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Research and the lab

Molecular Biologist

Studies DNA, RNA and proteins to find out how genes are controlled and how cells work, grow and go wrong in disease.

Molecular biologists work in university labs, research institutes and biotech and drug companies, often as part of larger teams. It suits curious, patient people who like hands-on experiments and do not mind when many of them need repeating.

Also called Molecular and cellular biologist, Molecular biology scientist or Research associate.

At a glance

Way in
PhD, often in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, biomedical science and biotechnology
Pay in the US
$98,920 a year, the medianFor biological scientists, all other, the group O*NET places molecular biologists in, 2025
US outlook
Faster than average, 2025-2035
Suits you if
You love hands-on experiments and want to know how life works at its smallest scale

Pay is a guide: it moves with the country, the employer, the sector and the years in the job. Figures from O*NET OnLine (US) and the National Careers Service (UK); see the sources below.

The work

What does a molecular biologist do?

  • Plan experiments to test how a gene or protein affects a cell
  • Clone, edit and express genes using PCR, plasmids and CRISPR
  • Grow cells and measure DNA, RNA and protein with methods such as qPCR and western blots
  • Analyse results, often with sequencing data and statistics
  • Write papers and grant applications and present work at meetings

Where they work

  • University research labs
  • Research institutes
  • Biotech and pharmaceutical companies
  • Hospital and diagnostic labs

Skills

The skills a molecular biologist needs

  • Bench skillsPCR, cloning, gel electrophoresis and cell culture
  • Experimental designcontrols, replicates and clear questions
  • Data analysisstatistics and basic sequence analysis
  • Scientific writingpapers, reports and grant proposals
  • Persistencetroubleshooting experiments that fail
  • Teamworksharing equipment, methods and ideas

Route in

How to become a molecular biologist

  1. Earn a degree in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics or a related life science
  2. Gain lab experience through a placement year, summer project or technician job
  3. Complete a PhD to lead your own research, or a master's for many industry roles
  4. Work as a postdoctoral researcher or industry scientist, then lead projects or a group

Degrees people take

  • Molecular biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Genetics
  • Biomedical science
  • Biotechnology

Practise for it

The quizzes and tools that fit

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Next to it

Careers to weigh against it

Sources

Where the facts come from

Written for biofideX from these public sources. The pay figures are theirs, copied as published, last read 2026-10-25.

Requirements differ by country and change over time; check with the body that registers the profession where you will work. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll correct it.

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