Find a Job You Really Want In
Biomedical science is a broad field that combines biology and the business of health care. A masters in this area puts you in a prime position to pursue any career in medicine or health care.
Some people will tap out at this level and use this master’s to begin their career, and others will then move on to get a doctorate or other advanced degrees relating to their field of choice.
People who are interested in pursuing a career in health or medicine, those who enjoy scientific research and investigation, and people who have a strong desire to solve illnesses and maximize public health will do well with a master’s degree in biomedical science.
Key Takeaways:
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A master’s in biomedical science is a difficult degree to get because it’s an interdisciplinary field, but that also opens multiple career fields to graduates.
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Biomedical science often combines biology with the healthcare business and works closely in research and development.
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After earning a master’s in biomedical science, you can begin working in the field, but many people decide to specialize and further their education in one area.
10 Best-Paying Jobs for People with a Master’s in Biomedical Science
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Average Annual Salary: $65,000
Biologists study humans, animals, plants, and bacteria. They are constantly striving to learn all there is about how biological entities function and how they influence each other and the world around them.
Biology is a gigantic field. It encompasses specialty branches like anatomy, cytology, histology, ecology, embryology, morphology, physiology, taxonomy, and more. If you’re interested in any of these fields, you’ll find that there are a lot of opportunities to make a great salary.
Requirements to Become a Biologist
Biologists specialize because it is such a vast area of study. This means that after you obtain your masters in biomedical science, you’ll further your education in your particular area of interest.
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Average Annual Salary: $89,000
Research scientists are inquisitive by nature. Most of them spend their days in labs working on experiments and analyzing research. Some do field work and study what is happening in the world around them, moving to the lab when necessary.
Research scientists work in any field that requires research, analysis, and results. Their field of specialty can be medicine, political science, biology, chemistry, computer science, behavioral science, environmental studies, and more.
Requirements to Become a Research Scientist
After a bachelor’s, a master’s in biomedical sciences is the next step for a research scientist. That can be the end of the educational road, or you can pursue a doctorate in a specialized field. Next up are experience and certifications in your particular area of interest.
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Average Annual Salary: $89,000
Chemical engineers are experts in chemistry, biology, physics, and math. They use their education and knowledge to work in fields that involve chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, paper, clothing, electronics, and more.
Chemical engineers do a lot of research, analysis, and product development. They’re often testing new chemical mixtures for a variety of purposes and end uses. They might be taking a reverse approach and looking at something to break it down into its original components to understand what’s happening.
Requirements to Become a Chemical Engineer
If you’ve gotten your masters in biomedical science and want to become a chemical engineer, you can already begin to apply for jobs in the field.
While most employers would like to see a chemical engineering degree, they’re often happy to have a biomedical science degree as well. Adding chemistry classes to your education will help.
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Average Annual Salary: $101,000
Pharmacologists work to develop new medications. They may also spend their time analyzing drugs, chemicals, or other substances to determine how they affect biological systems and how they can be used.
Pharmacologists begin specializing in medicine early in their educational careers so they can tailor their classes to their interests. Expect to find pharmacologists working in hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, universities, clinics, and government agencies.
Requirements to Become a Pharmacologist
Becoming a pharmacologist requires many years of school and educational training. It’s a great paying profession, but you’re going to work hard to get there. You’ll be expected to have a Ph.D. or an M.D., which will be applied on top of your master’s in biomedical science.
After that, you should expect to do internships, externships, residency, and a fellowship.
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Average Annual Salary: $109,000
Veterinarians or doctors of veterinary science are there to care for your pets, livestock, and other animals. Most people understand the basics of what a veterinarian does. They diagnose, vaccinate, medicate, treat wounds and injuries, perform surgery, and sometimes euthanize animals.
It might surprise you to know that the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) currently recognizes 22 varieties of veterinary specialties.
Most people know the small animal and large animal vets, but there are ones that specialize in animal reproduction, poultry care, specialized branches of medicine, and even animal oncologists.
Requirements to Become a Veterinarian
Veterinarian schools are very competitive. It’s best to contact one as soon as you know that this is your career path to get specific guidance on what the schools want to see. After a master’s in biomedical science, you’ll be expected to enter a veterinary medical school to earn your DVM or VMD.
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Average Annual Salary: $122,000
Clinical scientists can work in one of four areas: clinical bioinformatics, life sciences, physical sciences, clinical engineering, and physiological sciences. There are further breakdowns and specialties within each area.
