Hiring guide · Education & Childcare
How to Hire a Biology Professor
Pay benchmarks, qualifications, sourcing, screening and interview questions for hiring biology professors, plus a plan to get them productive fast.
Write a clear job description, offer competitive pay (the national median is $84,620), recruit through college education programs and student-teaching placements, verify Ph.D. in biology where applicable, run a structured interview with a practical skills check, and onboard with a 30-60-90 day plan.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
The hiring market for biology professors
There are about 62,000 biology professors employed in the U.S., with roughly 4,700 openings each year. Employment is projected to change +7.3% from 2025–35 (much faster than average). Expect competition for qualified candidates: speed and a strong offer matter.
Pay benchmarks for offers
| Candidate level | Annual | Hourly* |
|---|---|---|
| Entry level (10th–25th percentile) | $52,150–$64,350 | $25.07–$30.94 |
| Typical / mid-career (median) | $84,620 | $40.68 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $126,770 | $60.95 |
| Top of market (90th percentile) | $169,900 | $81.68 |
*Annual ÷ 2,080 hours. National BLS data; adjust for your state and metro area. Many states and cities now require pay ranges in job postings.
What to look for
Must-haves
- Doctoral or professional degree (typical entry level)
- Biology expertise
- Mentoring
Nice-to-haves
- Ph.D. in biology
- Postdoctoral training
- Lab safety certifications
- Experience with lab equipment
Where to find biology professors
- College education programs and student-teaching placements
- Alternative certification and residency programs
- Substitute and paraprofessional pools
- Community colleges with early childhood (CDA) programs
- Job postings that use common alternate titles: Biological Sciences Professor, Biology Instructor, Life Sciences Professor, Microbiology Professor
Screening checklist
- State license or certification verification where required
- Fingerprint background checks and child abuse registry clearances
- CPR and first aid certification for childcare roles
- A sample lesson or classroom observation
Follow federal, state and local rules on background checks, drug testing and fair-chance hiring, and apply screening consistently to all candidates for the role.
Interview questions to ask
Ask every candidate the same questions and score answers on a structured scorecard.
1. “Describe your research.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
2. “How do you teach large classes?”
What a strong answer includes: Give strategies.
3. “Describe your funding plan.”
What a strong answer includes: Explain.
4. “How do you mentor?”
What a strong answer includes: Share.
5. “What courses can you teach?”
What a strong answer includes: List.
Practical skills checks
A short demonstration beats a perfect resume. Ask candidates to talk you through, or perform under supervision, tasks such as:
- Build a Course-Based Research Experience (see the steps)
- Teach a Large Intro Biology Class (see the steps)
- Mentor a New Graduate Student (see the steps)
Red flags
- Can’t describe basic safety practices for the role
- Vague or inconsistent work history with no explanation
- Unfamiliar with core terms such as Gene expression, CRISPR, PCR
- Negative talk about every past employer or coworker
Onboard for retention
The first 90 days decide whether a new hire stays. Use our Biology Professor 30-60-90 day onboarding plan and give every new hire the same foundation with Biology Professor training. Show them the path forward: Postdoc → Assistant Professor → Associate Professor → Professor or Chair.
Hiring biology professors: FAQ
How much should I pay a biology professor?
The U.S. median wage for biology professors is $84,620 per year, according to BLS May 2025 data. Entry-level offers often fall near the 25th percentile ($64,350), while experienced hires command closer to the 75th percentile ($126,770). Adjust for your local market.
What qualifications should a biology professor have?
BLS lists “doctoral or professional degree” as the typical entry-level education. Look for Ph.D. in biology and Postdoctoral training where relevant, plus skills such as biology expertise, lab techniques, and research design.
How long does it take to train a new biology professor?
Becoming qualified typically takes 6–9 years after a bachelor’s. After hire, plan for a structured 30-60-90 day onboarding period; BLS classifies on-the-job training for this occupation as “none.”