Bioinformatics Scientists
Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. May design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic information, or other biological information.
Bioinformatics Scientists conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. The role reports a median annual salary of $93,330 in the US with the middle 80% earning between $49,790 and $154,320 and is showing modest growth of 1% over the next decade. Entry typically requires a Bachelor's degree, and shows moderate AI exposure (0.63 on a 0-1 scale) — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. The most in-demand skills for the role include Critical Thinking, Science, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Pay in the UK
UK: median £45,382 a year for Biological scientists (ONS ASHE 2025, full-time)
UK jobs are grouped differently; this is the closest UK occupation group (ONS SOC 2020 2112). ONS rates this estimate acceptable: it rests on a small sample, so treat it as a rough guide. 2025 provisional figures; ONS revises them a year later. Source: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (Open Government Licence)
Pay in India (occupation group)
Average monthly earnings of salaried employees in the occupation group “Professionals” in India, from the Government of India's Periodic Labour Force Survey (January–December 2025). It covers everyone in this group, not only Bioinformatics Scientists, and it is not US pay converted to rupees.
Source: MoSPI (Government of India), Periodic Labour Force Survey Annual Report 2025, Table 51 — average wage/salary earnings of regular wage/salaried employees, NCO-2015 division 2. Official India data gives one average per occupation group: there are no official India figures for single careers, experience levels or cities. Read the report
How to get here in India
No single fixed route is listed for this career. These Indian degrees lead to it, according to the US CIP–SOC education-to-occupation crosswalk; open a degree for its entrance exams and colleges.[1]
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Biotechnology — B.Tech / B.E. in Biotechnology (four years)
Entrance exams: JEE Main, CUET-UG, MHT CET, KCET, WBJEE
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Botany — B.Sc / B.Sc (Hons) in Botany (three years, or four with honours under NEP)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG
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Genetics — B.Sc / B.Sc (Hons) in Genetics, or B.Sc with genetics as a subject (three or four years)
Entrance exams: CUET-UG
Rules change: check the exam body's and regulator's current notice before you apply.
- CIP 2020 – SOC 2018 crosswalk (NCES / BLS) (read on 2026-09-27)
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Biology
- Chemistry
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Computers and Electronics
- Education and Training
What you'd actually do
- Develop new software applications or customize existing applications to meet specific scientific project needs.
- Communicate research results through conference presentations, scientific publications, or project reports.
- Create novel computational approaches and analytical tools as required by research goals.
- Consult with researchers to analyze problems, recommend technology-based solutions, or determine computational strategies.
- Analyze large molecular datasets, such as raw microarray data, genomic sequence data, or proteomics data, for clinical or basic research purposes.
- Keep abreast of new biochemistries, instrumentation, or software by reading scientific literature and attending professional conferences.
Tools & technology you'd use
Frequently asked questions
What does Bioinformatics Scientists do?
Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. May design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic information, or other biological information.
How much does Bioinformatics Scientists earn?
The median annual salary for Bioinformatics Scientists in the US is $93,330. The middle 80% of workers earn between $49,790 and $154,320 annually. Entry-to-mid-career earners typically fall between $65,390 and $119,600.
What is the job outlook for Bioinformatics Scientists?
The role is showing modest growth of 1% over the next decade. Current US employment is approximately 63,700 workers.
How do I become bioinformatics scientists?
The typical entry education is a Bachelor's degree. Building a foundation in the top skills below will strengthen your application.
What skills does Bioinformatics Scientists need?
The most in-demand skills for this role include Critical Thinking, Science, Reading Comprehension, Active Learning, Complex Problem Solving, Writing. These are the skills O*NET identifies as most important for competent performance.
Will AI replace Bioinformatics Scientists?
Our AI-durability model gives Bioinformatics Scientists a score of 0.63 on a 0-1 scale (higher = more exposure). That places it at moderate AI exposure — some tasks are being automated but the role adapts. Learning to work with AI tools rather than against them is the path forward.
How hard is it to enter this field?
Bioinformatics Scientists has moderate barrier to entry — moderately gated — a bachelor's degree or equivalent training is typically required.