Key Takeaways
- Biology salaries vary by job and experience πΌ
- Career choice affects earning potential π§ͺ
- Teaching biology is a viable and steady path π
- Specialized fields offer better payπ¬
Before studying biology, itβs essential to know the salary range of biology jobs in Canada. Knowing the salary expectations helps you make crucial decisions in your career path.
Biology is a vital subject that helps us understand living things. Studying it gives you insight into how living things interact and evolve. If youβre wondering how much biologists make or what the biologist salary in Canada looks like, it largely depends on your area of specialization and experience level. As a biology major, you can specialize in three recognized branches of biology: zoology, botany, and microbiology. These branches examine different parts of the subject matter, helping you gain in-depth knowledge and open the door to diverse career paths.
Studying about life exposes you to exciting new facts. With the growing resources on the internet, you can also learn biology outside a classroom. This helps you learn new ideas to stay updated in the science world.
Want to study biology in university in Canada? See the right path to take.
That said, you need to know the salary ranges for your preferred biology jobs in order to be adequately prepared. Although not everyone who studied biology earns the same salary, most salaries have slight variations, helping you note the pattern.
What is the Average Salary Range for Biologists in Canada?
In most instances, your salary expectations are based on your job and your experience. For example, an experienced biologist who has had a successful career would earn significantly more than an entry-level worker. Before estimating your salary expectations, ensure you put your career level into consideration.
Entry-level
For a biologist with less than a year of experience, they should expect $50,000 every year. This salary expectation includes bonuses and other incentives. Biologists who have worked for 2-4 years should expect $52,000 yearly. These statistics were obtained from more than 100 salaries with the same career level.
Mid-level
A Biologist, who has around 4-9 years of professional experience, should expect an average of $63,000 yearly. This is based on numerous salaries by other biologists who have the same years of experience.
Senior-level
Those who have 10β18 years of practice and experience should have a salary expectation of $70,000. This is the average salary range of 40 people working as expert biologists in Canada.
However, you need to consider other important factors, such as your degree, employer, and even how early you started building relevant experience. If youβre curious about how to become a biologist, gaining practical experience early on β possibly through internships or research roles β can make a real difference in your earning potential.
From a general view, itβs clear that salary expectations for biology jobs in Canada are based on their years of experience and employers. Some employers will pay higher than this range, so itβs crucial to keep an eye on well-paying jobs.
According to Job Bank Canada, biologists in Alberta and Ontario tend to earn higher-than-average salaries compared to other provinces.
What is the Salary Expectations for Biology Teachers in Canada?
Teachers are essential parts of society, helping students learn complex concepts and ideas. Some people who studied biology are teachers, making it crucial to know the salary range for this job category.
Itβs important to understand that biology teachers are in every part of Canada. Because Biology is a core subject, every school needs a teacher to educate students on the study of life.
Here are the salary expectations for Biology Teachers in Canada:
Entry-level
Entry-level teachers earn the lowest among others due to their lack of experience. For a biology teacher that has 0-3 years experience, they should expect $40,000 yearly. This includes special bonuses and incentives. To earn a better salary, you need to gain more knowledge or augment your chances by studying for a second degree. All in all, subject teachers are always in demand all year round, making teaching a worthy consideration when exploring career paths in biology.
Mid-level
When you are a mid-level teacher, you must have been a teacher for 4-9 years. Teachers at this level have a lot of experience needed to impart knowledge to students. Instructors who have worked within these time ranges should expect an average salary of $55,000. Also, salary ranges might differ based on location, institution, and degree. However, this range helps you understand how employers pay salaries in Canada.
Senior-level
Senior-level biology teachers have over 9 years of experience in teaching. Oftentimes, these teachers would have worked for numerous institutions, establishing their skills within the biology career field over the years. These teachers enjoy the highest salaries for biology teachers in Canada. On average, senior-level teachers earn $67,000 yearly and could also enjoy some other attractive incentives. Teaching is a promising career, but you need to gather years of experience to enjoy better pays.
How Much do Biologists Make in Different Career Paths?
If you want to study biology in an institution, you need to know the available career paths. That said, Biology is a vast subject that has many attractive job opportunities. When you study Biology, you can explore numerous career paths.
Also, salaries for these careers might differ, so you must pick one that suits your expectations and needs. As a biologist, you will be an expert in the study of life, helping other careers, such as medicine, pharmacy, and other science-related jobs, make breakthroughs during experiments.
Pharmacy, for instance, needs biology to understand how plants work, necessary for making effective drugs. And without good drugs, life expectancy decreases, leading to an increased mortality rate. To avoid this, pharmacists explore Biology to discover medicinal plants.
Below are some essential career paths in biology that you can explore to build a reliable financial life.
Researcher Salary
If you love researching and discovering mind-blowing facts, you should become a biology researcher. Researchers are individuals that explore in-depth knowledge of specific careers.

