Human Biology
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Types of Degrees Human Biology Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many human biology graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Bachelor’s Degree | 1,446 |
Associate’s Degree | 6 |
Doctor’s Degree | 6 |
Master’s Degree | 1 |
Graduate Certificate | 1 |
What Human Biology Majors Need to Know
In an O*NET survey, human biology majors were asked to rate what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important in their occupations. These answers were weighted on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the most important.
Knowledge Areas for Human Biology Majors
Human Biology majors often go into careers in which the following knowledge areas are important:

- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Skills for Human Biology Majors
The following list of skills has been highlighted as some of the most essential for careers related to human biology:

- Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Abilities for Human Biology Majors
As a human biology major, you will find yourself needing the following abilities:

- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
What Can You Do With a Human Biology Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with human biology:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Anthropologists | 3.9% | $62,410 |
Biological Science Professors | 15.1% | $82,550 |
Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 8.0% | $79,590 |
Social Sciences Professors | 9.8% | $71,600 |
Who Is Getting a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Biology?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of human biology majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 352 |
Black or African American | 144 |
Hispanic or Latino | 256 |
White | 536 |
International Students | 43 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 115 |
Geographic Diversity
Americans aren’t the only ones with an interest in Human Biology. About 3.0% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- Canada
- China
- South Korea
- Nigeria
- United Kingdom
How Much Do Human Biology Majors Make?
Bachelor’s Degree Starting Salary
The median early-career salary of human biology students with a bachelor’s degree is $29,800 a year according to 2017-2018 data from the U.S. Department of Education. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $27,925 (25th percentile) and $32,650 (75th percentile).

It is possible that some of these people may have taken positions that were not related to human biology.
Salaries According to BLS
Human Biology majors often go into careers where salaries can range from $65,310 to $87,950 (25th to 75th percentile). This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Human Biology
Some careers associated with human biology require an advanced degree while some may not even require a bachelor’s. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
How much schooling do you really need to compete in today’s job market? People currently working in careers related to human biology have obtained the following education levels.

Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Less than a High School Diploma | 1.2% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 0.5% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 9.4% |
Master’s Degree | 24.8% |
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. | 1.2% |
Doctoral Degree | 36.8% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 27.8% |
Online Human Biology Programs
In 2018-2019, 31 schools offered a human biology program of some type. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 2 | 0 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 2 | 0 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 0 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 1 | 0 |
Post-Master’s | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 4 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 0 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Human Biology Worth It?
The median salary for a human biology grad is $83,600 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 110% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $874,000 after 20 years!

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Majors Related to Human Biology
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to human biology.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Other Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies | 37,392 |
Biological & Physical Science | 29,278 |
International Studies | 7,967 |
Interdisciplinary Studies | 6,609 |
Nutrition Science | 4,794 |
Behavioral Science | 3,731 |
Natural Sciences | 2,571 |
Cognitive Science | 2,275 |
Sustainability Science | 2,194 |
Peace Studies & Conflict Resolution | 1,310 |
Gerontology | 1,281 |
Human Computer Interaction | 1,272 |
Science, Technology & Society | 1,171 |
Mathematics & Computer Science | 1,105 |
Computational Science | 927 |
Systems Theory | 917 |
Museum Studies | 801 |
Dispute Resolution | 668 |
Historic Preservation | 433 |
Multicultural & Diversity Studies | 424 |
Classical & Ancient Studies | 303 |
Marine Science | 275 |
Cultural Studies & Analysis | 227 |
Biopsychology | 165 |
Medieval Studies | 108 |
Accounting & Computer Science | 71 |
Maritime Studies | 45 |
Holocaust Studies | 40 |
References
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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