← All 785 jobsFile 19-1029
Biological Scientists
Lightly edited
AI performs some of this work. Most of it still needs a person. The BLS expects 4.7% more of these jobs by 2035, faster than the 3.5% average.
- Rank
- #216 of 785 jobs, by how much of the work AI does
- US jobs, 2025 to 2035
- +4.7% All jobs: +3.5%
- Median US pay
- $98,920 a year, 2025
- People doing it
- 59,600 in the US, with about 4,300 openings a year
The work, 37 activities
The job description, marked up.
Every activity in this job, the biggest first. Tap a line for the evidence.
- deleAI does this
- +AIAI helps
- stetStill yours
AI helps with this: Research biological or ecological phenomena13%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 283 conversations, and it got them there 90% of the time.
AI helps with this: Design computer or information systems or applications8%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 938 conversations, and it got them there 85% of the time.
AI does this: Present research or technical information7%
AI performed this in about 1 in 30 Copilot conversations and completed it 90% of the time.
AI helps with this: Analyze biological or chemical substances or related data6%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 660 conversations, and it got them there 76% of the time.
Still yours: Develop research plans or methodologies6%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise6%
AI performed this in about 1 in 40 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Supervise personnel activities5%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Prepare proposals or grant applications5%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Direct scientific or technical activities4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Maintain operational records4%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Design databases3%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Teach academic or vocational subjects3%
AI performed this in about 1 in 70 Copilot conversations and completed it 84% of the time.
AI does this: Examine materials or documentation for accuracy or compliance2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 824 Copilot conversations and completed it 86% of the time.
AI does this: Develop operational or technical procedures or standards2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 1,089 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
Still yours: Analyze data to improve operations2%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Read documents or materials to inform work processes2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 214 Copilot conversations and completed it 87% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on the design or use of technologies2%
AI performed this in about 1 in 97 Copilot conversations and completed it 91% of the time.
Still yours: Train others on operational or work procedures1%
AI does this in desk jobs, but in this one it is mostly hands-on.
AI does this: Evaluate the characteristics, usefulness, or performance of products or technologies1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 237 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
Still yours: Inspect commercial, industrial, or production systems or equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Communicate environmental or sustainability information1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 392 Copilot conversations and completed it 93% of the time.
AI helps with this: Develop professional relationships or networks1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 1,715 conversations, and it got them there 95% of the time.
AI helps with this: Coordinate with others to resolve problems1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 738 conversations, and it got them there 83% of the time.
AI does this: Analyze scientific or applied data using mathematical principles1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 709 Copilot conversations and completed it 58% of the time.
AI does this: Program computer systems or production equipment1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 822 Copilot conversations and completed it 87% of the time.
AI does this: Operate computer systems or computerized equipment1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 92 Copilot conversations and completed it 71% of the time.
Still yours: Collect environmental or biological samples1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Operate laboratory or field equipment1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Develop plans for managing or preserving natural resources1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Investigate the environmental impact of industrial or development activities1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI helps with this: Assist scientists, scholars, or technical specialists with projects or research1%
People asked AI for help with this in about 1 in 653 conversations, and it got them there 81% of the time. In this job the work is hands-on, so AI can only assist.
Still yours: Research agricultural processes or practices1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
Still yours: Coordinate activities with clients, agencies, or organizations1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
AI does this: Provide information or assistance to the public1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 7 Copilot conversations and completed it 86% of the time.
AI does this: Advise others on business or operational matters1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 290 Copilot conversations and completed it 92% of the time.
AI does this: Communicate with others about specifications or project details1%
AI performed this in about 1 in 117 Copilot conversations and completed it 78% of the time.
Still yours: Develop safety standards, policies, or procedures1%
Barely appears in AI conversations: fewer than 1 in 2,000.
2025 to 2035
Ten years from now.
For every 100 of these jobs in 2025, the BLS projects 105 in 2035. Across all US jobs, about 104.
About 4,300 openings a year, from growth and from people who retire or move on.
Nearby
Where your skills travel.
Jobs that share the most work with this one, where AI does less of it.
- Shares 35% of the workMicrobiologists7% AI does, against 31% here+6.2% by 2035 · $87,990 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 27% of the workHydrologists19% AI does, against 31% here+1.5% by 2035 · $96,600 · Bachelor’s degree
- Shares 26% of the workChemists18% AI does, against 31% here+6.4% by 2035 · $91,240 · Bachelor’s degree
The wire
On the wire.
Nothing filed about this job yet. The latest from the Planet front:
How to read this file.
deleAI does this. In US Bing Copilot conversations from January to September 2024, AI itself performed the activity, completed it and made a real difference often enough to count.
+AIAI helps. People brought the activity to AI as their own goal, and it usually got them there.
stetStill yours. It barely shows up in AI use, AI rarely finishes it, or in this job it needs hands.
Shares are weighted by how much each activity matters in the job, using O*NET. Microsoft’s own AI applicability score for this job is 0.24, higher than 77% of jobs.
Doing an activity is not doing a job. The researchers behind this data warn against reading it as job loss, and so do we. It is US data; the shape of the work travels.
Sources: Microsoft Research, Working with AI (2025) · O*NET OnLine, 19-1029 · BLS Employment Projections 2025 to 2035
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