by our College Data Analytics TeamA 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. Read on to learn the essential details every biological systematics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering biological systematics programs.
Across the country, biological systematics draws strong interest, with 18 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Biological Systematics Schools ranking analyzes these 1 schools to determine the best overall colleges for biological systematics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of biological systematics programs later in this article.
Programs in Biological Systematics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations biological systematics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a biological systematics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Per O*NET surveys, a biological systematics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several biological systematics 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 5 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 13 |
People currently working in careers related to biological systematics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| 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% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in biological systematics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Studying biological systematics opens doors to numerous career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to biological systematics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to biological systematics.
| 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% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of biological systematics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $44,645 |
| 4 years | $55,280 |
| 5 years | $64,232 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for biological systematics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers biological systematics grads often go into.
| 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 |
With 1 different biological systematics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased biological systematics school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in biological systematics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Epidemiology | 3,053 |
| Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography | 2,375 |
| Ecology | 1,201 |
| Ecology and Evolutionary Biology | 840 |
| Conservation Biology | 592 |
| Environmental Biology | 449 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics and Population Biology, Other | 311 |
| Evolutionary Biology | 176 |
| Epidemiology and Biostatistics | 151 |
| Aquatic Biology/Limnology | 119 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