When you are a researcher, you will focus on discovering crucial ways to better lives through Biology. Salary ranges for a researcher start from around $50,000 and could go as high as $80,000, determined by your experience and skills.
| Province | Average Salary Range (CAD/year) |
|---|---|
| Ontario | $55k β $80k |
| British Columbia | $52k β $78k |
| Quebec | $50k β $75k |
| Alberta | $53k β $77k |
| Nova Scotia | $48kβ $70k |
Marine Biologist Salary
Although many people are yet to explore this career path, marine biology is an intriguing study for every biology major. With numerous aquatic lives in the ocean, you have more than enough concepts for research.
In this study, you will learn about the behavior and diseases affecting aquatic life. Because seas make up a notable amount of the earth, marine biology is a broad study, which could open up other career opportunities.

If youβre curious about potential earnings, the marine biologist salary can vary depending on experience and location and in particular, the marine biologist salary in Canada is estimated to range between $55,000 and $85,000 per year.
| Province | Average Salary Range (CAD/year) |
|---|---|
| British Columbia | $60k β $85k |
| Newfoundland & Labrador | $58k β $80k |
| Nova Scotia | $55k β $78k |
| Quebec | $54k β $75k |
| Ontario | $52k β $73k |
Health specialists Salary
Many biologists build careers in healthcare by becoming doctors, nurses, or veterinary professionals. Since humans and animals are living organisms, they fall under the broad scope of biology. Health specialists in biology focus on understanding anatomy, behavior, and biological responses to improve overall wellbeing. Some specialize in human health, while others work closely with animals.

If you love animals, you might enjoy working as a vet, zoologist, or wildlife biologist. Zoologists usually study animals in labs or zoos, while wildlife biologists study animals in nature. Their work often includes checking animal health, protecting endangered species, and doing research.
In Canada, a zoologist salary is usually between $50,000 and $80,000 per year. A wildlife biologist salary is normally between $55,000 and $85,000. These jobs not only pay well β they also help protect animals and the environment. Below is table of the salaries for some of the
| Province | Zoologist | Wildlife Biologist | Biomedical Scientist |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $55k β $80k | $60k β $85k | $65k β $95k |
| Alberta | $54k β $78k | $58k β $82k | $63k β $90k |
| Ontario | $52k β $76k | $55k β $80k | $62k β $88k |
| Manitoba | $50k β $74k | $55k β $78k | $60k β $85k |
| Quebec | $50k β $72k | $54k β $75k | $58k β $83k |
Forensic Biology Salary
Forensic biology is one of the key branches of forensic science, focused on analyzing biological evidence to support criminal investigations. In Canada, the forensic biology salary averages around $69,000 CAD per year, though this can vary based on experience, education, and whether youβre working in the public or private sector.
While it may not be the highest paying biology job, it offers a rewarding mix of science and law, ideal for those with strong analytical and lab skills.

Similar lab-based roles β such as microbiology and molecular biology β also provide stable career options, with the microbiology salary and molecular biologist salary often ranging from $60,000 to $85,000, depending on specialization and location.
If youβre aiming for these career paths, working with experienced biology tutors in Canada can help you build the right foundation early on.
| Province | Forensic Biologist | Microbiologist | Molecular Biologist |
|---|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | $65k β $75k | $68k β $85k | $70k β $88k |
| Alberta | $63k β $72k | $66k β $83k | $68k β $86k |
| Ontario | $64k β $74k | $65k β $82k | $67k β $85k |
| Manitoba | $60k β $70k | $62k β $78k | $65k β $80k |
| Quebec | $58k β $68k | $60k β $76k | $63k β $78k |









