Genetics
Students study heredity, DNA structure and function, gene expression, genomics, and the application of genetic principles to medicine, agriculture, and forensics. Graduates typically pursue careers in genetic counseling, biotech companies, forensic laboratories, pharmaceutical research, and agricultural genetics firms. The genomics revolution has created explosive demand for genetics expertise in personalized medicine and gene therapy.
What Genetics graduates do
Your journey into the world of DNA will likely begin in the lab. As a biological technician, you’ll be hands-on: preparing samples, running gene sequencing machines, and meticulously logging data. With an advanced degree, you can transition into a medical scientist role, where your focus shifts from running tests to designing them. You’ll investigate the genetic links to diseases, analyze vast genomic datasets, and publish findings that could lead to new therapies.
Many successful careers follow this path, eventually leading to a role as a natural sciences manager, where you direct research projects and manage lab budgets. While opportunities for medical scientists and highly specialized genetic counselors are growing rapidly, other biological science roles face slower expansion. AI is set to become your new lab partner, automating significant chunks of routine data analysis. This means your value will shift from executing repetitive tasks to designing clever experiments, interpreting AI-generated insights, and communicating their meaning to doctors or patients. Adaptability will be as crucial as your scientific knowledge.
Closely-related majors include Neuroscience, Cell Biology, and Zoology, which share overlapping career paths and skill sets.
Where Genetics graduates work
Common career paths for Genetics graduates, with median salaries, projected growth, and AI exposure per role. Roughly 37,700 combined openings per year across these roles.
| Role | Median Pay | Annual Openings | 10-yr Growth | AI Exposure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Natural sciences managers
|
$161,180
$114K–$215K
|
8,500 | +3.7% | High · 50% |
|
Medical scientists, except epidemiologists
|
$100,590
$77K–$134K
|
9,600 | +8.7% | High · 52% |
|
Genetic counselors
|
$98,910
$87K–$113K
|
300 | +9.3% | High · 50% |
|
Biological scientists, all other
|
$93,330
$68K–$121K
|
4,800 | +1.2% | Moderate · 49% |
|
Biological science teachers, postsecondary
|
$83,460
$64K–$125K
|
5,400 | +7.3% | Moderate · 47% |
|
Biological technicians
|
$52,000
$45K–$66K
|
9,100 | +3.5% | Moderate · 42% |
Best schools for Genetics
Schools ranked by DegreeOutlook Score (earnings × AI resilience × ROI × job-market size). Top 10 of 11.
| # | School | DW Score | 1-yr Earnings | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 |
Ohio State University-Main Campus
Columbus, OH · Public
|
38 | $31,800 | 11.2x |
| 6 |
Texas A & M University-College Station
College Station, TX · Public
|
38 | $31,519 | 11.5x |
| 7 |
Purdue University-Main Campus
West Lafayette, IN · Public
|
37 | $39,052 | 8.8x |
| 8 |
University of Georgia
Athens, GA · Public
|
37 | $19,112 | 15.0x |
| 9 |
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI · Public
|
29 | $26,713 | 8.4x |
| 10 |
Clemson University
Clemson, SC · Public
|
26 | $31,346 | 4.0x |
| 11 |
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Brunswick, NJ · Public
|
17 | $20,373 | 2.0x |
Highest Earnings Top 5
| University of New Hampshire-Main Campus
NH |
$51,693 |
| University of California-Davis
CA |
$41,334 |
| Purdue University-Main Campus
IN |
$39,052 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison
WI |
$38,388 |
| Iowa State University
IA |
$33,330 |
Best ROI Top 5
| University of Georgia
GA |
15.0x |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison
WI |
14.2x |
| Iowa State University
IA |
12.3x |
| University of California-Davis
CA |
11.8x |
| Texas A & M University-College Station
TX |
11.5x |
Related majors
Similar fields of study often offered alongside Genetics.
Frequently asked about Genetics
What's the typical salary after a Genetics degree?
First-year earnings for Genetics graduates average $33,151 annually, based on data from 11 programs. The range spans $19,112 at the low end to $51,693 at the top.
Will AI affect Genetics careers?
AI exposure for Genetics is rated "High." With 54% of tasks potentially affected by large language models, most career functions face meaningful automation pressure in the coming decade.
Where should I study Genetics?
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus leads all 11 programs with a DegreeOutlook Score of 54/100. Graduates earn $51,693/yr — the ranking weighs earnings, ROI, AI resilience, and job market size equally.
Is a Genetics degree worth the investment?
Typical graduates earn 9.9 times what they paid in tuition within a decade. This is a moderate return — school choice matters significantly. Look at per-school ROI in the table above — averages can mask significant variation.