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Job outlook for biomedical scientists in the United States
Are biomedical scientist jobs in demand?
Biomedical scientist job and salary trends over time
Biomedical scientist jobs over time
Biomedical scientist job growth rate over time
| Year | # of jobs | % of population |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 75 | 0.00% |
| 2020 | 87 | 0.00% |
| 2019 | 88 | 0.00% |
| 2018 | 83 | 0.00% |
| 2017 | 77 | 0.00% |
Average biomedical scientist salary over time
Biomedical scientist salary by year
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $72,246 | $34.73 | +3.1% |
| 2025 | $70,099 | $33.70 | +4.7% |
| 2024 | $66,957 | $32.19 | +3.3% |
| 2023 | $64,809 | $31.16 | +1.9% |
| 2022 | $63,578 | $30.57 | --2.1% |
Biomedical scientist jobs by state
Most common states for biomedical scientists
| Rank | State | Population | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 6,859,819 | 2,094 | 31% |
| 2 | District of Columbia | 693,972 | 127 | 18% |
| 3 | Maryland | 6,052,177 | 915 | 15% |
| 4 | Delaware | 961,939 | 149 | 15% |
| 5 | Virginia | 8,470,020 | 1,045 | 12% |
| 6 | South Dakota | 869,666 | 108 | 12% |
| 7 | New Jersey | 9,005,644 | 1,030 | 11% |
| 8 | Washington | 7,405,743 | 821 | 11% |
| 9 | North Dakota | 755,393 | 72 | 10% |
| 10 | Vermont | 623,657 | 63 | 10% |
| 11 | Colorado | 5,607,154 | 491 | 9% |
| 12 | New Hampshire | 1,342,795 | 126 | 9% |
| 13 | Montana | 1,050,493 | 92 | 9% |
| 14 | California | 39,536,653 | 3,256 | 8% |
| 15 | Illinois | 12,802,023 | 1,018 | 8% |
| 16 | North Carolina | 10,273,419 | 868 | 8% |
| 17 | Minnesota | 5,576,606 | 431 | 8% |
| 18 | Connecticut | 3,588,184 | 292 | 8% |
| 19 | New Mexico | 2,088,070 | 158 | 8% |
| 20 | Rhode Island | 1,059,639 | 86 | 8% |
Most common cities for biomedical scientists
| Rank | City | # of jobs | Employment/ 1000ppl | Avg. salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beverly Hills | 1 | 3% | $74,424 |
| 2 | Richland | 1 | 2% | $52,293 |
| 3 | Frederick | 1 | 1% | $72,277 |
| 4 | Wilmington | 1 | 1% | $74,461 |
| 5 | Seattle | 1 | 0% | $53,179 |
Biomedical Scientist job outlook: Expert opinions
Our panel of biomedical scientist experts
Quinnipiac University
University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport
School of Graduate Studies, Rutgers University
University of San Francisco
Doverspike Consulting/HR LItehouse
What general advice would you give to a Biomedical Scientist?
David Barker: The question of maximizing salary potential is a difficult one. My personal feeling is that there is a risk: reward tradeoff in biomedical sciences, where careers in industry carry some of the best salaries, but also the greatest risk for long-term instability. In contrast, careers in academia traditionally carry lower salaries, but somewhat greater stability. I suppose this means that the best opportunity for salary potential is to not be afraid to take risks by working for a promising startup where you are highly valued, and where you may have the opportunity for vested stock options or other perks that can eventually transform into large returns. Knowing the risk associated with these companies, a smart graduate will enter these companies and work hard, to support the success of the company and to make themselves indispensable.
What Biomedical Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
David Barker: The question of maximizing salary potential is a difficult one. My personal feeling is that there is a risk: reward tradeoff in biomedical sciences, where careers in industry carry some of the best salaries, but also the greatest risk for long-term instability. In contrast, careers in academia traditionally carry lower salaries, but somewhat greater stability. I suppose this means that the best opportunity for salary potential is to not be afraid to take risks by working for a promising startup where you are highly valued, and where you may have the opportunity for vested stock options or other perks that can eventually transform into large returns. Knowing the risk associated with these companies, a smart graduate will enter these companies and work hard, to support the success of the company and to make themselves indispensable.
What will help Biomedical Scientists increase their earning potential?
David Barker: Science as a whole is becoming more multidisciplinary. For this reason, the individuals who thrive are those who develop hybrid skill sets that increase their value to the field, while also allowing flexibility in their career choices. One great example of this are students who are well versed in one of the '-omics' (e.g., proteomics or genomics) and computer programming for analyzing large datasets.
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.
Professor of Biomedical SciencesQuinnipiac University
Microbiological Sciences And Immunology
What Biomedical Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Lisa Cuchara Ph.D.: The first and foremost would be Critical Thinking. We live in a world where facts can be easily acquired, sometimes even by asking Siri/Alexa/ChatGPT/Google/etc. But critical thinking is timeless and priceless. I can ask anyone on the street what xyz is and they can look it up, but can they provide advice or interpret.
