Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
SOC Code: 25-1042.00
Education & LibraryBiological science teachers at the postsecondary level educate the next generation of biologists, healthcare professionals, environmental scientists, and researchers at colleges and universities. With a median salary around $83,460, these faculty members teach courses across the biological sciences—from introductory biology and anatomy to specialized graduate seminars in molecular biology, ecology, genetics, and biochemistry. Most combine teaching with active research programs, contributing to scientific knowledge while mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. At the heart of higher education, they shape how students understand life at every scale, from molecular mechanisms to ecosystem dynamics.
Salary Overview
Median
$83,460
25th Percentile
$64,010
75th Percentile
$125,310
90th Percentile
$169,560
Salary Distribution
Job Outlook (2024–2034)
Growth Rate
+7.3%
New Openings
5,400
Outlook
Faster than average
Key Skills
Knowledge Areas
What They Do
- Evaluate and grade students' class work, laboratory work, assignments, and papers.
- Plan, evaluate, and revise curricula, course content, and course materials and methods of instruction.
- Prepare materials for laboratory activities and course materials, such as syllabi, homework assignments, and handouts.
- Keep abreast of developments in the field by reading current literature, talking with colleagues, and participating in professional conferences.
- Advise students on academic and vocational curricula and on career issues.
- Select and obtain materials and supplies, such as textbooks and laboratory equipment.
- Serve on academic or administrative committees that deal with institutional policies, departmental matters, and academic issues.
- Initiate, facilitate, and moderate classroom discussions.
Tools & Technology
★ = Hot Technology (in-demand)
Education Requirements
Typical entry-level education: Related Work Experience
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A Day in the Life
A typical day for a biology professor might begin with preparing for a morning lecture on cellular respiration—reviewing slides, updating examples with recent research findings, and setting up a demonstration. The lecture covers metabolic pathways for 150 introductory biology students in a large hall, incorporating clicker questions and short discussion pairs to maintain engagement. After class, office hours bring a line of students: some struggling with enzyme kinetics concepts, others seeking research lab positions, and one discussing graduate school options. Mid-day shifts to the research lab, where the professor reviews data from a graduate student's gene expression experiment, troubleshoots a protocol with a postdoc, and writes sections of an NIH grant proposal due next month. An afternoon departmental meeting addresses curriculum revisions—debating whether to restructure the introductory biology sequence or add bioinformatics coursework. Late afternoon involves grading lab reports, responding to student emails, writing recommendation letters, and reviewing a manuscript submitted for peer review at a scientific journal. The day frequently extends into evening hours for grant writing or manuscript preparation.
Work Environment
Biology faculty work in classrooms, teaching laboratories, research laboratories, offices, and field sites depending on their discipline. Teaching labs require preparation time for specimens, reagents, and equipment setup. Research labs are equipped with discipline-specific instruments—microscopes, centrifuges, PCR machines, sequencers, tissue culture facilities, or field collection equipment. The academic calendar creates cyclical workload patterns: teaching-intensive periods during semesters, research-intensive periods during summers and breaks. Hours are long and flexible—formal teaching and meeting times are scheduled, but research, writing, and course preparation fill evenings and weekends. The culture values intellectual freedom, academic discourse, and scholarly contribution. Tenure creates job security but the path to tenure is intensely stressful. Collaboration ranges from small lab groups to large multi-investigator research centers. Field biologists may spend significant time at research stations, marine laboratories, or remote ecosystems conducting seasonal research.
Career Path & Advancement
The path to a tenure-track position in biological sciences requires a Ph.D. in biology, molecular biology, ecology, genetics, microbiology, or a related discipline (4-6 years), typically followed by 1-3 years of postdoctoral research experience. Academic positions follow the tenure track: assistant professor (probationary period of 5-7 years), associate professor (upon receiving tenure), and full professor. Tenure decisions evaluate research productivity (publications, grants), teaching effectiveness (evaluations, curriculum development), and service contributions. Teaching-focused institutions emphasize pedagogical innovation and student mentoring, while research universities prioritize funding and publication records. Community college and adjunct positions require master's degrees and focus primarily on teaching without research expectations. Alternative career paths for biology Ph.D. holders include science education policy, curriculum development for publishers, museum and science center education, and corporate training in biotechnology companies.
