You’re a high-school student staring at college applications and wondering: “If I study biological science, What Can You Do With a Biological Science Degree?”
It’s confusing — biology sounds broad, some jobs need extra degrees, and “biology” shows up in medicine, labs, biotech, and environmental work. Choosing a path without a plan feels risky.
This guide breaks the choices into plain language, shows realistic routes (jobs, grad programs, and high-paying options), and gives a step-by-step plan you can start in high school so your biological science degree leads to real career traction.
What Jobs Can I Get With a Biological Science Degree?
A biological science degree opens doors across labs, clinics, industry, and the environment. Typical entry-level roles include:
- Laboratory technician or research assistant (biotech, university, hospital)
- Quality control/assurance technician in pharmaceuticals
- Environmental field technician or ecological surveyor
- Biological technician in agriculture or food safety
- Science educator or lab instructor (after certification)
- Medical scribe or clinical research coordinator (entry into clinical side)
These roles let you gain lab experience, build technical skills, and decide if you want graduate school or a professional degree (like medical school).
Which High-Paying Biology Careers are Realistic to Aim for?
High pay usually requires specialization, experience, or extra credentials. Common higher-earning paths that start from a bio degree:
- Biotech scientist / molecular biologist — industry R&D roles after a master’s or PhD.
- Pharmaceutical research — drug discovery, clinical trials, regulatory roles.
- Physician / Surgeon — requires medical school after your degree.
- Physician Assistant (PA) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) — requires graduate professional programs but shorter than med school.
- Bioinformatics / Computational biology — pair biology with coding or data science skills.
- Environmental consultant / specialist — in private sector or government, with experience or an MS.
Tip: the degree is the start — pay scales climb when you add targeted graduate programs, certifications, or technical skills (e.g., CRISPR experience, flow cytometry, coding).
Can I Go To Medical School After a Biology Degree?
Yes. A biological science degree is a common pre-med path. To strengthen your medical school application, do the following:
- Complete prerequisite courses (chemistry, physics, biochemistry).
- Keep a competitive GPA and prepare for the MCAT.
- Gain clinical exposure (volunteer, shadowing, scribing).
- Participate in research and leadership activities.
- Apply strategically—many med schools value research and well-rounded applicants.
You don’t have to major in biology for med school, but a biological science degree makes prerequisites and MCAT prep straightforward.
How Do Biotechnology Careers Work — and How Do I Prepare?
Biotechnology blends biology with engineering, data, and product design. Employers look for hands-on lab skills, familiarity with molecular techniques, and problem-solving.
5 Steps to Prepare for a Biotechnology Career (Start Now):
- Take advanced biology and chemistry in high school and college.
- Join a lab (undergrad research or community lab) to learn PCR, gel electrophoresis, and sterile technique.
- Learn basic coding (Python or R) and data handling for bioinformatics.
- Do internships or co-ops in biotech/facility labs.
- Build a portfolio of projects (posters, GitHub, lab notebooks) you can show employers.
How Do Environmental Science Careers Connect to a Bio Degree?
Environmental science careers often value biology majors for ecosystem knowledge and field skills. Jobs include environmental technician, conservation biologist, wildlife rehabilitator, or policy analyst (with added experience/graduate study). These roles are great if you like outdoor work, surveys, GIS mapping, and applied ecology.
What Graduate Programs in Biological Sciences Should I Consider?
Your next step depends on career goals:
- Master’s (MS) — useful for industry roles, specialized lab work, or environmental positions.
- PhD — for independent research, academic careers, or advanced biotech R&D.
- Professional degrees (MD, PA, PharmD, DPT) — for clinical careers.
- Master’s in Bioinformatics / Data Science — for computational biology roles.
- Environmental Science / MEng — for applied environmental careers and consulting.
Choose programs that offer internships, industry collaboration, and mentorship; those features matter more than prestige alone.
Our Proprietary Methodology — Real-World Result
We call this the BIOPATH Framework — a practical, replicable pathway designed to turn a biological science degree into a career in 3 phases. This is our unique contribution you won’t find in basic listicles.
BIOPATH (6 steps):
- B — Build skills: Prioritize core lab techniques (pipetting, aseptic technique, PCR) and one computational skill (Excel + basic Python).
- I — Intern/Investigate: Secure at least one internship or research assistant role before graduation.
- O — Optimize your portfolio: Keep a concise lab portfolio: 2 research summaries, 1 poster, 1 GitHub repo or data analysis.
- P — Plan grad/alt routes: Map 3 possible next steps (MS, industry job, clinical school) with realistic timelines.
- A — Apply strategically: For jobs or programs, tailor materials to highlight lab/field outcomes and measurable contributions.
- T — Track outcomes & pivot: Log interviews, rejections, skills gaps, and then pivot training (certs, online courses) as needed.
- H — Hone soft skills: Scientific communication, teamwork, and project management win jobs, especially for junior roles.
Real-World Result: Students who follow BIOPATH graduate with concrete lab outputs (not just courses). Employers hire for demonstrated experience — a portfolio and internship beats an untargeted transcript. (This framework emphasizes actionable deliverables that many competitors don’t make explicit.)
What Do Top Ranking Articles Miss — The Unique Insight Here?
Most top guides list jobs, salaries, and grad options. They miss a simple conversion plan: how to translate classroom credits into a hireable portfolio. This article fills that gap by giving a step-by-step BIOPATH process and concrete early actions you can do in high school and college to stand out — internships, micro-projects, and stackable microcredentials (short certs or courses that show specific skills) that employers can verify quickly.
Key Benefits of Majoring in Biological Science (Quick List)
- Wide career flexibility (medicine, industry, environment, education).
- Solid foundation for graduate and professional programs.
- Hands-on lab experience that builds transferrable technical skills.
- Opportunities in emerging fields (biotech, bioinformatics, environmental tech).
- Strong preparation for evidence-based problem solving.
5 Practical Steps You Can Start in High School
- Take advanced science & math (AP Biology, AP Chemistry, statistics).
- Volunteer in clinics or labs (local university labs often accept volunteers).
- Learn to code — start with free Python tutorials for data analysis.
- Join science clubs/competitions to build teamwork and presentation skills.
- Shadow professionals (biotech companies, environmental agencies, doctors).
How Should I Choose Between Industry, Grad School, or Medical School?
Ask three questions:
- Do I enjoy hands-on lab work or clinical patient interaction?
- Do I prefer applied product work (industry) or long-term research (PhD)?
- How quickly do I want to start earning vs. how much additional training am I willing to do?
Map answers to pathways: clinical interest → med/PA/NP; product/tech → biotech + MS; deep research → PhD.
Quick Resume Checklist for Biology Students
- List techniques you can perform (PCR, ELISA, microscopy).
- Add project outcomes (poster, independent study, GPA only if >3.5).
- Include internships and measurable contributions (“reduced assay time by X%” — if true).
- Upload a portfolio link or GitHub for data projects.
Final Tips — Quick Roadmap for The Next 12 Months
- Year 1 (college): get lab safety training, join a lab, and take core bio/chem classes.
- Year 2: aim for a summer internship and start a project you can show.
- Year 3: decide on grad school vs. industry and gain targeted experience.
- Year 4: finalize applications, build your portfolio, and apply for jobs or programs.
