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

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

Teach courses in biological sciences.

38 schools in Washington run programs that feed this job, graduating 3,503 people a year. The job pays a median of $97,280 in Washington across about 960 jobs (BLS OEWS May 2025).

Also calledProfessorBiology ProfessorBiology InstructorAssociate ProfessorLecturerInstructorBotany TeacherFaculty Member
Graduates / yr
3,503
in Washington
Median pay · Washington
$97,280
BLS OEWS May 2025
Jobs in state
960
people employed
Schools
38
with a feeder program
Avg graduation rate
51%
across those schools
Median net price
$23,510
per year, IPEDS

Fields of study in Washington 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
1,449graduates / yr
33 schools · 2 specializations · 41.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $32,152
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.09
Physiology
466graduates / yr
6 schools · 3 specializations · 13.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,146
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.02
Biochemistry
448graduates / yr
9 schools · 3 specializations · 12.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,243
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.04
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences
256graduates / yr
5 schools · 1 specialization · 7.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $35,393
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.19
Nutrition Sciences
188graduates / yr
4 schools · 1 specialization · 5.4% of pipeline
Grad earnings $30,508
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.15
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
166graduates / yr
4 schools · 2 specializations · 4.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,687
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.13
Ecology
151graduates / yr
3 schools · 5 specializations · 4.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $29,460
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
CIP 30.27
Human Biology
128graduates / yr
3 schools · 1 specialization · 3.7% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,690
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.05
Microbiological Sciences and Immunology
114graduates / yr
2 schools · 4 specializations · 3.3% of pipeline
Grad earnings $38,383
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.07
Zoology/Animal Biology
44graduates / yr
1 schools · 2 specializations · 1.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $28,266
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.08
Genetics
31graduates / yr
1 schools · 3 specializations · 0.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,800
Education
CIP 13.13
Teacher Education and Professional Development
25graduates / yr
4 schools · 2 specializations · 0.8% of pipeline
Grad earnings $43,033
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.03
Botany/Plant Biology
20graduates / yr
2 schools · 2 specializations · 0.6% of pipeline
Grad earnings $33,009
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.10
Pharmacology and Toxicology
7graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $39,202
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.99
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
7graduates / yr
2 schools · 1 specialization · 0.2% of pipeline
Grad earnings $31,278
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
CIP 26.11
Biomathematics
3graduates / yr
1 schools · 1 specialization · 0.1% of pipeline
Grad earnings $72,338

34 programs in Washington that lead to this job

Ranked by graduates per year in Washington (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 Washington page.

Degree programs that lead to this occupation, ranked by graduates per year
#ProgramGraduates / yrShare of pipelineSchoolsGrad earnings (1 yr)Median debt
11,346
38.4%
33$32,152$25,000
2415
11.8%
9$38,243$23,014
3306
8.7%
6$31,146$23,384
4256
7.3%
5$35,393$19,961
5188
5.4%
4$30,508$24,586
6154
4.4%
2$31,146$23,384
7128
3.7%
3$31,690$17,312
8103
2.9%
2$32,152$25,000
9100
2.9%
4$31,687$22,936
1086
2.5%
2$38,383$22,065
1182
2.3%
3$29,460$23,480
1266
1.9%
1$31,687$22,936
1340
1.1%
1$29,460$23,480
1439
1.1%
1$28,266$24,393
1523
0.7%
4$43,033$26,044
1619
0.5%
1$31,800$21,424
1717
0.5%
1$38,243$23,014
1816
0.5%
2$38,243$23,014
1914
0.4%
1$38,383$22,065
2011
0.3%
2$33,009$21,975
2111
0.3%
1$29,460$23,480
2211
0.3%
1$29,460$23,480
239
0.3%
1$33,009$21,975
248
0.2%
1$38,383$22,065
258
0.2%
1$31,800$21,424
267
0.2%
1$39,202$18,000
277
0.2%
1$29,460$23,480
287
0.2%
2$31,278$23,000
296
0.2%
1$38,383$22,065
306
0.2%
1$31,146$23,384
315
0.1%
1$28,266$24,393
324
0.1%
1$31,800$21,424
333
0.1%
1$72,338$18,500
342
0.1%
2$43,033$26,044

Top 25 schools in Washington

Ranked by graduates per year into this job. Graduate earnings are reported for 15 of the 38 schools in this state.

