by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 2 U.S. colleges awarded 24 degrees and certificates in Biological Systematics. Doctorates are the most popular award, at 67% of graduates. Graduates earn a median $44,645 one year after completing, rising to $66,409 after four years.
A degree in Biological Systematics covers Systematic Biology/biological Systematics. A Program That Focuses On The Theoretical And Empirical Study Of The Principles And Processes Underlying The Origin And Maintenance Of Biological Taxonomic Diversity; Related Biogeographical And Evolutionary Patterns; And Studies Of The Origin, Diversification, Distribution, And Extinction Of Species And Lineages. Includes Instruction In Phylogenetic Analysis, Structural Development And Molecular Evolution, Classification And Taxonomic Theory, Biological Nomenclature, Taxonomic Assignment, Evolutionary Theory, Biological Surveys And Inventories, Computer Modeling, And Database Building.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings. Data as of: July 2026.
Across the country, biological systematics draws strong interest, with 24 degrees awarded annually. 2 colleges award biological systematics degrees, an average of 12 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 23.
By level, the 24 awards include 8 master’s degrees and 16 doctorates.
Women earned 50% of biological systematics degrees and certificates in the latest year (12 of 24). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (11) and Hispanic or Latino (3), and international students earned 5.
The most common biological systematics credential is the doctorate: 16 of the 24 awarded in the latest year. Jobs related to biological systematics call most for Science, Reading Comprehension and Speaking, and for knowledge of Biology, English Language and Education and Training, according to O*NET. The most important abilities are Written Comprehension, Oral Expression and Written Expression.
Top skills, rated 0–5:
Top knowledge areas, rated 0–5:
How long a biological systematics degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 16 |
Post-doctoral training is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to biological systematics, at 34.1%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Post-doctoral training | 34.1% |
| Doctoral degree | 27.3% |
| Master’s degree | 23.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 12.7% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 1.1% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 0.5% |
Source: O*NET Online.
6 occupations are related to Biological Systematics, with an average median salary of $69,292; the strongest outlook belongs to Biological Scientists, All Other, at 9.2% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Research Scientist, Scientist, Biologist and Molecular Biology Scientist.
The occupation related to biological systematics with the most projected jobs is Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary, at 276,211.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | 23,620 | 9.2% |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | 11,006 | 5.4% |
Biological Systematics graduates earn a median $44,645 one year after completing their program, $66,409 after four years and $64,232 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $66,409 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to biological systematics is Molecular and Cellular Biologists, with a median salary of $100,077.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
| Geneticists | $48,526 |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | $41,048 |
Biological Systematics has 11 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 9,673 degrees a year; the largest are Epidemiology (3,015), Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography (2,663) and Ecology (1,199). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,015 |
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 2,663 |
| Ecology | 1,199 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 935 |
| Environmental Biology | 490 |
| Conservation Biology | 431 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 346 |
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 248 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 207 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 129 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.