Career comparison
Biology Professor vs. Chemistry Professor
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Chemistry professors earn more at the median ($93,250 vs. $84,620), while chemistry professors usually get to work faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s of training). Biology professors teach life sciences and lead biology research at the college level. Chemistry professors teach chemistry lectures and labs and lead chemical research.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Biology Professor | Chemistry Professor | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $84,620 | $93,250 |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $52,150 – $169,900 | $57,870 – $172,110 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.3% (much faster than average) | +2.3% (slower than average) |
| Openings per year | 4,700 | 1,700 |
| Typical entry education | Doctoral or professional degree | Doctoral or professional degree |
| Training time | 6–9 years after a bachelor’s | 5–7 years after a bachelor’s |
| Key credential | Ph.D. in biology | Ph.D. in chemistry |
| Work setting | Biology faculty work in classrooms, labs, field sites and offices.. | Chemistry faculty work in classrooms, teaching labs and research labs.. |
What each job does
Biology Professor
- Teach biology courses
- Run teaching labs
- Lead a research lab
- Mentor student researchers
- Write grant proposals
Chemistry Professor
- Teach chemistry lectures
- Design and supervise labs
- Train students on instruments
- Lead a research group
- Write grants
How they’re similar
Both careers involve problem-solving, working independently, hands-on work, and working with people. Both are part of the education & childcare field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose biology professor if…
- I love biology
- I want to run a lab
- I enjoy teaching
Choose chemistry professor if…
- I love chemistry
- I like lab work
- I enjoy teaching
Still torn? Take the Biology Professor fit quiz and the Chemistry Professor fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, biology professor or chemistry professor?
Chemistry Professors earn more at the median: $93,250 versus $84,620 for biology professors, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Chemistry Professors typically train faster (5–7 years after a bachelor’s) than biology professors (6–9 years after a bachelor’s).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects biology professors to grow +7.3% from 2025–35, compared with +2.3% for chemistry professors.