Overall, a clinical scientist is there to help diagnose and treat illness and even aid in the prevention of illness in the first place. Many times they work in a laboratory environment, but they might work directly with patients in some situations.
Requirements to Become a Clinical Scientist
If clinical science appeals to you, earning a master’s in biomedical sciences can start you in your chosen field. Many clinical scientists decide to further their education by selecting a specialization and earning a Ph.D.
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Average Annual Salary: $228,000
Chief medical officers are healthcare administrators who run medical centers. They might be working at a clinic, a hospital, or a specialty medical facility. Their job requires a broad base of skills that include medicine and management.
As a chief medical officer, your job will be to make sure the staff is performing their duties as defined by your organization. You also need to make sure that patients are getting proper care.
Often there is a lot of bureaucracy involved with insurance companies, funding, medical suppliers, pharmaceuticals, and many other outside sources.
Requirements to Become a Chief Medical Officer
In almost every situation, the chief medical officer is a physician and has worked in the field for several years earning much-needed experience and earning a name for themselves. That means that a doctor of medicine degree is required along with all of the prerequisites to become a fully licensed medical doctor.
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Average Annual Salary: $59,000
Epidemiologists are experts in the patterns and causes of disease and injury. They are often employed in a public health capacity, and their task is to reduce the negative outcomes of illnesses like Covid-19.
The epidemiologists who work in the private sector find employment with insurance providers or pharmaceutical companies, and some work for non-profit agencies.
Within epidemiology, there are many specialties like chronic diseases, environmental health, genetic and molecular epidemiology, infectious disease, mental health, and more.
Requirements to Become an Epidemiologist
At the very least, an epidemiologist will need a master’s degree, which means that getting your masters in biomedical science can be your entry ticket into this field.
While that can be enough, many people go beyond their master’s and specialize in a particular field or area of study and earn a doctorate in that area. Additional certifications may be required, depending on what area of science you enter.
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Average Annual Salary: $85,000
Biostatisticians apply mathematics and statistical methods to answer questions in areas of public health, medicine, biology, and other scientific disciplines.
Most of the day for a biostatistician will revolve around collecting and analyzing data. It’s critical that you know how to interpret data appropriately and draw accurate conclusions.
Biostatisticians may be responsible for designing studies or determining what data to collect, then they have to set up their experiments or data retrieval, and finally, they will interpret the data. Obviously, science, mathematics, and computer science are all critical components of this job.
Requirements to Become a Biostatistician
In addition to earning a master’s in biomedical science, an additional degree or many classes in mathematics and statistics will be necessary. It’s key to be proficient in all of these areas. After that, the experience will mean a lot for your future career trajectory.
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Average Annual Salary: $145,000
Medical science liaisons are specialized professionals who work in the pharmaceutical and medical device field. Typically, they also specialize in a certain therapeutic or disease area that relates to the products they work with.
If someone is working for a pharmacology company that makes cancer medications, they will specialize in oncology and develop relationships with healthcare facilities that work with cancer patients.
Their job is to make sure the medication is being used properly and to inform doctors and even patients about what to expect with that particular medication.
Requirements to Become a Medical Science Liaison
There are a few different paths to becoming a medical science liaison. Some nurses enter this field when they’ve had years of experience in a particular therapeutic or medical field.
Many of them have an M.D. or a Ph.D., or they are doctors of pharmacology. There will also be extensive training on the job as you learn all there is to know about the product you represent.
5 Entry-Level Jobs for People with a Master’s in Biomedical Science
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Average Annual Salary: $54,000
Once you earn a degree in biomedical science, you might be able to get a job as a biotechnologist. Biotechnologists are needed in agriculture, medicine, and conservation.
The day-to-day work of a biotechnologist involves setting up experiments, collecting specimens, and monitoring the results. You’ll work in different areas, depending on your specialty, and your determinations will be used in different ways.
Requirements to Become a Biotechnologist
Starting in this field, you’ll need a degree. You might be able to start without your master’s and only a bachelor’s degree, but once you earn a master’s, you’ll be able to advance. Specialized tracts may apply, and if you have a certain interest, it’s a good idea to follow that.
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Average Annual Salary: $79,000
Biomedical engineers or bioengineers use engineering principles and pair them with science to create devices, medical equipment, computer systems, and software. This is a growing field and will become more critical in the future as technology becomes a greater part of medicine.
Biomedical engineers may be designing artificial organs or equipment that are used to diagnose health conditions. They know how to use the equipment and may train others on the use and maintenance of certain biomedical equipment.
