Massachusetts·Educational Instruction and Library Occupations·SOC 25-1042

Best Biological Science Teacher, Postsecondary programs in Massachusetts, ranked by enrollment

Teach courses in biological sciences.

67 schools in Massachusetts run programs that feed this job, graduating 7,214 people a year. The job pays a median of $105,050 in Massachusetts across about 2,060 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledProfessorBiology ProfessorBiology InstructorAssociate ProfessorLecturerInstructorBotany TeacherFaculty Member
Graduates / yr
7,214
in Massachusetts
Median pay · Massachusetts
$105,050
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
2,060
people employed
Schools
67
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
59%
across those schools
Median net price
$24,206
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Massachusetts that lead to this job

Grouped at the 4-digit CIP level. Numbers are graduates per year in this state.

Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.01
Biology
3,243graduates / yr
61 schools · 2 specializations · 44.9% of pipeline
Grad earnings $32,152
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.15
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
898graduates / yr
20 schools · 3 specializations · 12.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,687
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.02
Biochemistry
815graduates / yr
21 schools · 6 specializations · 11.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,243
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.12
Biotechnology
533graduates / yr
16 schools · 1 specialization · 7.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $49,023
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.09
Physiology
361graduates / yr
4 schools · 4 specializations · 5.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,146
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.04
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
307graduates / yr
6 schools · 5 specializations · 4.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,393
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.19
Nutrition Sciences
256graduates / yr
8 schools · 1 specialization · 3.5% of pipeline
Grad earnings $30,508
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.13
Ecology
237graduates / yr
3 schools · 5 specializations · 3.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $29,460
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.99
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
200graduates / yr
5 schools · 1 specialization · 2.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,278
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.10
Biopsychology
112graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 1.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $43,343
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.05
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
97graduates / yr
2 schools · 4 specializations · 1.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,383
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.11
Biomathematics
75graduates / yr
2 schools · 2 specializations · 1.0% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,338
Education
CIP 13.13
Teacher Education and Professional Development
46graduates / yr
7 schools · 2 specializations · 0.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $43,033
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.10
Pharmacology and Toxicology
19graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 0.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $39,202
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.08
Genetics
11graduates / yr
2 schools · 4 specializations · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,800
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.03
Botany/Plant Biology
4graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $33,009

43 programs in Massachusetts that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Massachusetts (IPEDS completions). Graduate earnings and debt are national College Scorecard figures reported at the 4-digit CIP level, so specializations within one field share a figure. Each program also links to its own Massachusetts page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
12,944
40.8%
61$32,152$25,000
2871
12.1%
20$31,687$22,936
3533
7.4%
16$49,023$21,309
4418
5.8%
21$38,243$23,014
5299
4.1%
8$32,152$25,000
6256
3.5%
8$30,508$24,586
7239
3.3%
4$38,243$23,014
8223
3.1%
6$35,393$19,961
9210
2.9%
4$31,146$23,384
10200
2.8%
5$31,278$23,000
11141
2.0%
2$31,146$23,384
12112
1.6%
2$43,343$22,125
1398
1.4%
3$38,243$23,014
1488
1.2%
2$29,460$23,480
1567
0.9%
2$38,383$22,065
1665
0.9%
2$29,460$23,480
1760
0.8%
2$72,338$18,500
1852
0.7%
1$35,393$19,961
1933
0.5%
3$29,460$23,480
2028
0.4%
2$29,460$23,480
2127
0.4%
7$43,033$26,044
2227
0.4%
1$38,243$23,014
2323
0.3%
1$29,460$23,480
2422
0.3%
1$31,687$22,936
2521
0.3%
3$38,243$23,014
2620
0.3%
2$38,383$22,065
2719
0.3%
6$43,033$26,044
2819
0.3%
3$39,202$18,000
2917
0.2%
2$35,393$19,961
3015
0.2%
1$72,338$18,500
3112
0.2%
1$38,243$23,014
3212
0.2%
1$35,393$19,961
337
0.1%
1$31,146$23,384
345
0.1%
1$38,383$22,065
355
0.1%
2$38,383$22,065
365
0.1%
1$31,687$22,936
374
0.1%
1$33,009$21,975
384
0.1%
2$31,800$21,424
394
0.1%
1$31,800$21,424
403
0.0%
1$35,393$19,961
413
0.0%
1$31,146$23,384
422
0.0%
1$31,800$21,424
431
0.0%
1$31,800$21,424

