The following page shows the career & education requirements, salary and job outlook for Genetic Engineering around the country.
What We Do
A genetic engineer is a highly educated expert who uses a range of molecular technologies and tools in order to take fragments of DNA and rearrange them to come up with a breed that has certain advantages. The goal is to take out or add to the genetic makeup of a specific organism, thereby improving it. These professionals may also used DNA codes and transfer them between species. This is done in an effort to make sure that organisms become stronger, and to enable them to survive in different environments. For instance, they may work with plants to ensure that they continue to bear fruit even if a drought were to occur. Alternatively, they could change the DNA of certain bacteria that produces a certain compound that can be used as a drug to enhance the drug’s capabilities.
Work Environment
It is very rare to find a genetic engineer anywhere other than a laboratory. Most of these professionals work in labs and will have infrequent office work, something they will most often complete within their labs. Office work includes doing things like writing papers and drafting reports, or even coming up with publications. Usually, they work for private companies, including research organizations and pharmaceutical companies. They may also be found within universities or hospitals, as well as, within government organizations. Usually, genetic engineers will have the opportunity to specialize their skills as well.
How to Become a Genetic Engineering
Becoming a genetic engineer requires a lot of education. While legally the minimum is to complete a bachelor’s degree in a field such as molecular genetics, molecular biology, biophysics, or biochemistry, it is very rare for this to be sufficient to land a good job. Instead, employers look for candidates with master’s degrees, or even doctorate degrees, emphasizing molecular biology or molecular genetics. While an undergraduate degree is good as an entry point, completing a Ph.D. is generally the best option of all.
Training & Certification Requirements
There are no legal requirements in terms of licensing and certification for genetic engineers. However, to demonstrate that you are committed to maintaining the standard of your profession, you may want to consider certification through the Biomedical Engineering Society, which is a nationally recognized organizations that provides members with events, resources, networking opportunities, education, training, and more.
Genetic Engineering Related Job Titles
According to Indeed.com, the following career/job titles with salary figures are most closely related to Genetic Engineering.
Career/Job Title | Average Salary |
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Auditor QA | $103,000 |
Supervisor Electrical | $106,000 |
Systems Integration Advisor | $87,000 |
Planner Senior Maint | $95,000 |
Manufacturers Representative | $102,000 |
Manager Work Week | $122,000 |
Supervisor Mechanical | $105,000 |
PLC Maintenance Electrician | $41,000 |
Engineer Senior | $85,000 |
Analyst Senior | $72,000 |
Genetic Engineering Earning Potential
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), all biomedical engineers or genetic engineers, earned $86,220 per year in May 2015.
Genetic Engineering Job Outlook
The BLS has reported that biomedical engineers can expect to see a 23% growth in demand for years between 2014 and 2024, which is one of the fasted rates.
According to Indeed.com, the average national salary of jobs for Genetic Engineering was $69,000.00 with a high confidence ranking based on over 250 sources. Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide are 19% higher than average salaries for all job postings nationwide.
Genetic Engineering Salary by State
The following lists Genetic Engineering salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings by employers through Indeed.com. For example, DC had the largest quoted salary of $87,000 while Hawaii had the smallest quoted salary of $43,000.
Alaska – $51,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 48th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Alaska are 26% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 48th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like KBR, CSRA, Medtronic, and Chugach Alaska Corporation. |
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Alabama – $70,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 12th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Alabama are 1% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Emerson, LogiCore, Boecore, and Spire. |
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Arkansas – $70,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 13th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Arkansas are 2% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Siemens, Entergy, Microsoft, and Power Grid Engineering, LLC. |
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Arizona – $57,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 43rd | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Arizona are 18% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 43rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like American Express Global Business Travel, Republic Services, Siemens, and Bombardier. |
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California – $74,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 8th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in California are 7% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Solid Personnel, Illumina, Inc., Medtronic, and Applied Medical Resources Corporation. |
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Colorado – $61,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 33rd | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Colorado are 11% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like LogRhythm, Microsemi, Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc., and ThyssenKrupp North America, Inc.. |
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Connecticut – $80,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 4th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Connecticut are 15% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like The Jackson Laboratory, DRS Technologies, Global Steering Systems LLC, and Accenture. |
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DC – $87,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 1st | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Washington, DC are 25% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Accenture, Harris Corporation, ECS Federal LLC, and Strategic IT Staffing. |
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Delaware – $61,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 34th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Delaware are 12% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Christiana Care, Siemens, PeopleSolutions, and Agilent. |
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Florida – $64,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 27th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Florida are 7% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Siemens, Strategic IT Staffing, CSRA, and NextEra Energy, Inc.. |
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Georgia – $79,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 5th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Georgia are 14% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Siemens, Capgemini, Textron, and Panasonic Automotive. |
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Hawaii – $43,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 51st | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Hawaii are 38% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 51st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Siemens, Harris Corporation, Goodfellow Bros Inc., and DRS Technologies. |
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Iowa – $68,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 16th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Iowa are 2% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like DuPont, Gerdau, Siemens, and Emerson. |
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Idaho – $45,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 50th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Idaho are 34% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 50th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Darigold, Inc., Idaho National Laboratory, Chobani, and iTradeNetwork, Inc.. |
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Illinois – $78,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 6th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Illinois are 13% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CHASE Professionals, Siemens, Motorola Solutions, and Accenture. |
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Indiana – $66,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 23rd | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Indiana are 4% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Textron, ALCOA, NiSource, and American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.. |
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Kansas – $63,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 30th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Kansas are 9% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Siemens, Textron, Cerner Corporation, and McCarthy Building Co. |
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Kentucky – $60,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 39th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Kentucky are 14% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 39th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Emerson, TEKSystems, Beam Inc., and Ingram Micro. |
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Louisiana – $62,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 32nd | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Louisiana are 11% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Mammoet, PAE, Textron, and John Crane. |
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Massachusetts – $83,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 2nd | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Massachusetts are 20% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Siemens, Bose, MIT, and Medtronic. |
