by our College Data Analytics TeamA degree in Molecular Genetics explores Molecular Genetics. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Genetic Structures And Mechanisms Of Organisms, Including Bacteria, Phages, And Viruses. Includes Instruction In The Replication, Expression, Transfer, Structure, Maintenance, And Stability Of Heritable Information In Dna, Rna, And Proteins; The Regulation Of These Processes; And Neurogenetics. Examples: [Neurogenetics], [Proteomics], [Protein Expression]. Read on to learn the key facts every molecular genetics major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering molecular genetics programs.
Across the country, molecular genetics is a popular field of study, with 278 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Molecular Genetics Schools ranking analyzes these 15 schools to determine the best overall colleges for molecular genetics students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of molecular genetics programs later in this article.
Coursework for Molecular Genetics develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations molecular genetics graduates commonly enter.
The skill set built by a molecular genetics program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a molecular genetics major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several molecular genetics 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 | 191 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 22 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 65 |
People currently working in careers related to molecular genetics tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 72.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 11.1% |
| Post-doctoral training | 6.7% |
| Doctoral degree | 5.2% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 1.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.0% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.8% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.3% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.2% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in molecular genetics careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in molecular genetics prepares you for many career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to molecular genetics.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to molecular genetics.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Genetic Counselors | 3,289,795 | 13.4% |
| 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% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
| Water Resource Specialists | 78,994 | -0.4% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of molecular genetics graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $43,852 |
| 4 years | $57,533 |
| 5 years | $73,410 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for molecular genetics graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers molecular genetics grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Genetic Counselors | $58,726 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
With 15 different molecular genetics programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased molecular genetics school rankings to help you.
Those considering molecular genetics, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Genetics, General | 730 |
| Human/Medical Genetics | 424 |
| Genome Sciences/Genomics | 199 |
| Animal Genetics | 59 |
| Plant Genetics | 32 |
| Genetics, Other | 11 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
