Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between computational biologists and molecular 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 computational biologist and a molecular biologist. Additionally, a molecular biologist has an average salary of $73,763, which is higher than the $61,449 average annual salary of a computational biologist.
The top three skills for a computational biologist include python, machine learning and next-generation sequencing. The most important skills for a molecular biologist are CRISPR, next-generation sequencing, and cell culture.
| Computational Biologist | Molecular Biologist | |
| Yearly salary | $61,449 | $73,763 |
| Hourly rate | $29.54 | $35.46 |
| Growth rate | 17% | 17% |
| Number of jobs | 12,839 | 22,019 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Years of experience | 8 | 8 |
A computational biologist is an expert in computational management, high-performance computing, data algorithm, and biological and statistical processes. You study to understand biological systems using computational theoretical principles. Your duties typically include doing research and computer programming, developing a theory, mathematical models, and computer simulations to organize and analyze your findings, and building databases. To become a successful computational biologist, you must have extensive knowledge of bioinformatics, biochemistry, and computational biology, excellent communication skills, and problem-solving skills.
A molecular biologist is a specialist who explores and studies the complex functions of cells on a molecular level as well as the biological laws governing the operations of each cellular component. To conduct research and academic activities, molecular biologists use equipment such as microscopes, lab centrifuges, and computers with software that allows the analysis of obtained data. They are required to develop a new way to test the validity of drugs that are used to stimulate safe gene growth and fight off disease. Molecular biologists must also conduct workshops and practical demonstrations in universities and governmental agencies.
Computational biologists and molecular biologists have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Computational Biologist | Molecular Biologist | |
| Average salary | $61,449 | $73,763 |
| Salary range | Between $38,000 And $99,000 | Between $52,000 And $104,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | Urban Honolulu, HI |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Novartis | |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a computational biologist and a molecular biologist in terms of educational background:
| Computational Biologist | Molecular Biologist | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 53% | Bachelor's Degree, 61% |
| Most common major | Biology | Biology |
| Most common college | Harvard University | Harvard University |
Here are the differences between computational biologists' and molecular biologists' demographics:
| Computational Biologist | Molecular Biologist | |
| Average age | 40 | 40 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 80.2% Female, 19.8% | Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.4% Asian, 17.0% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% | Black or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 7.4% Asian, 17.3% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% |
| LGBT Percentage | 10% | 10% |