---

Molecular Biochemistry

Types of Degrees Molecular Biochemistry Majors Are Earning

Students pursuing Molecular Biochemistry have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	333
Master’s Degree	75
Doctor’s Degree	58

What Molecular Biochemistry Majors Need to Know

Coursework for Molecular Biochemistry build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Molecular Biochemistry graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Molecular Biochemistry emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Biology — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Chemistry — Importance 3.3 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set built by a Molecular Biochemistry program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.5 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Molecular Biochemistry careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Molecular Biochemistry graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Getting Information	4.4 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.4 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.1 / 7
Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings	4.0 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Molecular Biochemistry professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
IBM SPSS Statistics	Analytical or scientific software	—
SAS	Analytical or scientific software	—
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
R	Object or component oriented development software	✓
StataCorp Stata	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Project	Project management software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Molecular Biochemistry graduates include:

• Clinical Trials Manager
• Clinical Project Manager
• Research Coordinator
• Clinical Research Director
• Clinical Program Manager
• Clinical Research Monitor
• Clinical Research Coordinator
• Clinical Research Nurse Coordinator
• Clinical Research Administrator
• Postdoctoral Researcher
• Postdoctoral Research Fellow
• Clinical Trial Coordinator
• Clinical Trial Manager
• Clinical Manager
• Clinical Study Manager

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Molecular Biochemistry graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Bachelor’s degree	35.4%
Doctoral degree	18.2%
Post-doctoral training	17.4%
Master’s degree	12.2%
Postsecondary certificate	4.7%
Some college courses	3.8%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	2.9%
First professional degree	0.8%
Post-master’s certificate	0.7%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	0.3%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Molecular Biochemistry?

Gender Distribution

This field has a relatively balanced gender distribution: 59.2% women and 40.8% men among Molecular Biochemistry graduates.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	276	59.2%
Men	190	40.8%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Molecular Biochemistry graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	152	32.6%
Asian	123	26.4%
Hispanic or Latino	79	17.0%
Black or African American	12	2.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander	1	0.2%
Two or More Races	23	4.9%
Race Unknown	12	2.6%
International Students	64	13.7%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Molecular Biochemistry Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Molecular Biochemistry graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$39,812
4 years	$57,445
5 years	$71,613

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $71,613 — roughly 80% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Molecular Biochemistry Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Molecular Biochemistry graduates earn a median of $57,445 four years after completion — roughly 51% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	CIP Code
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology	26.02
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	26.0210
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other	26.0299
Biochemistry	26.0202
Biophysics	26.0203
Molecular Biology	26.0204
Molecular Biophysics	26.0206
Photobiology	26.0208
Radiation Biology/Radiobiology	26.0209
Structural Biology	26.0207
Aerospace Physiology and Medicine	26.0912
Anatomy	26.0403

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.