Specializations
Molecular and cellular biology faculty teach and research at the subcellular level—gene regulation, cell signaling, protein biochemistry, and genomics. Ecology and evolutionary biology faculty focus on population dynamics, community interactions, evolutionary mechanisms, and conservation biology. Genetics and genomics professors teach inheritance, gene function, and modern genomic technologies including CRISPR and next-generation sequencing. Microbiology faculty explore bacteria, viruses, fungi, and their interactions with human health and the environment. Anatomy and physiology instructors teach the structure and function of human body systems, primarily serving pre-health professional students. Marine biology and aquatic science faculty study ocean and freshwater organisms and ecosystems. Neuroscience faculty investigate nervous system function from molecular to behavioral levels. Plant biology and botany faculty study plant physiology, development, and ecology. Biostatistics and quantitative biology faculty teach the mathematical and computational methods essential to modern biological research.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- ✓Intellectual freedom to pursue research questions and teach subjects of genuine personal passion
- ✓Tenure provides exceptional job security once achieved, with academic freedom protections
- ✓Meaningful impact through shaping students' understanding of biology and mentoring future scientists and healthcare professionals
- ✓Flexible schedule with autonomy over daily work patterns outside scheduled classes and meetings
- ✓Continuous learning inherent in staying current with rapidly advancing biological sciences
- ✓Sabbatical opportunities for focused research, writing, or professional development
- ✓Academic community of colleagues sharing intellectual curiosity and collaborative scholarship
Challenges
- ✗Extremely long educational pathway—Ph.D. plus postdoctoral training spanning 8-12 years post-bachelor's
- ✗Intensely competitive tenure-track job market with far more qualified candidates than available positions
- ✗Grant writing pressure consuming substantial time and energy with low success rates
- ✗Pre-tenure stress spanning 5-7 years with significant performance uncertainty
- ✗Salary of $83,460 median is modest relative to the advanced education required compared to industry alternatives
- ✗Work-life balance challenges with expectations for evenings, weekends, and summers spent on research and writing
- ✗Growing adjunct exploitation—many biology teaching positions offer low pay without benefits or job security
Industry Insight
Biology education is being reshaped by pedagogical innovation and changing student demographics. Evidence-based teaching practices—active learning, flipped classrooms, course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), and inclusive pedagogy—are increasingly expected and evaluated. The integration of bioinformatics and data science into biology curricula reflects the field's computational evolution. Online and hybrid teaching capabilities became essential during the pandemic and continue as standard teaching modalities. The traditional tenure-track model faces pressure from budget constraints, with growing reliance on adjunct faculty who teach heavy course loads without research support, tenure protections, or competitive compensation. Student interest in biology remains strong, driven by healthcare career aspirations and fascination with genetics, neuroscience, and environmental science. Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are reshaping how biology is taught and who teaches it. The funding landscape for biological research has grown more competitive, with NIH grant success rates hovering around 20%, creating intense pressure on research-active faculty.
How to Break Into This Career
Aspiring biology professors must commit to extensive education: a bachelor's degree in biology or related science, a Ph.D. program (4-6 years) with substantial research productivity, and typically 1-3 postdoctoral years building an independent research identity. During graduate school, developing a strong publication record through first-author papers is essential. Teaching experience as a graduate teaching assistant, supplemented by workshops on evidence-based pedagogy, builds the teaching portfolio required for faculty applications. Postdoctoral positions should be selected strategically—advisors with strong track records of mentoring successful faculty candidates matter. Building an independent research vision distinct from your doctoral and postdoctoral mentors demonstrates readiness for faculty independence. Securing even small external grants during postdoctoral training demonstrates funding potential. For teaching-focused positions at community colleges and primarily undergraduate institutions, emphasizing innovative pedagogy, student mentoring, and scholarship of teaching and learning strengthens applications. Geographic flexibility significantly improves the odds of securing a position, as tenure-track openings in any specific location are rare.
Career Pivot Tips
Biology professors possess deep scientific expertise, teaching skills, writing ability, and mentorship experience that enable diverse career transitions. Moving into biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry positions—as research scientists, medical science liaisons, or R&D project managers—applies scientific expertise in commercial settings with typically higher compensation. Science communication careers—writing, broadcasting, podcasting, museum education—leverage the ability to explain complex biology to varied audiences. Educational publishing and curriculum development positions at textbook publishers and educational technology companies value both domain expertise and teaching experience. Academic administration paths—department chair, dean, provost—apply leadership and institutional knowledge to university management. Consulting for biotechnology companies, legal firms (expert testimony), and government agencies applies specialized scientific knowledge. Science policy positions at government agencies, professional societies, and advocacy organizations combine scientific expertise with policy impact. Regulatory affairs positions at pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies value the systematic scientific thinking and documentation skills academic research develops.
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