by our College Data Analytics TeamA major in Structural Biology covers Structural Biology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Submolecular And Molecular Components And Assemblies Of Living Systems And How They Are Organized Into Functional Units Such As Cells And Anatomic Tissues. Includes Instruction In Glycoprotein, Carbohydrate, Protein, And Nucleic Acid Structures And Chemistry; Cytoskeletal Structure; Nuclear And Intracellular Structures; Molecular Recognition; Molecular Chaperones; Transcription And Folding; Multicellular Organization; Microtubules And Microfilaments; Cell Differentiation; Immunophysics; And Dna Sequencing. Read on to learn the important information every structural biology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering structural biology programs.
Across the country, structural biology draws strong interest, with 14 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Structural Biology Schools ranking analyzes these 3 schools to determine the best overall colleges for structural biology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of structural biology programs later in this article.
Coursework for Structural Biology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations structural biology graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a structural biology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a structural biology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several structural biology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 12 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 2 |
People currently working in careers related to structural biology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s degree | 35.3% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.8% |
| Master’s degree | 16.4% |
| Doctoral degree | 14.7% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.4% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 2.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 2.0% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 1.4% |
| First professional degree | 0.5% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.5% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in structural biology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in structural biology can lead to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to structural biology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to structural biology.
| 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% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | 95,666 | 3.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of structural biology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $39,812 |
| 4 years | $57,445 |
| 5 years | $71,613 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for structural biology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers structural biology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Biochemists and Biophysicists | $107,979 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Microbiologists | $73,155 |
With 3 different structural biology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased structural biology school rankings to help you.
Those considering structural biology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Biochemistry | 9,737 |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology | 1,482 |
| Molecular Biology | 1,255 |
| Molecular Biochemistry | 466 |
| Biophysics | 345 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other | 316 |
| Molecular Biophysics | 187 |
| Radiation Biology/Radiobiology | 18 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
