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Molecular Genetics

Types of Degrees Molecular Genetics Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Molecular Genetics have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	191
Master’s Degree	22
Doctor’s Degree	65

What Molecular Genetics Majors Need to Know

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

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Molecular Genetics emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Biology — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• Psychology — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.

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

Skills

Skills emphasized by a Molecular Genetics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Complex Problem Solving — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Abilities

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

• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.

Common Job Activities

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

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.6 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.5 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.4 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.4 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.2 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.1 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.1 / 7
Processing Information	4.0 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Molecular Genetics professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
FileMaker Pro	Data base user interface and query software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Prognosis Innovation Healthcare ChartAccess	Medical software	—
CancerGene	Medical software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Molecular Genetics graduates include:

• Mitochondrial Disorders Counselor
• Pediatric Genetic Counselor
• Genetics Counselor
• Reproductive Genetic Counseling Coordinator
• Cancer Program Consultant
• Genetic Coordinator
• Chromosomal Disorders Counselor
• Clinical Reviewer
• Medical Science Liaison
• Genetic Counseling Medical Specialist
• Genetic Counselor
• Prenatal Genetic Counselor
• Prenatal and Pediatric Genetic Counselor
• Certified Genetic Counselor
• Cancer Genetic Counselor

Education Typically Required

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

Education Level	Share of Workers
Master’s degree	72.4%
Bachelor’s degree	11.1%
Post-doctoral training	6.7%
Doctoral degree	5.2%
Postsecondary certificate	1.3%
Some college courses	1.0%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	1.0%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.8%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	0.3%
Post-master’s certificate	0.2%

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

Who Is Earning a Degree in Molecular Genetics?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 66.5% of Molecular Genetics degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	185	66.5%
Men	93	33.5%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	175	62.9%
Asian	41	14.7%
Hispanic or Latino	17	6.1%
Black or African American	6	2.2%
Two or More Races	9	3.2%
Race Unknown	4	1.4%
International Students	26	9.4%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Molecular Genetics Graduates Earn?

College Scorecard reports median earnings of Molecular Genetics 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	$43,852
4 years	$57,533
5 years	$73,410

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $73,410 — roughly 67% above the 1-year mark.

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

Is a Degree in Molecular Genetics Worth It?

On the earnings side, the federal earnings tracker, Molecular Genetics graduates earn a median of $57,533 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
Genetics	26.08
Animal Genetics	26.0804
Genetics, General	26.0801
Genetics, Other	26.0899
Genome Sciences/Genomics	26.0807
Human/Medical Genetics	26.0806
Microbial and Eukaryotic Genetics	26.0803
Plant Genetics	26.0805
Anatomy	26.0403
Animal Physiology	26.0707
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	26.0210
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other	26.0299

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.