Biology is a popular degree subject and is the study of living creatures; it is heavily concerned with health and science so most tend to take career routes in this area, though this doesn’t mean there aren’t other options for you. The common jobs many people become are academic researcher, microbiologist, pharmacologist, marine biologist, and many others. 

Here is one of the most popular careers graduates go on to after finishing their degree in biology, their job goals, and how much they earn. The handy tables below each section will tell you the approximate ultimate earning potential you can expect, the likely career progression path you might follow to do that career – and the top ten employers hiring candidates. 

MICROBIOLOGY - IS IT FOR ME?

Microbiologists study microorganisms with the intention of understanding how they might affect us and the environment to attempt to find ways of bettering our lives. You’ll focus on studying microorganisms at a cellular or molecular level, which includes viruses, fungi and bacteria. As you can imagine, most microbiologists work in hospitals and laboratory-based settings. But don’t worry if that doesn’t sound perfect for you, you can also work in education or even agriculture.  

There are different types of microbiologists, so depending on the area of specialisation you decide to work in, your career route will differ. Some of these areas will be in medicine, environments, research and development and healthcare.  

On a day-to-day basis, you’ll be identifying microorganisms, collecting samples and generally going over relevant research.  

ULTIMATE EARNING POTENTIAL FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN THE US

TOP 10 EMPLOYERS

1. US Food and Drug Administration 
2. University of South Florida 
3. University of Kentucky 
4. Cottage Health 
5. Health Research, Inc. 
6. UCLA Health 
7. Ballad Health 
8. The Mount Sinai Health System 
9. Procter & Gamble 
10. Adirondack Health