by our College Data Analytics TeamIn the latest year, 1 U.S. colleges awarded 6 degrees and certificates in Parasitology. Graduates earn a median $39,180 one year after completing, rising to $65,487 after four years.
Studying Parasitology covers Parasitology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Biological Organisms Living In Ecologically Exploitative And Competitive Relationships With Host Organisms, And The Role Of Parasites In Causing Injury, Disease, And Environmental Damage. Includes Instruction In Vector Biology, Immunoparasitology, Medical Parasitology, Molecular Biology Of Parasitical Associations, Veterinary And Comparative Parasitology, Chemotherapeutics, And Ecological And Systematic Parasitology.
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; BLS; O*NET; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
In the U.S., parasitology draws strong interest, with 6 degrees awarded annually. 1 colleges award parasitology degrees, an average of 6 graduates per school; the largest program awarded 6.
All 6 of the awards are master’s degrees, the only level colleges reported.
Women earned 83% of parasitology degrees and certificates in the latest year (5 of 6). The largest groups of graduates by race and ethnicity are White (3) and Hispanic or Latino (1).
O*NET rates Reading Comprehension the most important skill for jobs related to parasitology, at 4.1 out of 5. The key knowledge areas are Biology, English Language and Mathematics. 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 parasitology degree takes:
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 6 |
Bachelor’s degree is the most common level of education among workers in jobs related to parasitology, at 34.0%.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 34.0% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.0% |
| Master’s degree | 17.8% |
| Doctoral degree | 15.6% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.3% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.9% |
Source: O*NET Online.
11 occupations are related to Parasitology, with an average median salary of $93,009; the strongest outlook belongs to Clinical Research Coordinators, at 10.4% projected job growth. Typical job titles include Scientist, Research Coordinator, Clinical Project Manager and Clinical Trials Manager.
That occupation also has the most projected jobs of any related to parasitology, at 542,888.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Microbiologists | 140,194 | -2.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
Parasitology graduates earn a median $39,180 one year after completing their program, $65,487 after four years and $65,002 after five years, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,180 |
| 4 years | $65,487 |
| 5 years | $65,002 |
Source: College Scorecard.
The highest-paying occupation related to parasitology is Water Resource Specialists, with a median salary of $179,716.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Microbiologists | $73,155 |
Parasitology has 8 similar majors in the Biological & Biomedical Sciences field, which together award 4,732 degrees a year; the largest are Microbiology, General (2,556), Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology (977) and Microbiology and Immunology (490). Browse all Biological & Biomedical Sciences majors or the full list of college majors.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Microbiology, General | 2,556 |
| Medical Microbiology and Bacteriology | 977 |
| Microbiology and Immunology | 490 |
| Microbiological Sciences and Immunology, Other | 250 |
| Immunology | 242 |
| Infectious Disease and Global Health | 196 |
| Mycology | 14 |
| Virology | 7 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.