecting and analyzing medical specimens, compiling results from pathologists, and maintaining lab equipment on site. They may work with pathologists, diagnosticians, and phlebotomists to assist patients in understanding and managing their health. These healthcare professionals may also process patient paperwork, provide patient education, and ensure the safe storage and disposal of analyzed specimens.
6. Copywriter
National average salary: $52,486 per year
Primary duties: Copywriters are professionals who plan and create content for an organization. They may specialize in specific subjects, such as health care. Health copywriters typically focus on writing health-related content for marketing purposes, assisting an organization in developing a marketing strategy, and fact-checking and editing other writers’ health content. Having a biology degree can help health copywriters by providing them with the fundamental knowledge they require to create engaging, accurate content related to biology and health care.
7. Forensic scientist
National average salary: $60,553 per year
Primary duties: Forensic scientists work alongside police officers and other law enforcement professionals to collect biological evidence at a crime scene. They may also analyze and test these specimens, and then document and report their scientific findings. Their additional duties include general crime scene support and case support, such as testifying in a court of law regarding the specimens they evaluated.
8. Pharmaceutical sales representative
National average salary: $69,748 per year
Primary duties: A pharmaceutical sales representative is responsible for presenting and selling medical technology. They may work with independent practices, hospitals, or medical centers. Additionally, they may develop marketing content for presentations and other customer outreach efforts. They also often participate in marketing events by presenting new products. These professionals often collect and record client information for future use in a customer relations management system or another platform.
9. Biotech consultant
National average salary: $134,335 per year
Primary duties: Biotech consultants are professionals who provide organizations with advice about science and technology topics. They often study subjects such as biology, engineering, and chemistry to provide their clients with accurate guidance. They typically work with a consulting agency that specializes in biotech or as independent contractors. These professionals may assist their clients in understanding biotechnology by creating, executing, and reporting on new research projects in their field. For example, a biotech consultant might analyze a new medicine that a pharmaceutical company is planning to sell.
I hope you find this article helpful.
