Annual Salary
£35,000 to £58,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Maths or Science or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Maths or Science or go back to all job sectors
Geneticists study how genes work in humans, animals, plants and microbes, and how they are passed on.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends;
There will be
2.4% more Geneticist jobs in 2027.
As a geneticist, you may:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work at a university, in a laboratory or at a research facility.
You can get into this job through:
You'll need a life science degree or a postgraduate master's qualification in genetics, or a related subject which covers genetics.
Degrees and postgraduate courses include:
Employers may expect you to have, or be working towards, a PhD.
Integrated master's qualifications such as MBiolSci, MBiol or MSci can be studied at university. These courses combine independent research and can lead directly on to study for a PhD.
It's useful to gain experience of laboratory and research techniques during your degree through internships or year placements.
If you want to work in the NHS you can apply to the Scientist Training Programme (STP) after your degree where you can specialise in genomics work.
You'll usually need:
You could join The Genetics Society to get access to professional development opportunities.
You can find out more about careers in genetics from:The Genetics Society; The British Society for Genetic Medicine
With experience you could become a clinical science laboratory supervisor or clinical study manager.
You might also use your skills in genetics to move into:bioinformatics; agricultural science; forensic science; genetic counselling; university lecturing; medical ethics
You may improve your career prospects by joining a professional body like The Genetics Society.
You can find out more about careers in genetics from The Genetics Society and the The British Society for Genetic Medicine.
You'll need: