Biology is one of the most popular majors in the United States. In the latest IPEDS completions data, U.S. colleges awarded 75,817 bachelor’s degrees in general biology as a first major, along with 3,741 master’s degrees and 1,086 research doctorates; international students earned 2,158, 530 and 254 of them (Forward Pathway IPEDS database). Only a minority of these graduates will run a research lab. This guide covers the career paths open to biology graduates and how to prepare for them, using a career course at Tufts University as an example.
An example: Tufts’ “Career Skills for Biologists”
At Tufts University, Frank David, a professor of the practice in the Department of Biology, teaches Career Skills for Biologists to upper-level undergraduates and master’s students. David earned an M.D./Ph.D. and completed a residency and postdoctoral fellowship before moving into biopharma consulting. He also runs the biotech consulting firm Pharmagellan. He created the course to address what he calls “the existential angst problem.” According to David, the master’s students in the course split roughly evenly among those heading to a Ph.D. or medical school, those aiming for biotech or pharma, and those who are undecided (Tufts Now, November 12, 2025).
The course has three parts:
- Exploration (the first four weeks): what students want to do, what they are able to do, and what someone will pay them to do.
- Job search (a one-credit, pass/fail section): LinkedIn profiles, resumes and cover letters, workshopped in class, with optional one-on-one feedback.
- Career success: negotiating offers, managing time and communicating at work, down to writing clear emails.
The one assignment asks students to list the careers they are considering and explain why. David replies with ideas, relevant LinkedIn profiles and sometimes introductions. “You need to start thinking about this the first day you come in,” he said, adding that “no one asks the history majors why they’re not going to go be historians.”
Few students have a course like this, but its structure works as a plan anyone can follow with their own career center.
Where biology graduates work
David pointed to industry roles in manufacturing, quality control, safety, clinical operations, project management and the business side of biotech, as well as health policy and advocacy, climate science and science communication. The table shows national employment and median pay for related occupations from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ May 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (BLS OEWS):
| Occupation | U.S. jobs | Median annual pay | Typical route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological technicians | 69,620 | $57,510 | Bachelor’s; lab and QC roles |
| Microbiologists | 18,940 | $87,990 | Bachelor’s or master’s |
| Epidemiologists | 12,090 | $87,220 | Master’s (often MPH) |
| Environmental scientists and specialists | 89,250 | $82,220 | Bachelor’s or master’s |
| Technical writers (including science and regulatory writing) | 45,500 | $90,390 | Bachelor’s plus writing samples |
| Project management specialists | 1,066,670 | $102,320 | Experience; common in clinical operations |
| Genetic counselors | 3,740 | $100,040 | Accredited master’s and certification |
| Medical scientists | 172,340 | $103,410 | Usually Ph.D. or M.D. |
| Biochemists and biophysicists | 33,830 | $127,410 | Usually Ph.D. |
| Natural sciences managers | 108,690 | $167,220 | Degree plus years of experience |
The pattern is clear. A bachelor’s degree alone usually leads to technician, quality control or support roles. Research-scientist titles generally require a Ph.D. Master’s degrees open more specialized jobs such as epidemiology, genetic counseling and industry associate scientist positions. Higher-paying non-lab roles such as project management, regulatory writing and business development depend on skills and experience you build alongside the science. For genetic counseling as a career, see our genetic counseling career guide.
How to prepare, year by year
- Start early. Use your first year to explore: talk to your career center, attend department seminars and alumni panels, and write down which roles sound interesting and why. This is the same exercise as the Tufts assignment.
- Build hands-on evidence. Research in a faculty lab, a summer internship or co-op, or a course with a substantial lab project all count. David advises students to describe hands-on class projects as lab experience on their resumes.
- Add a second skill set. Statistics and programming (R or Python) help with data-heavy roles. Writing and communication courses prepare you for science communication and regulatory work, and economics or business courses prepare you for the industry side.
- Use LinkedIn and informational interviews. Find alumni in roles you are considering and ask how they got there. Most career centers will review your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- Decide on graduate school with a goal in mind. A Ph.D. makes sense for research-scientist careers. A professional master’s or an MPH is a faster route to industry or public health jobs. Medical school requires its own planning.
Notes for international students
- STEM OPT: general biology (CIP 26.0101), biomedical sciences (26.0102) and neuroscience (26.1501) are on the STEM Designated Degree Program List (SEVP STEM list). F-1 graduates can work for 12 months on OPT plus a 24-month STEM extension with an E-Verify employer, for up to three years in total (USCIS: STEM OPT). Check the CIP code on your I-20, because some biology-related programs use non-STEM codes.
- Internships during the degree need Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization from your school’s international office. Since August 2026 SEVP has stressed that CPT must be an integral, required part of the curriculum (SEVP Broadcast 2608-01), so ask early how your program handles internships.
- Government jobs in public health and regulation are mostly limited to U.S. citizens, because competitive-service federal jobs generally require citizenship (USAJOBS: Non-citizens). Biotech, pharma, contract research organizations, hospitals and universities are more open to international hires.
References
- Tufts Now: For Biology Students, Prepping for Life After School (November 12, 2025)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- SEVP: STEM Designated Degree Program List
- USCIS: Optional Practical Training Extension for STEM Students
- SEVP Broadcast Message 2608-01: Reminder of Liability for DSOs Regarding CPT Authorization (August 2026)
- Forward Pathway: Tufts University profile and rankings