What is a Molecular and Cellular Biologist?
Job Description & Duties Research and study cellular molecules and organelles to understand cell function and organization.
List of Molecular and Cellular Biologist Job Duties
- Develop guidelines for procedures such as the management of viruses.
- Confer with vendors to evaluate new equipment or reagents or to discuss the customization of product lines to meet user requirements.
- Maintain accurate laboratory records and data.
- Direct, coordinate, organize, or prioritize biological laboratory activities.
- Design databases such as mutagenesis libraries.
- Evaluate new technologies to enhance or complement current research.
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Molecular and Cellular Biologist Skills
Molecular and Cellular Biologists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Science: Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Molecular and Cellular Biologist
- Molecular Biology Director
- Cellular Biologist
- Structural Biologist
- DNA Sequencing Associate
- Cell Biology Scientist
What Kind of Molecular and Cellular Biologist Job Opportunities Are There?
In the United States, there were 38,700 jobs for Molecular and Cellular Biologist in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 3,100 new jobs for Molecular and Cellular Biologist by 2026. There will be an estimated 3,700 positions for Molecular and Cellular Biologist per year.

The states with the most job growth for Molecular and Cellular Biologist are Nevada, Utah, and Ohio. Watch out if you plan on working in Wyoming, South Dakota, or Rhode Island. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Molecular and Cellular Biologist
The average yearly salary of a Molecular and Cellular Biologist ranges between $45,030 and $126,390.

Molecular and Cellular Biologists who work in Maryland, Rhode Island, or Delaware, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Molecular and Cellular Biologists in different U.S. states.
State | Annual Mean Salary |
---|---|
Alabama | $67,200 |
Alaska | $77,430 |
Arizona | $83,680 |
Arkansas | $74,380 |
California | $91,340 |
Colorado | $71,380 |
Connecticut | $93,180 |
Delaware | $91,760 |
District of Columbia | $104,460 |
Florida | $71,200 |
Georgia | $72,460 |
Hawaii | $79,760 |
Idaho | $70,770 |
Illinois | $84,180 |
Indiana | $69,180 |
Iowa | $62,320 |
Kansas | $64,560 |
Kentucky | $64,780 |
Louisiana | $66,100 |
Maine | $76,840 |
Maryland | $103,790 |
Massachusetts | $84,790 |
Michigan | $75,110 |
Minnesota | $73,770 |
Mississippi | $80,690 |
Missouri | $67,290 |
Montana | $66,110 |
Nebraska | $74,790 |
Nevada | $73,490 |
New Hampshire | $78,780 |
New Jersey | $76,330 |
New Mexico | $73,610 |
New York | $89,000 |
North Carolina | $83,380 |
North Dakota | $70,590 |
Ohio | $67,780 |
Oklahoma | $64,200 |
Oregon | $69,930 |
Pennsylvania | $73,550 |
Rhode Island | $89,210 |
South Carolina | $78,370 |
South Dakota | $65,660 |
Tennessee | $67,690 |
Texas | $80,900 |
Utah | $74,290 |
Vermont | $78,070 |
Virginia | $93,750 |
Washington | $85,200 |
West Virginia | $70,060 |
Wisconsin | $73,520 |
Wyoming | $71,030 |
What Tools do Molecular and Cellular Biologists Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Molecular and Cellular Biologists:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Web browser software
- The MathWorks MATLAB
- Minitab
- Wolfram Research Mathematica
- Mathsoft Mathcad
- Laboratory information management system LIMS
- Data mining software
- Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLAST
- ClustalW
- PHYLIP
- GraphPad Software GraphPad Prism
- Primer3
- Mendel
- Molecular Devices Corporation MetaMorph
- FASTA
- Textco BioSoftware Gene Inspector
- EnzymeX
How to Become a Molecular and Cellular Biologist
Are there Molecular and Cellular Biologists education requirements?

What work experience do I need to become a Molecular and Cellular Biologist?

Who Employs Molecular and Cellular Biologists?

The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Molecular and Cellular Biologist may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Molecular and Cellular Biologist sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Janderk via public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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