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What is a bioinformaticist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a bioinformaticist. For example, did you know that they make an average of $28.78 an hour? That's $59,857 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 9% and produce 56,000 job opportunities across the U.S.
ScoreBioinformaticistUS Average
Salary
4.7

Avg. Salary $59,857

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
4.8

Growth rate 9%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.58%

Asian 11.13%

Black or African American 2.31%

Hispanic or Latino 6.35%

Unknown 4.95%

White 74.69%

Gender

female 10.00%

male 90.00%

Age - 39
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39
Stress level
4.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
5.5

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a bioinformaticist

  1. Explore bioinformaticist education requirements

    Most common bioinformaticist degrees

    Master's

    40.0 %

    Bachelor's

    20.0 %

    Diploma

    20.0 %
  2. Start to develop specific bioinformaticist skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Python44.98%
    Unix15.05%
    Perl12.88%
    NGS12.55%
    HPC5.08%
  3. Complete relevant bioinformaticist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New bioinformaticists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a bioinformaticist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real bioinformaticist resumes.
  4. Research bioinformaticist duties and responsibilities

    • Develop UNIX shell script, PERL and AWK program and apply TECPLOT software macro files to automate data processing and report.
    • Implement many diverse analysis algorithms in Perl.
    • Implement biological interpretation of largescale data using gene ontology, gene set, and pathway and network enrichment analytical frameworks.
    • Develop a Java program to generate well format PDF reports automatically.
  5. Apply for bioinformaticist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a bioinformaticist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first bioinformaticist job

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Average bioinformaticist salary

The average bioinformaticist salary in the United States is $59,857 per year or $29 per hour. Bioinformaticist salaries range between $29,000 and $120,000 per year.

Average bioinformaticist salary
$59,857 Yearly
$28.78 hourly

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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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