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Job outlook for senior bioinformatics scientists in the United States
Are senior bioinformatics scientist jobs in demand?
Senior bioinformatics scientist job and salary trends over time
Senior bioinformatics scientist jobs over time
Senior bioinformatics scientist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 117 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 118 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 112 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 103 | 0.00% |
Average senior bioinformatics scientist salary over time
Senior bioinformatics scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $104,838 | $50.40 | +3.1% |
| 2024 | $101,722 | $48.90 | +4.7% |
| 2023 | $97,162 | $46.71 | +3.3% |
| 2022 | $94,046 | $45.21 | +1.9% |
| 2021 | $92,259 | $44.36 | --2.1% |
Senior bioinformatics scientist jobs by state
Most common states for senior bioinformatics scientists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 1,367 | 20% |
| 2 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 881 | 15% |
| 3 | Delaware | 961,939 | 137 | 14% |
| 4 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 101 | 12% |
| 5 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 965 | 11% |
| 6 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 960 | 11% |
| 7 | Vermont | 623,657 | 69 | 11% |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 136 | 10% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 77 | 10% |
| 10 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 66 | 10% |
| 11 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 653 | 9% |
| 12 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 90 | 9% |
| 13 | Wyoming | 579,315 | 51 | 9% |
| 14 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 823 | 8% |
| 15 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 278 | 8% |
| 16 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 81 | 8% |
| 17 | Alaska | 739,795 | 62 | 8% |
| 18 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 154 | 7% |
| 19 | Maine | 1,335,907 | 92 | 7% |
| 20 | California | 39,536,653 | 2,385 | 6% |
Most common cities for senior bioinformatics scientists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palo Alto | 3 | 4% | $121,463 |
| 2 | Cambridge | 2 | 2% | $88,666 |
| 3 | Berkeley | 1 | 1% | $121,944 |
| 4 | South San Francisco | 1 | 1% | $121,803 |
| 5 | San Diego | 4 | 0% | $107,678 |
| 6 | Boston | 1 | 0% | $88,758 |
| 7 | Des Moines | 1 | 0% | $62,442 |
| 8 | Phoenix | 1 | 0% | $93,195 |
| 9 | San Jose | 1 | 0% | $121,087 |
| 10 | Seattle | 1 | 0% | $85,628 |
Senior Bioinformatics Scientist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of senior bioinformatics scientist experts
Washburn University of Topeka
Pepperdine University
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Georgetown University
Santa Fe College
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Jackson State University
San Jose State University
Washington State University
University of Kentucky
Purdue University
University of Pittsburgh
University of Nebraska - Omaha
What will help Senior Bioinformatics Scientists increase their earning potential?
Christopher Vitek Ph.D.: I love being a population biologist because it allows me to work with a lot of other people and help public health offices learn how to control vector-borne diseases. The work is interesting and has an end result that can provide some use to the public. One thing that people may not like is that population biology often uses a lot of math and mathematical modeling to help predict growth and distribution patterns. You don’t need to be an expert, but you should be comfortable with math.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Dr. Taufika Williams PhD: Finding a job at with an undergraduate degree may be quite doable but upward mobility in your career often requires a terminal degree (i.e. PhD). Stay in school for as long as you can! Some students will work in biotechnology for a few years after their undergraduate studies are over and then return to school for graduate education. The work experience can tremendously benefit graduate research.
What Senior Bioinformatics Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Taufika Williams PhD: Wet-laboratory skills will always be important, however, data interrogation is a key space of growth, as biotechnology research is being driven by big data. Seek education in scientific writing, computer programming, delivering scientific presentations, statistics and the analysis of large datasets.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Frank David MD, PhD: In many biopharma industry positions, the annual cash bonus can be a sizable chunk of the compensation. So if you start out in a job like this, make sure you understand how you’ll be evaluated at the end of the year so you can make sure you knock it out of the park and get the highest possible ratings. If you go into a biopharma R&D; position straight out of undergrad, you should try to figure out relatively soon if you’ll want to go back to school for a PhD. Most science-based jobs will require a PhD to advance, but in many 'science-adjacent' jobs you’ll be able to move up without an advanced degree. Either is fine, but it would be great to figure out which direction you want to go within 2-4 years of entering the industry so you can plan accordingly.