They might also be heavily involved in research and responsible for presenting their research findings to others who then design solutions to health problems.
Requirements to Become a Biomedical Engineer
A bachelor’s degree in biomedical science is the first step, but a master’s is highly recommended. Some certifications and licensing requirements may apply, depending on your area of specialization.
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Average Annual Salary: $51,000
A medical coder updates patient records using a standardized coding system for billing and health care service purposes. Medical codes are complicated but having the right codes smooths the insurance remuneration process, so skilled coders are essential.
Medical coding is considered an entry-level job, but it still requires training for someone to do, no matter what degree they have. For people with a master’s in biomedical science, this can be a foot in the door to a medical center.
Requirements to Become a Medical Coder
There is a lot of specific medication medical coders need to learn, including medical codes for procedures and diagnoses. There are also a lot of anatomy, physiology, and insurance rules and terminology to memorize.
Biomedical science studies should already be well-versed in some of these areas and find the others informative and useful.
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Average Annual Salary: $53,000
A biomedical equipment technician maintains, services, and repairs medical equipment. To do this job, it’s essential that the individual understands the equipment and technology involved so they can keep everything in working order and make sure it’s safe.
This job is becoming more complicated as more technology enters the healthcare field and computer science backgrounds are becoming more useful.
Requirements to become a Biomedical Equipment Tech
An associate’s degree in biomedical technology or engineering is usually the base level requirement to get into this field, but some specialized equipment requires a master’s and some advanced training. Currently, there is no certification required to do this job, but certifications are available and can make you a more valuable hire.
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Job Title Clinical Research Team Member
Average Annual Salary: N/A
If you entered biomedical sciences because you’re interested in doing research or working with patients, then starting as a clinical research team member is a great entry-level option.
On a clinical research team, you’ll have physicians, research assistants, nurses, and pharmacists. There will also be a principal investigator and a study coordinator, but these two positions are not for entry-level employees. The rest of the positions are, and your tasks vary greatly.
Requirements to become a Clinical Research Team Member
Clinical research is done by a team, which means there are different roles and responsibilities.
If you have your masters in biomedical science, you’re ready to begin on a team; once there, you may find you have specific interests, and you can work your way into those roles, learning on the job or getting advanced accreditation as necessary.
What to Know About a Master’s in Biomedical Science
Getting a master’s in biomedical science is a great idea if you’re interested in working in science and health care. The following are some additional factors you should know.
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A master’s in biomedical science also includes extensive study in biomedicine, human physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and biochemistry. It’s an extensive program with a lot of disciplines rolled into it.
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Biomedical science is an increasingly popular subject. This degree has a broad foundation that can lead to many jobs and career paths, which is very appealing. Also, after Covid-19, more people have become interested in studying virology, and this is a great starting point.
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Biomedical science is one of the most challenging master’s programs because it’s interdisciplinary. There is a lot to learn about clinical trials, health and medicine, laboratory work, research, and more. It’s a very in-depth degree with the potential to lead to a great and meaningful career, but it will take hard work to get there.
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Most people with a master’s in biomedical science end up working in healthcare facilities, for pharmaceutical companies, and some work for the government.
Masters in Biomedical Science Jobs FAQ
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What can you do with a master’s degree in biomedical science?
Earning a master’s in biomedical sciences can lead to a job in genetics, the study of the human body, working with diseases and virology, or doing research. This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to jobs your degree can lead to. The door is open wide if your interests are in research, health, medicine, and other areas of science.
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What skills do you need for biomedical science jobs?
To succeed in a biomedical science career, you’ll need solid research skills, the ability to conduct all aspects of experimentation, attention to detail, the ability to do analytical thinking based on fact, interpersonal skills, and the ability to communicate well.
It’s often a teamwork situation, so in addition to the hard skills you learn while in school, you’ll have to be able to work well with others and, at times, lead a team.
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Do employees with a master’s in biomedical science get paid more?
Our research has found that biomedical scientists make $72,246 yearly on average. Where you live and what you specialize in play into your earning level and will make a huge difference in your pay.
You definitely will earn more with a master’s than someone who doesn’t have a degree, but it might not be the only way into your field. It’s worth giving a closer look at where you want to end up and how to get there.
Author
Kristin Kizer is an award-winning writer, television and documentary producer, and content specialist who has worked on a wide variety of written, broadcast, and electronic publications. A former writer/producer for The Discovery Channel, she is now a freelance writer and delighted to be sharing her talents and time with the wonderful Zippia audience.
