Molecular and Cellular Biologists: Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Stan T.Career, Overview

Molecular and Cellular Biologists

Molecular and Cellular Biologists research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.

Salary
$89910
Becoming One
Very Hard
Education
Doctoral degree
Job Satisfaction
Job Growth
Low

Personality
Interest Match



Job description

Molecular and Cellular Biologists research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.

  • Maintain accurate laboratory records and data.
  • Design molecular or cellular laboratory experiments, oversee their execution, and interpret results.
  • Compile and analyze molecular or cellular experimental data and adjust experimental designs as necessary.
  • Conduct research on cell organization and function, including mechanisms of gene expression, cellular bioinformatics, cell signaling, or cell differentiation.
Read more about what does a Molecular and Cellular Biologist really do at work and what is it like being and working as one.



Salary

Average salary
$83600 per year

Average hourly wage
$40 per hour


Molecular and Cellular Biologists with little to no experience tend to make between $45030 and $60250 while the more experienced ones can earn over $98040 per year.

Top 5 paying states Hourly Annual
DC $50 $104,460
MD $50 $103,790
VA $45 $93,750
CT $45 $93,180
DE $44 $91,760

One of the easiest ways to increase your salary as a Molecular and Cellular Biologist is to move to a higher paying state like DC. Right now, the highest paying states for Molecular and Cellular Biologists are DC, MD, VA, CT and DE.

However, a higher pay at DC doesn’t guarantee that you will make more because the living expenses at DC might be twice as high than where you are currently at now.

Three other factors that can increase your salary as a Molecular and Cellular Biologist is the degree you hold, the industry you work in, and lastly the company you work for.


Requirements

Recommended degree level
Doctoral degree

We asked other Molecular and Cellular Biologists what degree they had when they got the job and most of them said they had a Post-Doctoral Training followed by a Bachelor’s Degree.

Other than that, we also asked them what did they major in and here are the most popular majors that came up.

Biology/Biological Sciences, General
Molecular Biology
Photobiology
Radiation Biology/Radiobiology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Read more about how to become a Molecular and Cellular Biologist and the degree, training and education you need.

Pros and Cons

Here are some of the pros and cons of being a Molecular and Cellular Biologist.

PROS
Suitable for people who likes to solve problems mentally
Suitable for people who wants independence and likes to work on their own and make decisions
This career is perfect for people who love to work indoors.
Very high salary (top 25% highest paid careers)
CONS
Not suitable for people who likes to start and carry out projects
It is very hard to get into this career. Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience is required for this career.
Demand for this career is not growing
Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week)

What is the job like

Job satisfaction
69%

Is this job meaningful
65%


69% of Molecular and Cellular Biologists said they were satisfied with their job and 65% said they feel like their job is making other people’s lives better.


Is this right for me

Best personality for this career
The Thinkers and The Builders

You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.



Learn more about Molecular and Cellular Biologists

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Job Description
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