Top 25 schools in Massachusetts

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 33 of the 67 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1Northeastern University
Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 12 feeder programs
1,007Biotechnology91%$18,9255%
2Boston University
Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 19 feeder programs
984Biology/Biological Sciences, General$40,16589%$21,95611%
3University of Massachusetts - Amherst
Amherst, MA Public · 9 feeder programs
807Biology/Biological Sciences, General$40,42783%60%
4Harvard University
Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 17 feeder programs
615Neuroscience$46,99398%$15,0134%
5Tufts University
Medford, MA Private not-for-profit · 13 feeder programs
539Biology/Biological Sciences, General$39,01694%$23,57011%
6Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
374Biology/Biological Sciences, General$38,59291%$21,12616%
7University of Massachusetts - Boston
Boston, MA Public · 3 feeder programs
242Biology/Biological Sciences, General$42,72149%84%
8Brandeis University
Waltham, MA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs
225Biology/Biological Sciences, General$37,47586%$25,07440%
9University of Massachusetts - Lowell
Lowell, MA Public · 2 feeder programs
167Biology/Biological Sciences, General$46,52665%83%
10Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs
133Biology/Biological Sciences, General$51,71190%$32,92660%
11Simmons University
Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 4 feeder programs
108Nutrition Sciences72%$24,84870%
12Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
106Biology/Biological Sciences, General96%$11,6665%
13Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
104Biomedical Sciences, General62%$35,35885%
14College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
94Biology/Biological Sciences, General$43,27687%$24,53318%
15Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
92Biology/Biological Sciences, General$39,27084%$26,08336%
16Emmanuel College
Boston, MA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs
84Biology/Biological Sciences, General$45,27568%$29,72376%
17Smith College
Northampton, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
77Biology/Biological Sciences, General$32,74789%$17,18321%
18Salem State University
Salem, MA Public · 5 feeder programs
73Biology/Biological Sciences, General$45,67050%96%
19Bridgewater State University
Bridgewater, MA Public · 2 feeder programs
71Biology/Biological Sciences, General$44,62653%88%
20Wheaton College (Massachusetts)
Norton, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
70Biology/Biological Sciences, General$26,66173%$26,44568%
21Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
68Biology/Biological Sciences, General$36,62192%$19,29214%
22Amherst College
Amherst, MA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
65Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other94%$16,0819%
23Worcester State University
Worcester, MA Public · 2 feeder programs
63Biology/Biological Sciences, General$44,45061%88%
24University of Massachusetts - Dartmouth
North Dartmouth, MA Public · 4 feeder programs
61Biology/Biological Sciences, General$41,20452%91%
25Clark University
Worcester, MA Private not-for-profit · 2 feeder programs
59Biology/Biological Sciences, General$37,59077%$23,33240%

All 67 schools in Massachusetts

Every school in Massachusetts with a program that feeds this job, ordered by graduates per year. Earnings are shown for the ranked schools above; open a school profile for the rest.

All schools in Massachusetts that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
Northeastern UniversityBostonPrivate not-for-profit1,00712
Boston UniversityBostonPrivate not-for-profit98419
University of Massachusetts - AmherstAmherstPublic8079
Harvard UniversityCambridgePrivate not-for-profit61517
Tufts UniversityMedfordPrivate not-for-profit53913
Boston CollegeChestnut HillPrivate not-for-profit3744
University of Massachusetts - BostonBostonPublic2423
Brandeis UniversityWalthamPrivate not-for-profit2256
University of Massachusetts - LowellLowellPublic1672
Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcesterPrivate not-for-profit1335
Simmons UniversityBostonPrivate not-for-profit1084
Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyCambridgePrivate not-for-profit1063
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesBostonPrivate not-for-profit1043
College of the Holy CrossWorcesterPrivate not-for-profit942
Mount Holyoke CollegeSouth HadleyPrivate not-for-profit923

What biological science teachers, postsecondary earn in Massachusetts

What people already working in this job earn (BLS OEWS May 2025). Not graduate earnings.

Median annual in Massachusetts
$105,050
Mean annual
$134,120
Jobs in state
2,060
What the range looks like
10th pct$64,180Median$105,05090th pct$296,440
Versus the national median
+24.1%

U.S. median $84,620. Massachusetts pays above the national figure.

Job concentration
1.75×

Concentrated here: Massachusetts employs more of this job per worker than the U.S. average.

Metro areas in Massachusetts

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
$128,070median
1,380 jobs
Amherst Town-Northampton, MA
$105,050median
140 jobs
Worcester, MA
$96,660median
340 jobs
Springfield, MA
$82,470median
110 jobs

Job outlook

Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections, 2024 to 2034.

Projected growth 2024–34
+7.3%
Faster than average
Openings per year
5,400
new jobs plus replacements
Employment change
4,800
66,000 → 70,800
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree

Growth and openings are national. The Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish employment projections at state level, so these figures describe the occupation across the whole U.S., not this state alone.