Susan Bjerke
Associate Professor of BiologyWashburn University of Topeka
Biological And Physical Sciences
What will help Senior Bioinformatics Scientists increase their earning potential?
Susan Bjerke: Some of the skills that will be important in the next 3-5 years will be general critical thinking skills and the ability to adapt to changing technology. Almost all science fields are increasingly dependent on technology, so being able to learn new skills and change the way you do things in your job will be important. Being an effective communicator, both in writing and orally, is an overlooked skill in the sciences and is always an important asset.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Rachel Tan Ph.D.: I do not have an answer for this. My response would be to be proactive during undergraduate studies, to discern where you find joy and curiosity. Pursue that topic. I do not think that the salary should be the priority when considering careers.
What Senior Bioinformatics Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Qing Li: AI will become more important and prevalent in the field in the next 3-5 years but laboratory experiments will continue to make new discoveries.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Dr. Michael Marchetti: I think it is hard to know how to maximize one's salary potential at the outset, other than being a good team player and having the skills and personality to 'fill in' and pivot as needed by an employer. With scientists, the interest in the scientific questions/problems/goals often times drive the practitioners in the discipline rather than a huge 'paycheck touchdown' type approach.
What will help Senior Bioinformatics Scientists increase their earning potential?
Meghan McGee-Lawrence Ph.D.: Cast a wide net! A huge variety of career paths can be pursued with a degree like this, including industry, academic research, healthcare, education, and more. It is a very versatile degree, and can be a foundation for a multitude of different professions. Talk to recent graduates from your program (as many as possible!) and see what they did with their degree – the more information you can collect, the better prepared you’ll be to seek out opportunities yourself. Take the time to figure out where your interests lie – and understand that you may have to try a few different paths out before you find the right one for you. The first position you land after graduation doesn’t have to be the job you perform for the next 30 years of your life – so use each opportunity as a learning experience to figure out what you’d really like to do long-term.
Luz Garcini PhD, MPH
Assistant ProfessorWhat general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Luz Garcini PhD, MPH: Find a purpose and a meaning in their work and be open to learning from interdisciplinary fields.
What Senior Bioinformatics Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Luz Garcini PhD, MPH: Interdisciplinary, commitment to diversity, flexibility in thinking and approach, fast learning of technological advances, advanced statistical knowledge and skills in mixed methodologies.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Ivica Labuda PhD: The 21st century is the century of biotechnology, which means that opportunities for a successful, impactful career in the field are there for those who go after them. Your blossoming career path may take you from the private sector, to government agencies, to academia and beyond, so taking advantage of every opportunity to gain exposure to the different sides of biotech will set you up to grasp varied and exciting opportunities.
What Senior Bioinformatics Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Ivica Labuda PhD: Certainly everyone in the biotech field would benefit from having knowledge of biotechnology techniques and skills in concert with understanding the regulatory framework. That provides a good foundation so that one can interact confidently in every aspect of the biotech world. With AI progress, the next step is to add the basic understanding of the speed at which we can evolve new techniques and materials. Not everybody needs to code, but everyone needs to think about how to maximize its benefits for biotechnology.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Kristopher Koudelka Ph.D.: There are two skillsets, and one field I see become more important. The first skillset is application of material. You must know the language of your field; however, most content can be quickly found through simple research. People who can apply this knowledge, and formulate the new questions are more valuable employees. The second skill set is troubleshooting. Very often experiments fail or give strange results, how one can glean as much information as possible from the experiment and then plan the next course of action is a huge asset. The field I see becoming more important is computer programming. Very often these fields deal with large datasets that are so big, complex, or repetitive that computer assistance isn’t just helpful… but mandatory.
