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Science

Molecular and Cellular Biologists

Research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.

Median salary (BLS)

$98,920

10th–90th percentile (BLS)

$60k – $168k

Job outlook

+1% (about average)

AI exposure

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports one wage for this occupational group, which covers 4 related roles — so read the median as an approximate group figure, and the range as the truer picture for this specific title. BLS source.

Early-career check: graduates of the matching programs below typically earn $119,000 ten years after starting college — an early-career figure, vs. the all-experience BLS median above. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard.

Plan a path to Molecular and Cellular Biologists

Qualification costsStack incomeBest cities/statesSchool ROIJob-posting fitTailored resume

Education

Typical entry: Master's degree

Plan my path to this →

How to qualify

Estimate

Cost to qualify

$64,000–$230,000

Time to qualify

6 yr

Renewal

—

  1. 1

    Bachelor's degree

    Degree

    Four years at public in-state rates — average published tuition & fees ≈ $11,610/yr, plus books. Private and out-of-state run higher; grant aid lowers most students' actual net price.

    $40,000–$150,000 · 4 years source

  2. 2

    Master's degree

    Degree

    Typically two years; average graduate tuition ≈ $20,000/yr at public universities (NCES).

    $24,000–$80,000 · 2 years source

Estimated typical U.S. route for "Molecular and Cellular Biologists" — built from BLS education requirements and College Board 2024–25 average published prices (public, in-state tuition + fees + books). Not yet verified against a specific state's licensing rules — confirm with your state licensing board or program.

Typical progression

  1. Molecular and Cellular Biologists Intern

    Internship

    $36,000

    ~4 mos to advance

  2. Junior Molecular and Cellular Biologists

    Entry / Junior

    $60,430

    ~2 yrs to advance

  3. Molecular and Cellular Biologists

    Established

    $98,920

    ~3 yrs to advance

  4. Senior Molecular and Cellular Biologists

    Senior

    $133,465

Internships are a common on-ramp here — they speed up landing that first role and improve your odds, which is why the Safe and High-ceiling plans build one in.

Key skills

A typical day

  • •Maintain accurate laboratory records and data.
  • •Design molecular or cellular laboratory experiments, oversee their execution, and interpret results.
  • •Write grant applications to obtain funding.
  • •Perform laboratory procedures following protocols including deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequencing, cloning and extraction, ribonucleic acid (RNA) purification, or gel electrophoresis.
  • •Conduct research on cell organization and function, including mechanisms of gene expression, cellular bioinformatics, cell signaling, or cell differentiation.

Fields of study

Any field

Top colleges for Science

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Reputation-based selection; stats shown are outcome data per school.