Synthetic Biology Engineer
Program living organisms to produce medicines, materials, fuels, and foods by engineering DNA and biological systems
About the profession
Synthetic Biology Engineers design and build new biological systems and modify existing organisms for useful purposes. They program cells to produce drugs, biofuels, novel materials, and food ingredients. The field combines biology, engineering, and computer science to create a new bio-manufacturing paradigm.
How to Get Started
Take a personality test to see if Synthetic Biology Engineer fits your profile
Career Match Test →Explore the Career Path section to see progression from junior to senior
Jump to Career Path →Start learning — check the Learning Path for free courses
Jump to Learning Path →Personality Fit
Based on the Synthetic Biology Engineer role, here are the RIASEC personality types that tend to thrive in this career. While these alignments are common, individual success depends on motivation, skill development, and finding the right work environment.
Realistic
Hands-on, practical, technical work
Investigative
Research, analysis, problem-solving
Conventional
Organizing, detail-oriented, structured
Not sure if these types match you? Take the full RIASEC assessment (4 min) to discover your personality profile and see how it aligns with hundreds of careers.
Career Path
Your career progression roadmap with salary growth at each level
Career Ladder
Lab Scientist → Synbio Engineer → Senior Engineer → Director of Synbio / CSO
Where are you on this career path?
Click a level below to set your current position
Salary Growth
3
Levels
$180K
Top Salary
8+
Years
Learning Path
Skills you need to develop and courses to get there
🚀
Set your current level first
Go to the Career Path tab and select your current level to see your personalized learning plan.
Go to Career PathCareer levels
Design and construct genetic circuits; Clone and express engineered DNA Operate automation platforms and high-throughput screening Key Skills: Molecular Cloning (68%), CRISPR/Cas9…
Skills used in this career
Click any skill to see how to learn it and what salary boost it gives
Income Dynamics
Conservative and aggressive scenarios for 10–15 years
Year 1-3: $68,000 - $90,000 Year 8+: $125,000 - $180,000+
💰 Pay for Logisticians
BLS OEWS, May 2023The federal survey does not count this job title on its own — it is counted under Logisticians (13-1081).
Half of U.S. workers in this occupation earn more than this, half earn less.
Create a free account to see how well this career fits you.
Create Free Account🎯 Is Synthetic Biology Engineer right for you?
Take these tests to find out if this career matches your personality:
Related Reading
Related Holland / RIASEC Types