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Maryland – $71,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 10th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Maryland are 3% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Hughes Network Systems, PSI Pax, Harris Corporation, and Strategic IT Staffing. |
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Maine – $61,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 35th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Maine are 12% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 35th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Patrona Corp., The Jackson Laboratory, Tilson Technology Management, and Cerner Corporation. |
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Michigan – $70,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 14th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Michigan are 1% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like American Axle & Manufacturing, Inc., DTE Energy, Siemens, and Eaton. |
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Minnesota – $60,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 40th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Minnesota are 13% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 40th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Pro Staff, TEKSystems, ThyssenKrupp North America, Inc., and Medtronic. |
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Missouri – $68,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 17th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Missouri are 2% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like DRS Technologies, HNTB Corporation, EMD, and Merck KGaA. |
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Mississippi – $72,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 9th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Mississippi are 5% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like PAE, CSRA, Xerox, and KBR. |
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Montana – $58,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 42nd | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Montana are 17% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 42nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Providence Health & Services, CenturyLink, Northwestern Energy, and State of Montana. |
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North Carolina – $66,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 24th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in North Carolina are 5% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SPX, Biogen, SENTEL Corporation, and TEKSystems. |
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North Dakota – $61,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 36th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in North Dakota are 11% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 36th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Oasis Petroleum, Spherion, Emerson, and Microsoft. |
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Nebraska – $50,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 49th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Nebraska are 27% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 49th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like E & A Consulting Group, Inc, Harris Corporation, Sogeti, and Medtronic. |
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New Hampshire – $68,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 18th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in New Hampshire are 1% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Novo Nordisk, Crane Currency, Single Digits Inc, and DANONE. |
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New Jersey – $75,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 7th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in New Jersey are 8% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Thorlabs, HNTB Corporation, UnitedHealth Group, and Harris Corporation. |
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New Mexico – $60,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 41st | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in New Mexico are 13% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 41st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Textron, Eaton, Clover Leaf Solutions, and Harris Corporation. |
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Nevada – $53,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 46th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Nevada are 24% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 46th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Barclays, Zephyr Photonics, CSRA, and State of Nevada, Department of Transportation. |
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New York – $83,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 3rd | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in New York State are 21% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Siemens, Strategic IT Staffing, Harris Corporation, and Accenture. |
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Ohio – $66,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 25th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Ohio are 4% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Siemens, PE Systems, Inc, Battelle, and Eaton. |
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Oklahoma – $64,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 28th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Oklahoma are 8% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Oklahoma State University, Williams, RQ Construction, and Frontier Electronic Syste. |
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Oregon – $67,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 20th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Oregon are 3% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Simple Finance, Microsoft, McKinstry, and TEKSystems. |
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Pennsylvania – $67,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 21st | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Pennsylvania are 4% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Textron, GlaxoSmithKline, ECS Federal LLC, and Hershey. |
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Rhode Island – $63,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 31st | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Rhode Island are 9% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Eaton, CITIZENS BANK, Dell, and EMC Insurance. |
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South Carolina – $68,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 19th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in South Carolina are 1% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Xerox, Horry-Georgetown Technical College, AFL, and Becton Dickinson & Company. |
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South Dakota – $52,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 47th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in South Dakota are 25% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 47th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like TEKSystems and SGS. |
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Tennessee – $64,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 29th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Tennessee are 7% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Textron, ThyssenKrupp North America, Inc., Medtronic, and Accenture. |
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Texas – $67,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 22nd | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Texas are 3% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Dell, Textron, Microsoft, and KBR. |
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Utah – $54,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 45th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Utah are 22% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 45th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Siemens, J. R. Simplot Company, UnitedHealth Group, and University of Utah. |
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Virginia – $70,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 15th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Virginia are 1% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Strategic IT Staffing, Harris Corporation, Accenture, and Octo Consulting Group. |
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Vermont – $61,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 37th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Vermont are 12% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 37th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like BioScrip and the BioScrip family of companies, Revision Military, PC Construction Company, and City of Burlington, Vermont. |
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Washington – $71,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 11th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Washington State are 3% higher than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Microsoft, Salient CRGT, University of Washington, and Apptio. |
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Wisconsin – $61,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 38th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Wisconsin are 11% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 38th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like ThyssenKrupp North America, Inc., Parker Hannifin Corporation, ATI, and Evoqua Water Technologies LLC (US). |
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West Virginia – $65,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 26th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in West Virginia are 6% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CSRA, Ruchman and Associates, INC, EDC Consulting, and Waukesha Pearce Industries. |
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Wyoming – $57,000 (High Confidence (more than 250 sources)) |
Rank: 44th | ||||||||||
Average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings in Wyoming are 17% lower than average Genetic Engineering salaries for job postings nationwide. The average salary ranks 44th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Merck KGaA, J. R. Simplot Company, EMD, and Microsoft. |
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