What will help Senior Bioinformatics Scientists increase their earning potential?
Kristopher Koudelka Ph.D.: Always keep learning. These fields change fast! The leading edge is always unveiling new information that can be applied to the area you are working on, and there will be new techniques developed that allow you to answer questions in more efficient ways. You must learn to regularly update yourself through conversations, reading, conferences, and trainings. This change is fun and exciting, embrace it. It will keep your job feeling new.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Jeff Heslep: Find a starting job that gives you a wide range of work to perform. The more experience you can gain during the first few years will help you to hone your skills, decide what areas interest you the most, and give you the opportunity to choose. Learn as much as you can about the various equipment, analytical techniques, processes, and how to troubleshoot minor problems. Take the initiative and ask to learn how to use instruments you aren't familiar with. It is unlikely someone will deny you the opportunity to broaden your knowledge. Take every chance you have to network and get to know the people within your local biotechnology industry. Networking plays a major role in employment opportunities. Work on your written and verbal communication skills. Communicating well will help you stand out. Being able to effectively convey complex scientific concepts in such a way that anyone can understand it can be a powerful skill.
What Senior Bioinformatics Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jeff Heslep: A good entry-level starting salary is great, but it may not maximize your salary potential if the job doesn't help you grow. You might want to take learning opportunities and experience over money early on in your career. Focus on experience, learning, and growth early so your salary potential in the long run will be much higher. Be wary of companies offering a sign-on bonus for certain positions. The reason companies need to offer a sign-on bonus for specific positions is often because the job is very demanding and unpleasant, or they are positions that stagnate and offer little growth opportunities. You'll have plenty of time to advance and make a higher salary after you have a good system of self-improvement in place and ways to master your skills.
What will help Senior Bioinformatics Scientists increase their earning potential?
Jeff Heslep: Know how to interpret data. Don't simply know what expected results are necessary for successful projects, know why and be able to explain the data. Technology in the form of automation, machine learning, and robotics is going to become more prevalent in the near future. Knowing how to program automated systems and how to prompt AI is going to be very beneficial. Lab skills will continue to be necessary, but continuing to grow with the advancement of technology is ideal.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Jacob Nordman: Salary potential in my field of neuroscience almost always involves publications, awards, and technical acumen. Therefore, as I mentioned, it is important to start early looking for opportunities that can strengthen these areas. Another important aspect of getting high-profile, and thus high-paying, positions, is being able to tell a story with your research and career. Employers want to see that you have thought deeply and strategically about your career and where it’s going. This will allow them to believe you are a safe bet and worthy of their investment.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Hung-Chung Huang: Master key concepts in genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry; also learn at least one programming language like R or Python.
What Senior Bioinformatics Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Hung-Chung Huang: Cloud computing, AI (e.g., ChatGPT) computing, machine learning, HMM, neural network, and natural language processing.
Dr. Harit Agroia
Adjunct Professor of Public HealthSan Jose State University
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Dr. Harit Agroia: The day-to-day of a Health Science Researcher may vary depending on the organization, industry and setting in which the role is based. Generally, the Health Science Researcher may be responsible for the following: working in close collaboration with a research team to identify research gaps, conducting population-level data analyses to understand the distribution and burden of and social determinants of disease within a specified geographic region, designing research plans including aims, objectives, theoretical or conceptual frameworks, data collection tools, analyses, results visualization and interpretation, and dissemination of findings. Health Science Researchers may spend their day collecting data which may involve manual extraction and data entry or conducting interviews or focus groups. Conducting interviews and focus groups may require travel related to the job as being in the field and area where the research is focused provides additional observational data that may be integrated into the analysis or provide context for the results. The data analysis portion of the job may require basic to advanced statistical analysis skills; many researchers work in close collaboration with biostatisticians to complete more complex analyses. For qualitative analyses, data analysis may require transcribing notes, coding and identifying themes to organize the results. These day-to-day tasks are completed in the setting of larger team environment and in consultation with senior management and principal investigators.