How to get in

The full skills, tools, and day-to-day breakdown lives on the national Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary page.

How to become a Biological Science Teacher, Postsecondary

Job zone 5 of 5 · SVP 8.0 and above
Typical entry education
Doctoral or professional degree

Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).

Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.

Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.

Top skills

SpeakingLearning StrategiesActive LearningActive ListeningReading ComprehensionScience

The same job in other states

Where else this occupation employs the most people, and what it pays there.

Related careers in Massachusetts

Every major mapped to this job

The official federal mapping behind the rankings above.

All 25 majors mapped to Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary24 of them graduated someone in the latest IPEDS year. NCES CIP 2020 → SOC 2018 crosswalk.+
  • 13.1316Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
  • 13.1322Biology Teacher Education
  • 26.0101Biology/Biological Sciences, General
  • 26.0102Biomedical Sciences, General
  • 26.0202Biochemistry
  • 26.0203Biophysics
  • 26.0204Molecular Biology
  • 26.0205Molecular Biochemistry
  • 26.0206Molecular Biophysics
  • 26.0207Structural Biology
  • 26.0208Photobiology(no graduates reported)
  • 26.0209Radiation Biology/Radiobiology
  • 26.0210Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • 26.0299Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Other
  • 26.0301Botany/Plant Biology
  • 26.0305Plant Pathology/Phytopathology
  • 26.0307Plant Physiology
  • 26.0399Botany/Plant Biology, Other
  • 26.0401Cell/Cellular Biology and Histology
  • 26.0403Anatomy
  • 26.0404Developmental Biology and Embryology
  • 26.0406Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology
  • 26.0407Cell Biology and Anatomy
  • 26.0499Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Other
  • 26.0502Microbiology, General

Common questions

Answers for people weighing biological science teachers, postsecondary programs in Massachusetts.

What degree do you need to become a Biological Science Teacher, Postsecondary?+

Doctoral or professional degree is the typical entry-level education BLS reports for this occupation. The most common program people actually graduate from is Biology/Biological Sciences, General, which awarded 2,944 degrees in Massachusetts in 2024-25, 40.8% of everyone graduating from a program that feeds this career.

Which college majors lead to becoming a Biological Science Teacher, Postsecondary?+

The NCES CIP-to-SOC crosswalk maps 43 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Neurobiology and Neurosciences, Biochemistry, Biotechnology, plus 12 more. Together they graduate about 7,214 people a year in Massachusetts.

How much do biological science teachers, postsecondary earn in Massachusetts?+

The median is $105,050 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 24.1% above the U.S. median of $84,620. This is pay for people already working in the occupation, not the same thing as graduate earnings one year after finishing a degree.

Is demand for biological science teachers, postsecondary growing?+

BLS projects a +7.3% change in employment between 2024 and 2034, faster than average, with roughly 5,400 openings a year nationally once retirements and job changes are counted.

How many schools offer programs for this career in Massachusetts?+

67 institutions in Massachusetts reported graduates from at least one of the 43 programs that feed this occupation in IPEDS 2024-25. Rankings on this page use graduates per year, because the federal data publishes no enrollment count by program.

What other job titles do biological science teachers, postsecondary work under?+

Employers advertise this work under many names. O*NET records Professor, Biology Professor, Biology Instructor, Associate Professor among the most commonly reported, all mapping to SOC 25-1042.

Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary in other statesCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaPennsylvaniaNorth CarolinaOhioArizona

About the data on this page

Rankings use IPEDS completions 2024–25, degrees awarded per year. That is the closest federal measure of how many people a program puts into a career, because no federal dataset publishes enrollment by program. Wages and employment come from BLS OEWS May 2025, growth and openings from BLS Employment Projections 2024-34, and which majors lead to which jobs from the NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk. Occupation descriptions, tasks, skills and tools are O*NET 30.3 (CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor/ETA).

  • BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics

    May 2025

    Wages, employment counts, location quotients and metro breakdowns.

  • BLS Employment Projections

    2024–34

    Projected growth, annual openings and typical entry-level education.

  • IPEDS Completions

    2024-25 (provisional)

    Graduates per year by program and institution — the ranking metric.

  • College Scorecard, Field of Study

    2020-21 cohorts

    Median graduate earnings one year after completion, and median debt.

  • Census Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

    latest available

    Graduate earnings 1/5/10 years out, where the state participates.

  • NCES CIP 2020 and the CIP-to-SOC 2018 crosswalk

    CIP 2020 / SOC 2018

    Which college programs officially lead to this occupation.

  • O*NET Database 30.3

    30.3

    Tasks, skills, knowledge, tools, job zone and alternate job titles.

    Official source →CC BY 4.0, U.S. Department of Labor / ETA

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