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The differences between biologists and cell biologists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-8 years to become both a biologist and a cell biologist. Additionally, a cell biologist has an average salary of $68,698, which is higher than the $65,158 average annual salary of a biologist.
The top three skills for a biologist include data collection, GPS and renewable energy. The most important skills for a cell biologist are molecular biology, data analysis, and cell-based assays.
| Biologist | Cell Biologist | |
| Yearly salary | $65,158 | $68,698 |
| Hourly rate | $31.33 | $33.03 |
| Growth rate | 1% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 5,741 | 24,079 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A biologist is a specialized scientist focusing on studying living organisms and their relationship to the existing ecosystem. Biologists spend lots of time doing research and validating theories to support the complexity of the living matter. In some cases, biologists could also be out in the field rather than staying in a laboratory to collect biological specimens to justify their findings and create reports from their scientific investigations. Biologists also often communicate with government entities and private industries to provide recommendations on preserving the ecosystem and wildlife habitat.
A cell biologist specializes in studying cell structures and their interactions with biological organisms. They primarily work at laboratories where their responsibilities usually include conducting extensive research, gathering and analyzing samples through various laboratory procedures, performing experiments, and maintaining detailed records of all operations. Through their research findings, a cell biologist may produce publications or utilize the results for developing pharmaceutical products or treatments. When it comes to employment, a cell biologist may work for government agencies, private or public laboratories, and even teach at colleges or universities.
Biologists and cell biologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Biologist | Cell Biologist | |
| Average salary | $65,158 | $68,698 |
| Salary range | Between $46,000 And $91,000 | Between $45,000 And $102,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Eli Lilly and Company | |
| Best paying industry | Pharmaceutical | - |
There are a few differences between a biologist and a cell biologist in terms of educational background:
| Biologist | Cell Biologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 78% | Bachelor's Degree, 69% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | University of California, Berkeley | Stanford University |
Here are the differences between biologists' and cell biologists' demographics:
| Biologist | Cell Biologist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 51.4% Female, 48.6% | Male, 41.2% Female, 58.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.1% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 8.7% Asian, 10.4% White, 71.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7% | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 17.7% White, 66.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |