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Molecular Physiology

Types of Degrees Molecular Physiology Majors Are Earning

Those studying Molecular Physiology have the option of earning degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Master’s Degree	4
Doctor’s Degree	48

What Molecular Physiology Majors Need to Know

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

Knowledge Areas

Coursework in Molecular Physiology emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Biology — Importance 4.9 / 5; level 6.6 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 4.3 / 5; level 5.3 / 7.
• Chemistry — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Mathematics — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.

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

Skills

Skills developed in a Molecular Physiology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Speaking — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 4.6 / 7.
• Writing — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.8 / 7.
• Science — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.3 / 7.
• Active Learning — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 4 / 5; level 5.2 / 7.

Abilities

Innate abilities most relevant to Molecular Physiology careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.5 / 5; level 5.4 / 7.
• Written Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5 / 7.
• Speech Clarity — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.7 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 5.0 / 7.

Common Job Activities

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

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.6 / 7
Working with Computers	4.5 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.4 / 7
Processing Information	4.4 / 7
Thinking Creatively	4.4 / 7
Training and Teaching Others	4.3 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.3 / 7
Analyzing Data or Information	4.3 / 7
Getting Information	4.3 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.3 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Molecular Physiology professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Statistical software	Analytical or scientific software	—
IBM SPSS Statistics	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
SAS	Analytical or scientific software	—
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
The MathWorks MATLAB	Analytical or scientific software	—
National Instruments LabVIEW	Development environment software	—
Spreadsheet software	Spreadsheet software	—
Modeling software	Analytical or scientific software	—

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

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Molecular Physiology graduates include:

• Embryology Teacher
• Zoology Professor
• Biology Adjunct Instructor
• Bacteriology Teacher
• College Instructor
• Limnology Teacher
• Taxonomy Teacher
• Etiology Teacher
• College Faculty Member
• Parasitology Teacher
• Life Sciences Teacher
• Zoology Teacher
• Mammalogy Teacher
• Biology Professor
• Phytopathology Teacher

Education Typically Required

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

Education Level	Share of Workers
Doctoral degree	44.6%
Post-doctoral training	34.2%
Master’s degree	15.7%
Bachelor’s degree	2.6%
Post-master’s certificate	2.1%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	0.9%

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

Who Is Earning a Degree in Molecular Physiology?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 63.5% of Molecular Physiology degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	33	63.5%
Men	19	36.5%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

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

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	17	32.7%
Asian	9	17.3%
Hispanic or Latino	6	11.5%
Black or African American	2	3.8%
Two or More Races	1	1.9%
Race Unknown	3	5.8%
International Students	14	26.9%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Molecular Physiology Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Molecular Physiology 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	$32,024
4 years	$53,598
5 years	$65,802

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $65,802 — roughly 105% above the 1-year mark.

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

Is a Degree in Molecular Physiology Worth It?

Strictly by the federal earnings tracker, Molecular Physiology graduates earn a median of $53,598 four years after completion — roughly 41% 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
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences	26.09
Aerospace Physiology and Medicine	26.0912
Biomechanics	26.0913
Cardiovascular Science	26.0907
Cell Physiology	26.0903
Endocrinology	26.0904
Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology	26.0908
Oncology and Cancer Biology	26.0911
Pathology/Experimental Pathology	26.0910
Physiology, General	26.0901
Physiology, Pathology, and Related Sciences, Other	26.0999
Reproductive Biology	26.0905

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.