Teach the phases of cell division
Sketch chromosomes moving as a cell divides, and if students confuse phases, try another explanation and recheck understanding.
Career profile
Biological Science College Instructor
College biology instructors teach how living things work and how to reason from biology data.
You might teach cell division, later showing one student why their result does not support their claim. Some jobs also leave time for your research.
A day in the life
Prep and run a microscope lab
Confirm supplies, demonstrate one microscope technique, watch students try it, and fix handling mistakes before they become habits.
Mark up a lab report
Compare a report's claim to its graph, flag where it outruns the data, and comment for future work.
Hold scheduled office hours
Have a student walk through their genetics exercise, pinpoint where the logic broke, and go over that spot.
Keep a research project moving
In jobs that include research, review students' results, plan the next study, and write papers or funding requests.
Quick facts
Graduate degree
United States · 2026
$84,620/year
United States · 2025
7.3% projected growth
United States · 2025–2035
Quick orientation
Preparation, pay & outlook
Preparation
Graduate degreeA doctorate is typical; some community-college biology jobs accept a master's degree.
Pay
$84,620/year2025 national median for biological science teachers at colleges and universities.
Outlook
7.3% projected growthFor postsecondary biological science teachers, 2025–2035; about 4,700 openings per year.
Fit, tradeoffs & changing tools
You might like this if…
- You enjoy finding another explanation when someone is stuck.
- You want to examine how an experiment supports a claim.
- You like learning enough biology to keep updating what you teach.
Things to weigh
- Class meetings are only part of the workload. Lab preparation and stacks of grading need their own time.
- Research appointments bring competing deadlines for students, publications, and teaching.
- Part-time teaching may mean combining work at several colleges.
Where AI may help
Tools that generate text—generative artificial intelligence (AI)—can suggest assessment questions and draft grading criteria for you to review.
What people still lead
You decide whether a question tests biological understanding, check scientific accuracy, and set clear rules for students' use of AI.
What we can’t predict yet
How much feedback can be delegated while still revealing a student's own reasoning remains an open teaching challenge.
Pay in context
Earnings
Check the appointment as well as the salary: a full-time academic-year contract and a part-time course appointment are different commitments.
The national midpoint
The 2025 median was $84,620 annually for postsecondary biological science teachers. That equals about $40.70 an hour when divided by 2,080 hours, solely for comparison; faculty schedules and contract lengths vary.
A wide pay spread
The lowest-paid 10% earned $52,150 or less; the highest-paid 10% earned $169,900 or more. These are wage-distribution thresholds, not starting and experienced salaries.
Openings over the next decade
About 4,700 openings per year are projected for 2025–2035, including growth and replacement needs. Total employment is projected to rise 7.3%; openings are not all new positions.
Getting started
Prepare for community-college teaching
- What the route involves
- Complete a master's degree in biology or biological sciences, with graduate coursework matching the subjects you want to teach.
- What it can lead to
- You can meet the education requirement for some full-time and adjunct biology instructor positions.
- What to check
- Requirements vary. A related master's may need specified graduate biology credits, and teaching experience may be preferred.
Prepare for university teaching and research
- What the route involves
- After undergraduate study, pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in biology or a related field, completing and defending original research.
- What it can lead to
- This meets the degree requirement for university biology positions that combine teaching with an independent research program; a strong research record also matters.
- What to check
- Some biological-science teachers gain postdoctoral research experience before faculty work. It is not a universal requirement.
Build depth in biology and experience explaining it. The degree you need depends on the college and the teaching–research mix.
After entry
Career paths
This starts where the entry routes leave off: early work, growing capability, and advancement or specialization.
Get established
Build a workable rhythm for lesson preparation, lab setup, grading, and office hours.
Improve your courses
Use student work to spot recurring difficulties. Revise lessons and laboratory activities with colleagues.
Advance in faculty rank
Where the appointment allows, seek promotion to associate professor and then professor. Reviews weigh teaching, research, and contributions to the institution.
Where you can work
Community colleges
Your week can revolve around introductory courses, teaching labs, and advising. Some jobs include evening classes or travel between campuses.
- Indoors
- Lab
- Office
Research universities
Research appointments combine undergraduate and graduate teaching with a research group. Finding outside funding and mentoring student researchers compete for calendar space.
- Indoors
- Lab
- Office
Try it
See whether the job clicks before you commit to the path.
Choose a graph from your biology textbook. Prepare a five-minute explanation, then ask a friend what conclusion the graph supports. Revise your explanation around their response. Notice whether you enjoy diagnosing the misunderstanding as much as discussing the biology.
Sources
- O*NET OnLine. Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- O*NET OnLine / U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. National Wages: Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational projections and worker characteristics, 2025–2035. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Postsecondary Teachers. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- North Carolina Community College System / Edgecombe Community College. Instructor – Biology (9-month position). Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Moraine Valley Community College. Adjunct Fall 2026 – Biology Instructor. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- Texas A&M University. Tenure Track: Assistant Professor — Biology. Accessed 2026-10-04.
- University of Rhode Island. AI and Assessment. Accessed 2026-10-04.