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Gene Therapy

A program that focuses on the application of genetics to the therapeutic treatment of diseases and inherited abnormalities through the targeted modification of gene expression, and prepares individuals to administer genetic therapies. Includes instruction in medical genetics, genome analysis, pharmacology of gene transfer, viral vectors, nonviral therapeutic techniques, genetic screening, targeted gene delivery, vector production, safety and quality assurance, clinical trials management, and bioethics.

Types of Degrees Gene Therapy Majors Are Earning

People majoring in Gene Therapy may pursue degrees at several award levels.

Award Level	Graduates
Bachelor’s Degree	16
Master’s Degree	38
Doctor’s Degree	1

What Gene Therapy Majors Need to Know

Programs in Gene Therapy build a specific mix of knowledge, skills, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in occupations that Gene Therapy graduates commonly enter.

Knowledge Areas

According to O*NET, a major in Gene Therapy emphasizes the following knowledge areas:

• Customer and Personal Service — Importance 4.2 / 5; level 5.1 / 7.
• Medicine and Dentistry — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 3.7 / 7.
• English Language — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Education and Training — Importance 3.5 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Computers and Electronics — Importance 3.4 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

^{Importance is rated 1–5; level is 1–7. Source: ONET Online — weighted across related occupations.*}

Skills

The skill set developed in a Gene Therapy program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:

• Active Listening — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Speaking — Importance 3.9 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Reading Comprehension — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Social Perceptiveness — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.6 / 7.
• Critical Thinking — Importance 3.6 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Abilities

Abilities most relevant to Gene Therapy careers — again drawn from O*NET surveys of related occupations:

• Oral Expression — Importance 4.1 / 5; level 4.2 / 7.
• Oral Comprehension — Importance 4.0 / 5; level 4.1 / 7.
• Written Comprehension — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Near Vision — Importance 3.8 / 5; level 3.9 / 7.
• Problem Sensitivity — Importance 3.7 / 5; level 3.8 / 7.

Common Job Activities

Day-to-day, Gene Therapy graduates report doing:

Activity	Frequency / Importance
Getting Information	4.6 / 7
Documenting/Recording Information	4.4 / 7
Assisting and Caring for Others	4.4 / 7
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	4.3 / 7
Working with Computers	4.3 / 7
Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	4.3 / 7
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	4.2 / 7
Making Decisions and Solving Problems	4.1 / 7
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	4.0 / 7
Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	3.9 / 7

Technology Skills Used on the Job

Most frequently-cited tools used by Gene Therapy professionals:

Tool / Software	Category	In-Demand
Microsoft Office software	Office suite software	✓
Microsoft Excel	Spreadsheet software	✓
Microsoft Word	Word processing software	—
Web browser software	Internet browser software	—
Word processing software	Word processing software	—
Microsoft Outlook	Electronic mail software	✓
Microsoft PowerPoint	Presentation software	—
Scheduling software	Calendar and scheduling software	—
Database software	Data base user interface and query software	—
Microsoft Windows	Operating system software	—
MEDITECH software	Medical software	—
Medical procedure coding software	Medical software	—

^{Source: ONET Online technology skills, weighted across related occupations.*}

Sample Job Titles

Real job postings for Gene Therapy graduates include:

• Medical Technologist
• Polysomnographic Technologist
• Patient Relations Coordinator
• Patient Resources Agent
• Patient Care Coordinator
• Intake Specialist
• Patient Service Representative
• Access Representative
• Patient Resource Worker
• Care Navigator
• Patient Relations Representative (PRR)
• Patient Access Representative
• Patient Registrar
• Patient Account Representative
• Patient Services Specialist

What Can You Do With a Gene Therapy Degree?

Graduates with a degree in Gene Therapy commonly enter the following occupations:

Occupation	Job Growth	Median Salary	25th–75th Pctile
Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary	10.7%	$46,663	$40,304–$53,022

^{Job-growth = projected employment change for the parent occupation. Source: ONET / BLS Employment Projections.*}

Education Typically Required

Across the occupations open to Gene Therapy graduates, the typical level of education actually held by current workers is distributed as:

Education Level	Share of Workers
Postsecondary certificate	19.2%
High school diploma or equivalent	19.0%
Associate’s degree (or other 2-year)	16.8%
Bachelor’s degree	15.0%
Master’s degree	13.6%
Some college courses	7.4%
Doctoral degree	3.5%
Post-baccalaureate certificate	3.1%
Post-doctoral training	2.7%

^{Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*}

Who Is Earning a Degree in Gene Therapy?

Gender Distribution

This field skews predominantly female, with women earning 70.9% of Gene Therapy degrees.

Gender	Graduates	Share
Women	39	70.9%
Men	16	29.1%

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

At the national level, the racial-ethnic distribution of Gene Therapy graduates is as follows:

Race / Ethnicity	Graduates	Share
White	19	34.5%
Asian	11	20.0%
Black or African American	2	3.6%
International Students	23	41.8%

^{See minority definition below.}

How Much Do Gene Therapy Graduates Earn?

Federal data tracks median earnings of Gene Therapy graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb steadily as graduates gain experience and move into mid-career roles.

Years Out	Median Earnings
1 year	$67,845
4 years	$61,295
5 years	$69,015

By year 5 out, median earnings rise to $69,015 — roughly 2% above the 1-year mark.

^{Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.}

Is a Degree in Gene Therapy Worth It?

Looking purely at the federal earnings tracker, Gene Therapy graduates earn a median of $61,295 four years after completion — roughly 61% above the national median for workers with only a high school diploma (~$38,000).

^{ROI estimate compares the program’s 4-yr median earnings against the 2023 BLS CPS median earnings for high-school-only workers. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard + BLS Current Population Survey.}

Related Programs

You may also be interested in these closely related fields of study:

Program	Annual Degrees Awarded
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions	90,379
Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)	29,337
Physician Associate/Assistant	13,046
Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer	11,777
Surgical Technology/Technologist	7,626
Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist	6,686
Medical Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiation Therapist	4,111
Athletic Training/Trainer	3,132
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions, Other	2,445
Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist	1,540
Electrocardiograph Technology/Technician	677
Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist	596

References

The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students and international students. This number is then divided by the total number of students to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• College Factual
• National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)
• O*NET Online
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
• U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard

More about our data sources and methodologies.