Physiology & Pathology Sciences
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Types of Degrees Physiology & Pathology Sciences Majors Are Getting
The following table lists how many physiology and pathology sciences graduations there were in 2018-2019 for each degree level.
Education Level | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Master’s Degree | 1,642 |
Doctor’s Degree | 568 |
Graduate Certificate | 4 |
What Physiology & Pathology Sciences Majors Need to Know
O*NET surveyed people in occupations related to physiology and asked them what knowledge areas, skills, and abilities were important for their jobs. The responses were rated on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being most important.
Knowledge Areas for Physiology Majors
According to O*NET survey takers, a major in physiology should prepare you for careers in which you will need to be knowledgeable in the following areas:

- English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
- Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
Skills for Physiology Majors
physiology majors are found most commonly in careers in which the following skills are important:

- Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
- Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
- Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
- Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Abilities for Physiology Majors
As you progress with your physiology degree, there are several abilities you should pick up that will help you in whatever related career you choose. These abilities include:

- Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
- Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
What Can You Do With a Physiology & Pathology Sciences Major?
Below is a list of occupations associated with physiology:
Job Title | Job Growth Rate | Median Salary |
---|---|---|
Biological Science Professors | 15.1% | $82,550 |
Clinical Research Coordinators | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Exercise Physiologists | 13.2% | $49,270 |
Health Specialties Professors | 25.9% | $97,370 |
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 13.4% | $84,810 |
Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 8.0% | $79,590 |
Natural Sciences Managers | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Water Resource Specialists | 9.9% | $123,860 |
Who Is Getting a Master’s Degree in Physiology & Pathology Sciences?
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
At the countrywide level, the racial-ethnic distribution of physiology majors is as follows:

Race/Ethnicity | Number of Grads |
---|---|
Asian | 247 |
Black or African American | 132 |
Hispanic or Latino | 140 |
White | 839 |
International Students | 145 |
Other Races/Ethnicities | 139 |
Geographic Diversity
Students from other countries are interested in Physiology, too. About 8.8% of those with this major are international students. The most popular countries for students from outside the country are:
- China
- India
- Canada
- South Korea
- Saudi Arabia
How Much Do Physiology & Pathology Sciences Majors Make?
Master’s Degree Starting Salary
The U.S. Department of Education found that students who graduated in 2015-2017 with a master’s degree in physiology and pathology sciences made a median starting salary of $40,400 per year. During this timeframe, most salaries fell between $39,400 (25th percentile) and $43,750 (75th percentile).

It is possible that some of these people may have taken positions that were not related to physiology.
Salaries According to BLS
Average salaries range from $83,600 to $122,320 (25th to 75th percentile) for careers related to physiology. This range includes all degree levels, so the salary for a person with just a bachelor’s degree may be a little less and the one for a person with an advanced degree may be a little more.
To put that into context, according to BLS data from the first quarter of 2020, the typical high school graduate makes between $30,000 and $57,900 a year (25th through 75th percentile). The average person with a bachelor’s degree (any field) makes between $45,600 and $99,000. Advanced degree holders make the most with salaries between $55,600 and $125,400.
Amount of Education Required for Careers Related to Physiology & Pathology Sciences
Some degrees associated with physiology may require an advanced degree, while others may not even require a bachelor’s in the field. Whatever the case may be, pursuing more education usually means that more career options will be available to you.
Find out what the typical degree level is for physiology careers below.

Education Level | Percentage of Workers |
---|---|
Less than a High School Diploma | 0.4% |
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED) | 1.1% |
Post-Secondary Certificate - awarded for training completed after high school (for example, in agriculture or natural resources, computer services, personal or culinary services, engineering technologies, healthcare, construction trades, mechanic and repair technologies, or precision production) | 1.4% |
Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 2.0% |
Bachelor’s Degree | 28.8% |
Post-Baccalaureate Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Baccalaureate degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees carrying the title of Master. | 2.8% |
Master’s Degree | 25.3% |
First Professional Degree - awarded for completion of a program that: requires at least 2 years of college work before entrance into the program, includes a total of at least 6 academic years of work to complete, and provides all remaining academic requirements to begin practice in a profession. | 0.0% |
Doctoral Degree | 19.2% |
Post-Doctoral Training | 19.1% |
Online Physiology & Pathology Sciences Programs
In the 2018-2019 academic year, 230 schools offered some type of physiology and pathology sciences program. The following table lists the number of programs by degree level, along with how many schools offered online courses in the field.
Degree Level | Colleges Offering Programs | Colleges Offering Online Classes |
---|---|---|
Certificate (Less Than 1 Year) | 1 | 0 |
Certificate (1-2 years) | 0 | 0 |
Certificate (2-4 Years) | 0 | 0 |
Associate’s Degree | 5 | 0 |
Bachelor’s Degree | 11 | 1 |
Post-Baccalaureate | 1 | 0 |
Master’s Degree | 193 | 5 |
Post-Master’s | 5 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Research) | 183 | 0 |
Doctor’s Degree (Professional Practice) | 4 | 1 |
Doctor’s Degree (Other) | 0 | 0 |
Is a Degree in Physiology & Pathology Sciences Worth It?
The median salary for a physiology grad is $96,420 per year. This is based on the weighted average of the most common careers associated with the major.
This is 142% more than the average salary for an individual holding a high school degree. This adds up to a gain of about $1,130,400 after 20 years!

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Majors Related to Physiology & Pathology Sciences
You may also be interested in one of the following majors related to physiology.
Major | Number of Grads |
---|---|
General Biology | 8,410 |
Ecology, Evolution & Systematics Biology | 3,098 |
Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology | 2,071 |
Biomathematics & Bioinformatics | 1,894 |
Biological & Biomedical Sciences (Other) | 1,888 |
Biotechnology | 1,551 |
Cell Biology & Anatomical Sciences | 1,488 |
Microbiological Sciences & Immunology | 1,211 |
Neurobiology & Neurosciences | 1,120 |
Pharmacology & Toxicology | 931 |
Genetics | 637 |
Zoology | 514 |
Botany/Plant Biology | 407 |
Molecular Medicine | 71 |
References
- College Factual
- College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers First Quarter 2020
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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