Occupations · Life, Physical, and Social Science

Geneticists

Research and study the inheritance of traits at the molecular, organism or population level. May evaluate or treat patients with genetic disorders.

O*NET 30.3 Database (USDOL/ETA) · occupation code 19-1029.03

What people in this job actually do

Ordered by how important the work is rated.

Supervise or direct the work of other geneticists, biologists, technicians, or biometricians working on genetics research projects.
Plan or conduct basic genomic and biological research related to areas such as regulation of gene expression, protein interactions, metabolic networks, and nucleic acid or protein complexes.
Prepare results of experimental findings for presentation at professional conferences or in scientific journals.
Maintain laboratory notebooks that record research methods, procedures, and results.
Write grants and papers or attend fundraising events to seek research funds.
Search scientific literature to select and modify methods and procedures most appropriate for genetic research goals.
Review, approve, or interpret genetic laboratory results.
Attend clinical and research conferences and read scientific literature to keep abreast of technological advances and current genetic research findings.
Evaluate genetic data by performing appropriate mathematical or statistical calculations and analyses.
Analyze determinants responsible for specific inherited traits, and devise methods for altering traits or producing new traits.
Extract deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or perform diagnostic tests involving processes such as gel electrophoresis, Southern blot analysis, and polymerase chain reaction analysis.
Evaluate, diagnose, or treat genetic diseases.

O*NET 30.3 task ratings, importance scale

Skills that matter most

Importance, rated 1 to 5.

Reading Comprehension4.2

Science4.1

Writing4.0

Active Learning4.0

Critical Thinking4.0

Speaking4.0

Active Listening4.0

Learning Strategies3.9

Mathematics3.9

Monitoring3.8

O*NET 30.3 skills, importance scale

Software and tools

A dot marks what O*NET flags as in demand.

C++●Git●GitHub●Linux●Microsoft Access●Microsoft Excel●Microsoft Office software●Microsoft PowerPoint●Microsoft Word●Oracle Java●Perl●Python●R●SAS●Structured query language SQL●UNIX●Basic Local Alignment Search Tool BLASTBioinformatics databasesClustalWDatabase softwareDeoxyribonucleic acid DNA sequence analysis softwareEmail softwareFormula translation/translator FORTRANGolden Helix HelixTreeHapMapInsightful S-PLUSMendelMicrosoft Visual C# .NET

O*NET 30.3 software skills · hot-technology flag

What this work is actually like

Conditions rated against the average across all occupations — only what makes this job different is listed.

5 / 5Extensive preparation — graduate school, and often a licence on top.

O*NET 30.3 Job Zones

Working conditions that stand out

Deal With External Customers or the Public in General−1.5 below average

Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body−1.2 below average

E-Mail+1.0 above average

Level of Competition+1.0 above average

Exposed to Hazardous Conditions+1.0 above average

Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People−1.0 below average

Time Pressure−0.9 below average

O*NET 30.3 work context, frequency scale · observed 2021-08

How people actually get in

Share of workers by the education they hold.

Post-Doctoral Training36%

Master's Degree32%

Doctoral Degree20%

Post-Master's Certificate - awarded for completion of an organized program of study; designed for people who have completed a Master's degree but do not meet the requirements of academic degrees at the doctoral level.4%

O*NET 30.2 education, training and experience · observed 2021-08

What kind of person the work suits

Occupational interest profile, rated 1 to 7.

Investigative7.0

Conventional4.8

Realistic4.0

O*NET 30.2 occupational interests (RIASEC)

What you take with you

Skills rated for how well they transfer into other occupations.

Complex Problem Solving4.0

Judgment and Decision Making4.0

Instructing3.8

Systems Analysis3.6

Social Perceptiveness3.5

Persuasion3.1

Coordination3.1

Management of Personnel Resources3.1

O*NET 30.3 transferable skills, importance scale

Knowledge the work draws on

BiologyEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingMathematicsChemistryComputers and Electronics

Abilities it leans on

Written ComprehensionWritten ExpressionOral ComprehensionInductive ReasoningOral ExpressionCategory Flexibility

O*NET 30.3 abilities and knowledge, importance scale

How this job is advertised

The same work is posted under many titles — this is what to search for.

ScientistGeneticistPlants GeneticistGenetic ScientistMedical GeneticistPharmacogeneticistResearch ScientistGenomics ScientistResearch GeneticistClinical GeneticistPediatric GeneticistProteomics ScientistMolecular GeneticistBehavioral Geneticist

O*NET 30.3 job titles reported for this occupation

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What changed since 2015

Comparing O*NET release 20.1 (2015-10-01) with 30.3 (2026-05-01). Signs, not colour alone, carry the meaning. 1 entries that were only relabelled between releases are left out.

Now listed 7

+Microsoft Access+Perl+Git+Oracle Java+Sage Accounting Software+Python+GitHub

No longer listed 3

−Practical extraction and reporting language Perl−Sun Microsystems Java−S.A.G.E.

Diff across the O*NET releases held here in full since October 2015, following occupations through merges and retirements. O*NET re-surveys occupations on a rolling cycle, so “no change” can also mean “not re-surveyed”.

O*NET 30.3 related occupations

Also called

ScientistProfessorGeneticistPlants GeneticistGenetic ScientistMedical GeneticistPharmacogeneticistGenomics ScientistResearch ScientistLaboratory DirectorAssociate ProfessorAssistant Professor

O*NET 30.3 alternative titles

The same work in Europe

ESCO occupation	ISCO	Match
geneticist	2131.4.8	exact

Official ESCO ↔ O*NET crosswalk (ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA)

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