Geneticist

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Work Tasks

• Study the traits that living things pass on to their offspring
• Do experiments to decide what things might affect the color, size, and other features of offspring
• Find ways to make new traits by using chemicals, heat, light, and other changes in the surroundings
• Help diagnose, manage and treat genetic diseases; write reports on their studies
• Work in labs, offices, or classrooms for the government, colleges, private industry, hospitals, research institutes, drug companies, and plant and animal breeding companies
• Work with living things, lab equipment, testing and measuring instruments, mathematical modeling, and computers

Salary, Size & Growth

• $71,500 average per year ($34.50 per hour)
• A medium occupation (93,600 workers in 2010)
• Expected to grow rapidly (4.0% per year)

Education/Training

• Minimum for Entry: A 4-year degree in genetics
• Employers Prefer: A Ph.D. degree; a medical degree is helpful.
• Skills/Courses: College courses include biology, genetics, chemistry, math, physics, and computer science.
• Certification/Licensing: Certifications are available.