Bioinformatics Scientists
Conduct research using bioinformatics theory and methods in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology, computational biology, proteomics, computer information science, biology and medical informatics. May design databases and develop algorithms for processing and analyzing genomic information, or other biological information.
Most important skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Speaking
- Science
- Critical Thinking
- Complex Problem Solving
- Mathematics
Key knowledge
- Biology
- Computers and Electronics
- English Language
- Engineering and Technology
- Mathematics
- Chemistry
- Education and Training
- Physics
What the work involves
- Recommend new systems and processes to improve operations.
- Keep abreast of new biochemistries, instrumentation, or software by reading scientific literature and attending professional conferences.
- Test new and updated bioinformatics tools and software.
- Provide statistical and computational tools for biologically based activities, such as genetic analysis, measurement of gene expression, or gene function determination.
- Instruct others in the selection and use of bioinformatics tools.
- Improve user interfaces to bioinformatics software and databases.
- Direct the work of technicians and information technology staff applying bioinformatics tools or applications in areas such as proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, or clinical bioinformatics.
- Develop new software applications or customize existing applications to meet specific scientific project needs.
Strongest interest areas (O*NET): Investigative, Conventional, Realistic.
Qualifications and licensing
- Most common education
- Master's Degree (42.1% of respondents)
- Related experience
- Over 2 years, up to and including 4 years (45.4%)
- On-the-job training
- Over 1 month, up to and including 3 months (31.8%)
- Preparation level
- O*NET job zone 5: Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
- Licensing
- Not yet verified. Check your state licensing board.
Check before planning
- Licensing for Bioinformatics Scientists is not yet verified for any state: check the state licensing board before planning.
- Projection education uses SOC 19-1029 (detailed_parent); it may describe a broader group.
Limits
- Distributions show what current workers or occupational experts report, not legal minimums.
- Requirements vary by employer and state; time to qualify is not estimated.
Source: O*NET 31.0 Database (USDOL/ETA, CC BY 4.0); BLS Employment Projections · dataset 2026.10.8 · method e3-qualification-1.0.0
Work environment
How the typical conditions of this occupation compare with 911 occupations in O*NET (very low = the lowest fifth).
Levels are relative. Most occupations involve a lot of contact with people, for example, so “very low” can still mean regular contact; the last column shows what workers actually reported.
| Condition | Level | Compared with other occupations | Most common answer (O*NET survey) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contact with others | Very low | Lower on contact with others than 88% of occupations compared | 41% of surveyed respondents chose “Contact with others about half the time” |
| Dealing with the public | Low | Lower on dealing with the public than 79% of occupations compared | 37% of surveyed respondents chose “Not important at all” |
| Teamwork | Moderate | Higher on teamwork than 56% of occupations compared | 54% of surveyed respondents chose “Extremely important” |
| Freedom to make decisions | Moderate | Higher on freedom to make decisions than 53% of occupations compared | 61% of surveyed respondents chose “A lot of freedom” |
| Time pressure | Low | Lower on time pressure than 66% of occupations compared | 47% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a week or more but not every day” |
| Conflict situations | Very low | Lower on conflict situations than 94% of occupations compared | — |
| Dealing with unpleasant or angry people | Very low | Lower on dealing with unpleasant or angry people than 97% of occupations compared | 51% of surveyed respondents chose “Once a year or more but not every month” |
| Consequence of error | Very low | Lower on consequence of error than 88% of occupations compared | 51% of surveyed respondents chose “Fairly serious” |
Work-pressure profile
- Time pressure: low
- Conflict situations: very low
- Dealing with unpleasant or angry people: very low
- Consequence of error: very low
Each part is shown on its own. There is no combined stress score, and conditions vary by employer and role.
Full answer distributions
Contact with others
- No contact with others: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Occasional contact with others: 4.12%
- Contact with others about half the time: 41.2%
- Contact with others most of the time: 33.02%
- Constant contact with others: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
n = 14, Incumbent 08/2026
Dealing with the public
- Not important at all: 36.5%
- Fairly important: 4.12%
- Important: 27.02%
- Very important: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Extremely important: 6.15%
n = 14, Incumbent 08/2026
Teamwork
- Not important at all: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Fairly important: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Important: 18.87%
- Very important: 26.78%
- Extremely important: 54.35%
n = 14, Incumbent 08/2026
Freedom to make decisions
- No freedom: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Very little freedom: 18.54%
- Limited freedom: 8.24%
- Some freedom: 12.25%
- A lot of freedom: 60.97%
n = 14, Incumbent 08/2026
Time pressure
- Never: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a year or more but not every month: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a month or more but not every week: 15.47%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 46.67%
- Every day: 18.93%
n = 13, Incumbent 08/2026
Conflict situations
- Never: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a year or more but not every month: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a month or more but not every week: 2.06%
- Once a week or more but not every day: 9.21%
- Every day: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
n = 14, Incumbent 08/2026
Dealing with unpleasant or angry people
- Never: 41.37%
- Once a year or more but not every month: 51.48%
- Once a month or more but not every week: suppressed by O*NET (low precision)
- Once a week or more but not every day: 1.32%
- Every day: 5.82%
n = 14, Incumbent 08/2026
Consequence of error
- Not serious at all: 30.35%
- Fairly serious: 50.55%
- Serious: 5.27%
- Very serious: 2.53%
- Extremely serious: 11.3%
n = 13, Incumbent 08/2026
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O*NET-SOC 19-1029.01 · SOC 19-1029 (detailed_parent, medium confidence) · dataset 2026.10.8