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Molecular Toxicology

Types of Degrees Molecular Toxicology Majors Are Earning

Those studying Molecular Toxicology can earn degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Doctor’s Degree	2

What Molecular Toxicology Majors Need to Know

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

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Molecular Toxicology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• English Language — Importance 4.4 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• Biology — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Administration and Management — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

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

Skills

Skills built by a Molecular Toxicology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.4 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.

Abilities

The cognitive and physical abilities most relevant to Molecular Toxicology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.9 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Deductive Reasoning — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

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

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.5 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.5 / 7
Working with Computers	4.4 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.1 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.1 / 7
Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others	4.1 / 7
Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work	4.1 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.1 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.1 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Molecular Toxicology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	✓
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	✓
SAS	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Access	Data base user interface and query software	—
Email software	Electronic mail software	—
IBM SPSS Statistics	Analytical or scientific software	—
Geographic information system GIS software	Geographic information system	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Material safety data sheet MSDS software	Compliance software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Molecular Toxicology graduates include:

• Pediatrics Teacher
• Hearing Therapy Teacher
• Anatomy Teacher
• Recreation Therapy Aides Teacher
• Psychiatry Teacher
• Nutrition Professor
• Virology Teacher
• Dietary Aide Teacher
• Gynecology Teacher
• Faculty Member
• Speech Pathology Teacher
• Medical Assisting Instructor
• Teacher
• Medicine Teacher
• Radiologic Technology Teacher

Education Typically Required

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

Education Level	Share of Workers
Master’s degree	39.0%
Doctoral degree	21.3%
Bachelor’s degree	16.2%
Post-doctoral training	15.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	3.2%
Postsecondary certificate	2.0%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	1.7%
High school diploma or equivalent	0.8%
Post-master’s certificate	0.4%
First professional degree	0.4%

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

Who Is Earning a Degree in Molecular Toxicology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 100% of Molecular Toxicology degrees.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	1	50.0%
Asian	1	50.0%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Molecular Toxicology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Molecular Toxicology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$58,787
4 years	$74,178
5 years	$91,829

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $91,829 — roughly 56% above the 1-year mark.

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

Is a Degree in Molecular Toxicology Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Molecular Toxicology graduates earn a median of $74,178 four years after completion — roughly 95% 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
Pharmacology and Toxicology	26.10
Environmental Toxicology	26.1006
Molecular Pharmacology	26.1002
Neuropharmacology	26.1003
Pharmacology and Toxicology, Other	26.1099
Pharmacology and Toxicology	26.1007
Pharmacology	26.1001
Toxicology	26.1004
Anatomy	26.0403
Biomechanics	26.0913
Biostatistics	26.1102

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.