What Senior Bioinformatics Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. Harit Agroia: The Health Science Researcher provides an exciting opportunity for individuals to explore areas of health that they are curious about; this role will be very well-enjoyed by someone who is curious, analytical and detail-oriented. One challenge about the role is that there may be times when research data may have to be re-collected or analyzed with evolving changes to research design and methodologies; being able to manage this effectively requires flexibility and adaptation in order to be thorough and successful in achieving set research goals.
What will help Senior Bioinformatics Scientists increase their earning potential?
Lindsey du Toit: Take every opportunity you can to learn, network, and build an effective team of people that bring a greater breadth and depth of skills and expertise to the work on which you will be focusing. Cultivate a life-long sense of intellectual curiosity and learning. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Treat ignorance as an opportunity to learn. Questions demonstrate you want to understand the situation/problem effectively and that you are paying attention. Always demonstrate integrity in your work. It is one of the most valuable traits you can bring to your career. Be kind and supportive of your colleagues.
Dr. David Harmon
Professor of Animal & Food SciencesUniversity of Kentucky
Animal Sciences
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Dr. David Harmon: Reading and writing skills are never more important. If you want to do research you have to compete for funds.
What Senior Bioinformatics Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Dr. David Harmon: Opportunities abound. The job opportunities outnumber current graduates. Decide what you want to be good at and then be good at it.
What will help Senior Bioinformatics Scientists increase their earning potential?
Dr. David Harmon: Be productive as a graduate student. Publishing is still the road to success.
Yan Cong
Purdue University
Romance Languages, Literatures, And Linguistics
What will help Senior Bioinformatics Scientists increase their earning potential?
Yan Cong: Develop some in-demand skills such as programming or generating content from text models via prompt engineering, et cetera. Get experience and extra income via paid summer internships.
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Arjumand Ghazi Ph. D: Don’t hesitate to experiment with different career options before settling for one where you enjoy the work and make a good living.
What Senior Bioinformatics Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Arjumand Ghazi Ph. D: Skills that bridge wet bench approaches, especially genome-scale experimental techniques, with bioinformatic/computation expertise.
What will help Senior Bioinformatics Scientists increase their earning potential?
Arjumand Ghazi Ph. D: Having an advanced degree such as a PhD and even a few years postdoc is a good way to start at a higher level. It often allows one to make up for the reduced earnings during the training periods while increasing long-term earnings.
Andrew Riquier Ph.D.
InstructorUniversity of Nebraska - Omaha
Neurobiology And Neurosciences
What general advice would you give to a Senior Bioinformatics Scientist?
Andrew Riquier Ph.D.: Apply for the positions you want, even if you feel underqualified. I know plenty of people who have applied for jobs they didn't quite meet the requirements for, and got hired for other reasons. In my experience, many recent graduates choose to take time to strengthen their resumes by retaking classes, working jobs they don't particularly want to get experience, etc. There is some value in that, particularly if you have been unsuccessful attaining the position you want, or if you want to see if you even enjoy that type of work. But if you are confident in what you want to do, go for it; in the worst-case scenario, you are in the same position you would be if you hadn't applied, but now you have experience applying and have potentially gained a contact in the field.
What will help Senior Bioinformatics Scientists increase their earning potential?
Andrew Riquier Ph.D.: Carve out a niche, and do things that make you stand out and be valuable in that space. For example, if you are inclined towards research, you can try and increase your publication count by volunteering or getting a job in a laboratory. Apply for any grants or fellowships that you can. This will increase your chances of getting hired at a higher salary in the future. If you want to teach, you can start by volunteering to guest lecture, adjunct some classes, create a new class that is all your own, present at teaching conferences, do analytics on your students to show how effective you are, etc. It is all about knowing what your field values and what makes people stand out.