Schools ranked by graduates per year into this occupation
#SchoolGraduates / yrTop feeder programGrad earnings (1 yr)Grad rateNet priceAcceptance
1University of Washington - Seattle Campus
Seattle, WA Public · 19 feeder programs
1,396Biochemistry$38,98585%39%
2Washington State University
Pullman, WA Public · 13 feeder programs
594Biology/Biological Sciences, General$36,29060%87%
3Western Washington University
Bellingham, WA Public · 7 feeder programs
182Biology/Biological Sciences, General$33,87165%93%
4Eastern Washington University
Cheney, WA Public · 4 feeder programs
156Biology/Biological Sciences, General$33,79343%91%
5Gonzaga University
Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
134Biology/Biological Sciences, General$30,81986%$30,00682%
6Seattle University
Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 5 feeder programs
112Exercise Physiology and Kinesiology76%$31,90077%
7University of Washington - Bothell Campus
Bothell, WA Public · 2 feeder programs
110Biology/Biological Sciences, General$38,71665%91%
8Central Washington University
Ellensburg, WA Public · 2 feeder programs
85Biology/Biological Sciences, General$36,40154%91%
9Seattle Pacific University
Seattle, WA Private not-for-profit · 9 feeder programs
80Physiology, General$26,47862%$24,65383%
10University of Washington - Tacoma Campus
Tacoma, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
79Biomedical Sciences, General$38,71663%83%
11Whitman College
Walla Walla, WA Private not-for-profit · 6 feeder programs
69Biology/Biological Sciences, General$28,53881%$28,50838%
12Clark College
Vancouver, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
51Biology/Biological Sciences, General39%
13Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
50Biology/Biological Sciences, General$36,76669%$19,94478%
14Cascadia College
Bothell, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
47Biology/Biological Sciences, General32%
15South Puget Sound Community College
Olympia, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
33Biology/Biological Sciences, General44%
16Pierce College District
Lakewood, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
32Biology/Biological Sciences, General31%
17Edmonds College
Lynnwood, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
30Biology/Biological Sciences, General29%
18Highline College
Des Moines, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
27Biology/Biological Sciences, General35%
19Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Yakima, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
24Biomedical Sciences, General
20University of Puget Sound
Tacoma, WA Private not-for-profit · 3 feeder programs
24Biology/Biological Sciences, General$30,19168%$35,05772%
21Whitworth University
Spokane, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
23Biology/Biological Sciences, General$29,59971%$23,51090%
22Saint Martin's University
Lacey, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
19Biology/Biological Sciences, General$32,03452%$22,13190%
23Bastyr University
Kenmore, WA Private not-for-profit · 1 feeder programs
18Nutrition Sciences$28,998
24The Evergreen State College
Olympia, WA Public · 2 feeder programs
17Mycology41%96%
25Spokane Falls Community College
Spokane, WA Public · 1 feeder programs
16Biology/Biological Sciences, General32%

All 38 schools in Washington

Every school in Washington 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 Washington that feed this occupation
SchoolCityControlGraduates / yrFeeder programs
University of Washington - Seattle CampusSeattlePublic1,39619
Washington State UniversityPullmanPublic59413
Western Washington UniversityBellinghamPublic1827
Eastern Washington UniversityCheneyPublic1564
Gonzaga UniversitySpokanePrivate not-for-profit1343
Seattle UniversitySeattlePrivate not-for-profit1125
University of Washington - Bothell CampusBothellPublic1102
Central Washington UniversityEllensburgPublic852
Seattle Pacific UniversitySeattlePrivate not-for-profit809
University of Washington - Tacoma CampusTacomaPublic791
Whitman CollegeWalla WallaPrivate not-for-profit696
Clark CollegeVancouverPublic511
Pacific Lutheran UniversityTacomaPrivate not-for-profit501
Cascadia CollegeBothellPublic471
South Puget Sound Community CollegeOlympiaPublic331

What biological science teachers, postsecondary earn in Washington

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

Median annual in Washington
$97,280
Mean annual
$111,370
Jobs in state
960
What the range looks like
10th pct$59,690Median$97,28090th pct$212,090
Versus the national median
+15.0%

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

Job concentration
0.84×

1.00× means the state has its expected share of these jobs.

Metro areas in Washington

Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
$102,060median
600 jobs
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA
$80,000median
60 jobs
Bellingham, WA
$82,560median
50 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 Washington

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 Washington.

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 1,346 degrees in Washington in 2024-25, 38.4% 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 34 programs to this occupation. The largest are Biology, Physiology, Biochemistry, Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, plus 12 more. Together they graduate about 3,503 people a year in Washington.

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

The median is $97,280 a year (BLS OEWS May 2025). That is 15.0% 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 Washington?+

38 institutions in Washington reported graduates from at least one of the 34 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 YorkFloridaPennsylvaniaMassachusettsNorth CarolinaOhio

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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