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  5. Biologists

Exploring Trades and Occupations

Biologists

On this page

  • Job description
  • Advancement and mobility
  • Hourly wage
  • Job prospects for 2021-2025
  • Sectors of activity
  • Training and requirements
  • Main skills and characteristics
  • Personality profiles (RIASEC)
  • Additional information

Job description

These individuals seek to further knowledge on living organisms. Their goal is to improve the management of natural resources. They also wish to develop practices and products in medicine and agriculture. They work in laboratories or in the field for:

  • The public service
  • Environmental consulting agencies
  • Resource and utility companies
  • Chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech companies
  • Health and educational institutions
  • Analytical laboratories
  • Research centres
  • Consulting firms

Environment

  • Controlled ambient temperature
  • Climatic conditions
  • Biological agents
  • Humidity
  • Uncontrolled ambient temperature

Main tasks

Biologists

  • Research the environment, plants, and animals.
  • Identify and categorize plants and animals and conduct experiments on their growth, heredity, and reproduction.
  • Study the ecological and environmental impacts of different projects and human activity.
  • Draft reports and plans for the management of renewable, hydric, and natural resources.
  • May supervise technologists, technicians, and other scientists.
  • Assess or diagnose habitats to identify actions to carry out to improve them.
  • Ensure the sustainability of the fauna and flora.
  • Participate, with other specialists, in the studies, development, and application of land use plans.

Microbiologists and Cellular and Molecular Biologists

  • Research the structure, functions, ecology, biotechnology, and genetics of microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa, algae, etc.).
  • Conduct studies to identify, examine the effects, and control pathogenic organisms and toxins.
  • Screen and evaluate the use of drugs, pharmaceuticals, and nanoparticles in the biomedical field.
  • Study and experiment with gene expression, gene manipulation, and recombinant DNA technology.
  • Discover, develop, refine, evaluate, and commercialize new products, as required.
  • Supervise technologists and technicians.
  • Analyze biostatistical data using mathematical modelling techniques.
  • Monitor and certify the microbiological quality of water and air and the safety and suitability of food and some consumer products.
  • Determine the parameters that must be met for the safe and effective use of the microorganisms and their subsequent elimination.

Advancement and mobility

  • These individuals may specialize in various fields (botany, zoology, genetics, bioinformatics, etc.).

Hourly wage

The hourly wage is calculated by averaging wages from 2019 to 2021.
Minimum
$23.50
Median
$35.00
Maximum
$50.00

Job prospects for 2021-2025

sr.comparaison-region.titre

Les 2 champs de sélection ci-dessous vous permettent de comparer 2 régions. Les données des régions seront automatiquement mises à jour à la sélection. Par défaut, la province de Québec est sélectionnée pour la première région.

Job prospects for 2021-2025

Job prospects

All of Québec

Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Good

All of Québec

Non available
Limited
Good
Very good
Non available

Total jobs for 2020

All of Québec

4,500

All of Québec

na

Gender distribution

All of Québec

Not available.
58.2% Female
41.8% Male

Not available.
  • 58.2% Female
  • 41.8% Male

Job types

All of Québec

Not available.
Full time
Part time

Not available.
  • Full time
  • Part time

Yearly wage on 2015

All of Québec

$61,000

All of Québec

Other characteristics

All of Québec

  • None

All of Québec

  • None

Sectors of activity

All of Québec

Not available.
  1. Public Administration
    NAICS 91
    25% of jobs
  2. Management, Scientific and Technical Services and Scientific Research and Development Services
    NAICS 5416, 5417
    23% of jobs
  3. Health Care
    NAICS 621, 622, 623
    17% of jobs
  4. Educational Services
    NAICS 61
    7% of jobs
  5. Petroleum, Coal and Chemical Manufacturing
    NAICS 324, 325
    6% of jobs
  6. Others
    22% of jobs

All of Québec

Not available.
  1. Public Administration
    NAICS 91
    25% of jobs
  2. Management, Scientific and Technical Services and Scientific Research and Development Services
    NAICS 5416, 5417
    23% of jobs
  3. Health Care
    NAICS 621, 622, 623
    17% of jobs
  4. Educational Services
    NAICS 61
    7% of jobs
  5. Petroleum, Coal and Chemical Manufacturing
    NAICS 324, 325
    6% of jobs
  6. Others
    22% of jobs