Careers / Bioinformatics Scientists

Bioinformatics Scientists — Career Decision Dashboard

United States

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Median annual wage

$98,920

United States, 2025

Employment

55,850

United States, 2025

Typical education

Master's Degree

Job Zone 5

Skills identified

35

10 related careers

Career overview

Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. May design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic information, or other biological information.

O*NET code
19-1029.01
Job zone
5
Experience required
Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years

Typical tasks

  • Collaborate with software developers in the development and modification of commercial bioinformatics software.
  • Consult with researchers to analyze problems, recommend technology-based solutions, or determine computational strategies.
  • Provide statistical and computational tools for biologically based activities, such as genetic analysis, measurement of gene expression, or gene function determination.
  • Analyze large molecular datasets, such as raw microarray data, genomic sequence data, or proteomics data, for clinical or basic research purposes.
  • Create novel computational approaches and analytical tools as required by research goals.
  • Compile data for use in activities, such as gene expression profiling, genome annotation, or structural bioinformatics.
  • Communicate research results through conference presentations, scientific publications, or project reports.
  • Test new and updated bioinformatics tools and software.

Choose a location

Salary analysis — United States

$60,430
10th
$76,800
25th
$98,920
Median
$127,670
75th
$168,010
90th

10th percentile

$60,430

25th percentile

$76,800

75th percentile

$127,670

90th percentile

$168,010

Most important skills

  • Reading Comprehension4.4
  • Active Listening4.0
  • Complex Problem Solving4.0
  • Speaking4.0
  • Science4.0
  • Critical Thinking4.0
  • Writing4.0
  • Active Learning3.9
  • Mathematics3.9
  • Judgment and Decision Making3.8
  • Systems Analysis3.4
  • Monitoring3.4

What skills do you need?

Select the skills you already have

Skills listed are those O*NET rates at importance 3.0 or above for this occupation. Set your own level on the same 0–7 O*NET scale.

Skill coverage

0%

0 of 18 identified skills

Matched

0

Missing

18

Your selected skills cover approximately 0% of the skills identified for this occupation in O*NET. This is a coverage measure of listed skills only — it is not a qualification, hiring or interview outcome.

Skills to develop

SkillImportanceRequired levelYour levelGap
Reading Comprehension4.45.1Not selected5.1
Writing4.04.9Not selected4.9
Critical Thinking4.04.8Not selected4.8
Active Listening4.04.5Not selected4.5
Speaking4.04.5Not selected4.5
Complex Problem Solving4.04.4Not selected4.4
Science4.04.3Not selected4.3
Active Learning3.94.4Not selected4.4
Mathematics3.94.4Not selected4.4
Judgment and Decision Making3.84.5Not selected4.5
Monitoring3.44.0Not selected4.0
Systems Analysis3.43.8Not selected3.8
Systems Evaluation3.33.8Not selected3.8
Learning Strategies3.03.8Not selected3.8
Time Management3.33.1Not selected3.1
Instructing3.03.3Not selected3.3
Social Perceptiveness3.03.3Not selected3.3
Programming3.0Not selected

Ordered by required level gap multiplied by O*NET importance. No prediction or recommendation is implied.

Related careers

How salary varies by location

LocationMedianEmploymentYear
San Francisco, CA$138,1604,2802025
San Jose, CA$133,7906102025
Dayton, OH$126,960702025
Santa Maria, CA$124,840902025
MD$121,6804,9702025
Portland, ME$119,430602025
Washington, DC$114,9205,7202025
CA$113,53011,8802025
DE$113,4002025
New Haven, CT$112,670602025
CT$111,9401702025
Baltimore, MD$111,5308002025
New York, NY$111,3801,9702025
Grand Rapids, MI$111,150702025
Vallejo, CA$110,780602025
Boston, MA$110,4102,6302025
Santa Rosa, CA$110,330702025
Bremerton, WA$109,550302025
Barnstable Town, MA$108,850602025
Seattle, WA$108,5801,8802025
All locations with published data

Career transition paths

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Career and skills data: O*NET 31.0.

Salary and employment data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS, 2025 (May 2025 release).

Figures are periodic published survey snapshots, not real-time market rates.