Biologists
Research or study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and functions.
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)
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Reading Comprehension is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Information Ordering is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
High reliance on Mathematics is a risk area. Consider developing complementary AI-resistant skills to maintain value.
Memorization is AI-vulnerable but has moderate importance in this role. AI tools may handle this; focus on higher-value skills.
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 Solving is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Adaptability/Flexibility is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Leadership is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Social Perceptiveness is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Instructing is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Coordination is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Persuasion is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
Negotiation is AI-resistant — strengthening this skill provides durable career protection.
AI-Augmented Skills (7)
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
Machine Learning Specialization
by Stanford / DeepLearning.AI
Estimated Impact
AI-Augmentation Tools
Learn to work alongside AI and boost your productivity
Creative Writing Specialization
by Wesleyan University
Estimated Impact
Strengthen Your Edge
Double down on skills AI can't replicate
Leading People and Teams Specialization
by University of Michigan
Estimated Impact
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
Prior Experience Needed
Work experience required to enter this job
Training Provided After Hiring
How long it typically takes to learn on the job
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.
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.
Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment.
Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data.
Plan and administer biological research programs for government, research firms, medical industries, or manufacturing firms.
Study aquatic plants and animals and environmental conditions affecting them, such as radioactivity or pollution.
Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists.
Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research.
Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species.
Communicate test results to state and federal representatives and general public.
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.
Study and manage wild animal populations.
Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work.
Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life.
Prepare plans for management of renewable resources.
Teach or supervise students and perform research at universities and colleges.
Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences.
Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function.
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.
Study reactions of plants, animals, and marine species to parasites.
Develop methods and apparatus for securing representative plant, animal, aquatic, or soil samples.
Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion, using scientific methods.
| Task | AI Capability | Risk | Time % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public. | 59.72Observed | 50.9% | 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. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 6% | |
| Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 10% | |
| Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data. | 80Estimated | 59.0% | 8% | |
| Plan and administer biological research programs for government, research firms, medical industries, or manufacturing firms. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 6% | |
| Study aquatic plants and animals and environmental conditions affecting them, such as radioactivity or pollution. | 59.38Observed | 50.8% | 4% | |
| Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists. | 15Estimated | 21.0% | 5% | |
| Write grant proposals to obtain funding for biological research. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 5% | |
| Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 6% | |
| Communicate test results to state and federal representatives and general public. | 30Estimated | 27.0% | 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. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 4% | |
| Study and manage wild animal populations. | 45Estimated | 45.0% | 3% | |
| Prepare requests for proposals or statements of work. | 64.42Observed | 75.0% | 3% | |
| Measure salinity, acidity, light, oxygen content, and other physical conditions of water to determine their relationship to aquatic life. | 40Estimated | 49.0% | 4% | |
| Prepare plans for management of renewable resources. | 55Estimated | 49.0% | 3% | |
| Teach or supervise students and perform research at universities and colleges. | 66.12Observed | 41.5% | 4% | |
| Represent employer in a technical capacity at conferences. | 10Estimated | 19.0% | 3% | |
| Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function. | 55.57Observed | 49.2% | 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. | 70Estimated | 55.0% | 3% | |
| Study reactions of plants, animals, and marine species to parasites. | 50Estimated | 47.0% | 2% | |
| Develop methods and apparatus for securing representative plant, animal, aquatic, or soil samples. | 40Estimated | 43.0% | 3% | |
| Develop pest management and control measures, and conduct risk assessments related to pest exclusion, using scientific methods. | 60Estimated | 51.0% | 2% |
Protective Factors
Total protective discount: 34.0%
Essential Soft Skills
Traits that are hard for AI to replicate
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
Explore other career paths
Compare displacement risk across occupations and find careers with stronger long-term prospects.
Alternate Career Paths
See all transitionsNatural Sciences Managers
27%Median salary: $161,180
Higher risk than 26% of other occupations
Soil and Plant Scientists
27%Median salary: $71,410
Higher risk than 26% of other occupations
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
29%Median salary: $72,860
Higher risk than 31% of other occupations
Microbiologists
29%Median salary: $87,330
Higher risk than 34% of other occupations
Geneticists
30%Median salary: $93,330
Higher risk than 41% of other occupations
Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary
30%Median salary: $83,460
Higher risk than 41% of other occupations
Biochemists and Biophysicists
31%Median salary: $103,650
Higher risk than 46% of other occupations
Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
32%Median salary: $80,060
Higher risk than 51% of other occupations
Molecular and Cellular Biologists
33%Median salary: $93,330
Higher risk than 56% of other occupations
Chemistry Teachers, Postsecondary
35%Median salary: $86,220
Higher risk than 65% of other occupations
Sales Managers
25%Higher risk than 20% of other occupations
Chief Executives
26%Higher risk than 23% of other occupations
General and Operations Managers
28%Higher risk than 29% of other occupations
Marketing Managers
30%Higher risk than 38% of other occupations
Advertising and Promotions Managers
31%Higher risk than 43% of other occupations
Computer and Information Systems Managers
31%Higher risk than 45% of other occupations
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
overall change