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US job code 19-1029.04High change by 2035

Biologists

Machines can already do 37% of this job's tasks. By 2035 that rises to 68%. The job changes before it disappears.

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Share of the work machines can do

Worldwide baseline, 2026 to 2050

100%75%50%25%20262035205037%Half: 2030

Biologists in 2026: the short answer

  • Today: machines can do 37% of this job's tasks, and AI use is already seen in 25% of them.
  • Forecast: machines can do half of its tasks by 2030, and 68% by 2035, according to the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit.
  • Size: 55,850 people do this job in the United States, on a median pay of $98,920 a year.
  • Contact with people: it scores 69% for contact with people.
  • Also called: Aquatic Biologist, Biological Scientist, Biologist, Botanist.

Updated by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit. These are worldwide baseline figures; the Workforce Starburst shows them for your country. Go deeper: How ready am I? or an executive briefing.

Machines can do today
37%of the tasks, 2026
By 2035
68%half the tasks by 2030
US median pay
$98,920a year, May 2025
US jobs
56k55,850 people
Contact with people
69%how people-facing
Step 1AnticipateWhat is changing? Free to everyone

How the work changes, task by task

The tasks that take up most of the day, with the share of each that machines can do in 2026 (dark) and 2035 (pink). Worldwide baseline.

TaskShare of the dayMachines can do2026 to 2035
Collect and analyze biological data about relationships among and between organisms and their environment16%
30% to 75%
Prepare technical and research reports, such as environmental impact reports, and communicate the results to individuals in industry, government, or the general public13%
50% to 78%
Program and use computers to store, process, and analyze data11%
63% to 91%
Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings7%
10% to 30%
Identify, classify, and study structure, behavior, ecology, physiology, nutrition, culture, and distribution of plant and animal species7%
20% to 60%
Supervise biological technicians and technologists and other scientists6%
10% to 30%
Plan and administer biological research programs for government, research firms, medical industries, or manufacturing firms5%
35% to 65%
Study basic principles of plant and animal life, such as origin, relationship, development, anatomy, and function4%
20% to 60%
Step 2AssessWhy should I care? Free to everyone

The skills this job runs on

The skills biologists use most, most used first.

Learning aptitude and mindsetTeaching and trainingCreative and innovative thinkingProfessionalism and work ethicResearch methodsCommunicationCritical thinking and problem solvingMoral intelligence and integrityAnalysis and dataManagementCollaborationSelf-managementAdaptability and resilienceEntrepreneurial mindsetInterdisciplinary thinking

Safer jobs nearby

Jobs with a similar skill shape where machines can do less of the work by 2035.

Step 3ActWhat do I do about it? Free plan and up
What do I do about it

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Questions

When will machines do half of the tasks of Biologists?

Machines can do half of its tasks by 2030. That is the worldwide baseline from the 311 Workforce Starburst, before adjusting for country.

Will AI take the job of biologists?

Machines can do 37% of the tasks of biologists today and 68% by 2035. The job changes before it disappears: the routine tasks move first.

Sources and citing

Tasks and their share of the day: O*NET 31.0, occupation 19-1029.04 (US Department of Labor, CC BY 4.0). Pay and jobs: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. AI use today: Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Scoring and forecast: the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit; after 2035 the figures extend each trend, with lower confidence. Foresight, not advice.

Cite as: 311 Institute (2026). Biologists: the outlook to 2050. 311 Workforce Starburst. https://www.311institute.com/jobs/biologists/