AITakeover Tracker
30%medium risk

Biologists

Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.

Higher risk than 39% of occupations

AI Impact Summary

Biologists faces moderate AI displacement risk with a score of 30/100. This occupation has higher AI displacement risk than 39% of all analyzed occupations. Of 22 analyzed tasks, 1 are highly automatable, particularly routine cognitive tasks. Strong protective factors — including social intelligence, creativity, or regulatory barriers — significantly reduce effective risk.

Skill Impact Analysis

AI-Vulnerable Skills (6)

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Reading Comprehension10%

High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Information Ordering5%

High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Mathematics10%

High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

Memorization5%

Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Programming15%

Programming is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

AI-Resistant Skills (11)

Complex Problem Solving75%

Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Adaptability/Flexibility85%

Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Leadership88%

Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Social Perceptiveness90%

Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Instructing75%

Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Coordination70%

Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Persuasion80%

Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Negotiation85%

Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

AI-Augmented Skills (7)

Critical ThinkingWritingActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingMonitoringSystems AnalysisTechnology Design

Recommended Courses

Courses matched to Biologists skill gaps, ranked by relevance to your displacement risk profile.

Get personalized recommendations. Answer a few questions about your experience and skills to get course suggestions tailored specifically to you.

Upskill to Reduce Risk

Courses addressing your most AI-vulnerable skills

Courseraintermediate

Machine Learning Specialization

by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI

~10 weeks$49/mo4.9Certificate
Addresses vulnerability: Mathematics

Estimated Impact

-7.8pt risk+$6K/yr salary

AI-Augmentation Tools

Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity

Coursera

Creative Writing Specialization

by Wesleyan University

~8 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Enhances AI augmentation: Writing

Estimated Impact

-5.6pt risk+$6K/yr salary

Strengthen Your Edge

Double down on skills AI can't replicate

Courseraintermediate

Leading People and Teams Specialization

by University of Michigan

~6 weeks$49/mo4.7Certificate
Strengthens resilience: Leadership

Estimated Impact

-3.8pt risk+$6K/yr salary

We may earn a commission when you enroll through our links, at no extra cost to you. This helps fund the Takeover Tracker.

Risk reduction and salary impact are estimates based on skill gap analysis, course relevance, and labor market data. Actual results vary by individual circumstance.

Education & Training

Percentage of workers at each education and training level

Education Level

Bachelor's Degree32%
Master's Degree10%
Doctoral/Professional Degree57%

Prior Experience Needed

Work experience required to enter this job

None2%
6 months - 1 year2%
1-2 years13%
2-4 years35%
4-6 years27%
6-8 years11%
Over 10 years11%

Training Provided After Hiring

How long it typically takes to learn on the job

None5%
Up to 1 month5%
1-3 months3%
3-6 months14%
6 months - 1 year34%
1-2 years38%

How AI Impacts Each Task

22 tasks analyzed

Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public.

Risk: 50.9%AI: 59.72ObservedTime: 8%

Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings.

Risk: 21.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 6%

Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 10%

Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.

Risk: 59.0%AI: 80EstimatedTime: 8%

Plan and administer biological research programs for government, research firms, medical industries, or manufacturing firms.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 6%

Study aquatic plants and animals and environmental conditions affecting them, such as radioactivity or pollution.

Risk: 50.8%AI: 59.38ObservedTime: 4%

Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.

Risk: 21.0%AI: 15EstimatedTime: 5%

Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.

Risk: 55.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 5%

Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 6%

Communicate test results to state and federal representatives and general public.

Risk: 27.0%AI: 30EstimatedTime: 4%

Research environmental effects of present and potential uses of land and water areas, determining methods of improving environmental conditions or such outputs as crop yields.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 55EstimatedTime: 4%

Study and manage wild animal populations.

Risk: 45.0%AI: 45EstimatedTime: 3%

Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work.

Risk: 75.0%AI: 64.42ObservedTime: 3%

Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 4%

Prepare plans for management of renewable resources.

Risk: 49.0%AI: 55EstimatedTime: 3%

Teach or supervise students and perform research at universities and colleges.

Risk: 41.5%AI: 66.12ObservedTime: 4%

Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences.

Risk: 19.0%AI: 10EstimatedTime: 3%

Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function.

Risk: 49.2%AI: 55.57ObservedTime: 4%

Review reports and proposals, such as those relating to land use classifications and recreational development, for accuracy, adequacy, or adherence to policies, regulations, or scientific standards.

Risk: 55.0%AI: 70EstimatedTime: 3%

Study reactions of plants, animals, and marine species to parasites.

Risk: 47.0%AI: 50EstimatedTime: 2%

Develop methods and apparatus for securing representative plant, animal, aquatic, or soil samples.

Risk: 43.0%AI: 40EstimatedTime: 3%

Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion, using scientific methods.

Risk: 51.0%AI: 60EstimatedTime: 2%

Protective Factors

Total protective discount: 34.0%

Essential Soft Skills

Traits that are hard for AI to replicate

Attention to DetailCooperationIntegrityAnalytical ThinkingInitiativeDependabilityStress ToleranceAdaptability/FlexibilityLeadershipPersistenceIndependenceAchievement/Effort

Wage & Employment (2024)

Median Wage

$93,340

per year

Mean Wage

$100,730

per year

Employment

131K

workers

Wage Range

$54,120 - $161,990

10th - 90th pct

Wage Distribution

$54,120Median: $93,340$161,990
Career Planning

Explore other career paths

Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.

Alternate Career Paths

See all transitions

Natural Sciences Managers

27%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $161,180

Higher risk than 26% of other occupations

Soil and Plant Scientists

27%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $71,410

Higher risk than 26% of other occupations

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

29%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $72,860

Higher risk than 31% of other occupations

Microbiologists

29%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $87,330

Higher risk than 34% of other occupations

Geneticists

30%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $93,330

Higher risk than 41% of other occupations

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary

30%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $83,460

Higher risk than 41% of other occupations

Biochemists and Biophysicists

31%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $103,650

Higher risk than 46% of other occupations

Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health

32%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $80,060

Higher risk than 51% of other occupations

Molecular and Cellular Biologists

33%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $93,330

Higher risk than 56% of other occupations

Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary

35%
Medium Risk

Median salary: $86,220

Higher risk than 65% of other occupations

Sales Managers

25%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 20% of other occupations

Chief Executives

26%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 23% of other occupations

General and Operations Managers

28%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 29% of other occupations

Marketing Managers

30%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 38% of other occupations

Advertising and Promotions Managers

31%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 43% of other occupations

Computer and Information Systems Managers

31%
Medium Risk

Higher risk than 45% of other occupations

Subscribed — always updated

Recommendations

Skills to Develop

These skills are at risk from AI automation. Biologists professionals should diversify beyond them.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Reading Comprehension

    High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Information Ordering

    High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Mathematics

    High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.

  • Memorization

    Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.

Skills to Leverage

These human-centric skills remain difficult for AI to replicate. Double down here.

  • Complex Problem Solving

    Complex Problem Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Adaptability/Flexibility

    Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Leadership

    Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Social Perceptiveness

    Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

  • Instructing

    Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.

Tools to Adopt

AI can amplify these skills. Learn the tools that augment rather than replace your work.

  • Critical Thinking

    Critical Thinking will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Writing

    Writing will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Active Learning

    Active Learning will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Judgment and Decision Making

    Judgment and Decision Making will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

  • Monitoring

    Monitoring will be enhanced by AI. Develop expertise in using AI tools for this skill to increase productivity.

Score History

Risk score over 2 scoring runs

-1.8

overall change

Checking for existing plan...