Also being a good steward towards science and being willing and able to communicate not just with peers as we are trained, but also with the public, the politicians, the board members. John Holdren*, stated that Scientists should be tithing at least 10 percent of their time to public service ... including activism. In the ever growing science denialism that is happening in our country being able to communicate science with the public is important. As Peter Hotaz states, "Anti-science propaganda is "killing Americans in unprecedented numbers,""
*Holdren is an American scientist who served as the senior advisor to President Barack Obama on science and technology issues through his roles as assistant to the president for science and technology, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and co-chair of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and a Research Professor in Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government
Yadira Malavez Ph.D.
Assistant ProfessorUniversity of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez
Biology
What general advice would you give to a Biomedical Scientist?
Yadira Malavez Ph.D.: Maximizing your salary potential when starting your career in the biotechnology field involves
multiple strategies, such as:
1. Advanced Education: Consider pursuing advanced degrees or certifications relevant to
your desired biotechnology career path. Advanced education can qualify you for higher-
paying positions and increase your earning potential.
2. Relevant Experience: Experiential opportunities such as internships, co-op programs, or
entry-level positions could provide you with hands-on experience in biotechnology.
Relevant experience can make you more attractive to employers, potentially leading to
higher starting salaries.
3
3. Specialize in High-Demand Areas: Focus on developing skills and expertise in high-
demand areas of biotechnology, such as data science, bioinformatics, gene editing
technologies (e.g., CRISPR), or personalized medicine. Specializing in these areas can
increase salaries due to their increasing importance in the industry.
4. Seek Growth Opportunities: Look for opportunities for growth and advancement within
your organization or through career progression. Advancing to higher-level positions with
increased responsibilities often comes with higher salaries. Pursuing a minor or a Master's
in Business Administration can prepare you for supervisory positions in industrial
biotechnology, potentially leading to higher-paying opportunities.
What Biomedical Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Yadira Malavez Ph.D.: In the next 3-5 years, the following skills will be more important and prevalent in the field of
biotechnology:
1. AI and Machine Learning: Proficiency in artificial intelligence (AI) will be crucial for
analyzing large biological datasets, identifying patterns, and predicting outcomes in
biotechnology research. Skills in developing AI algorithms tailored for biotechnological
applications, such as drug discovery, genetic engineering, and personalized medicine, will
be in high demand.
2. Data Science and Bioinformatics: Proficiency in bioinformatics tools and algorithms for
sequence analysis, structural biology, and systems biology will be essential to interpret
complex biological datasets to accelerate biotechnology research.
3. Synthetic Biology: Competence in genetic engineering, DNA synthesis, and pathway
optimization is crucial for advancing the biotechnology field and designing genetically
engineered organisms applicable in medicine, agriculture, and industrial biotechnology
4. Tissue Engineering: Expertise in tissue engineering techniques, including biomaterials
design, scaffold fabrication, and cell culture methodologies, will be essential for creating
complex biological tissues and organs for therapeutic applications. Skills in 3D bioprinting
and organ-on-a-chip platforms will enable the development of functional tissue substitutes
for regenerative medicine and drug testing.
5. Stem Cell Therapy: Proficiency in stem cell biology, including stem cell isolation,
characterization, and differentiation protocols, will be critical to advance stem cell-based
therapies. Skills in gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas9, for precise
modification of stem cells, will enhance their therapeutic potential. Additionally, expertise
in regulatory requirements and quality control standards for stem cell-based products will
be essential for navigating the regulatory landscape and translating stem cell therapies to
the clinic.
What will help Biomedical Scientists increase their earning potential?
Yadira Malavez Ph.D.: Maximizing your salary potential when starting your career in the biotechnology field involves
multiple strategies, such as:
1. Advanced Education: Consider pursuing advanced degrees or certifications relevant to
your desired biotechnology career path. Advanced education can qualify you for higher-
paying positions and increase your earning potential.
2. Relevant Experience: Experiential opportunities such as internships, co-op programs, or
entry-level positions could provide you with hands-on experience in biotechnology.
Relevant experience can make you more attractive to employers, potentially leading to
higher starting salaries.
3
3. Specialize in High-Demand Areas: Focus on developing skills and expertise in high-
demand areas of biotechnology, such as data science, bioinformatics, gene editing
technologies (e.g., CRISPR), or personalized medicine. Specializing in these areas can
increase salaries due to their increasing importance in the industry.
4. Seek Growth Opportunities: Look for opportunities for growth and advancement within
your organization or through career progression. Advancing to higher-level positions with
increased responsibilities often comes with higher salaries. Pursuing a minor or a Master's
in Business Administration can prepare you for supervisory positions in industrial
biotechnology, potentially leading to higher-paying opportunities.
Jason Bodily
Associate DeanLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center-Shreveport
Microbiological Sciences And Immunology
What general advice would you give to a Biomedical Scientist?
Jason Bodily: Begin with the end in mind. One of the valuable things about a PhD is that it is highly flexible. A PhD learns how to answer questions using data, and so the skills are transferrable into many types of work. Most of our graduates either go on to traditional academic postdocs right after graduation or get jobs in biotech, pharmaceutical, or other industries. Some go into government, regulatory, or other sectors such as patent law or business. So when I meet with students, one of the main things I try to help them with is to think through what kind of career they want to have. Do they value working at the bench in a laboratory or interacting with people? Do they enjoy writing, teaching, or speaking? Do they prefer urban or rural environments? And so on. Then, once they have a career path in mind, they should choose the training experiences that would lead them toward that goal.
What Biomedical Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Jason Bodily: Biology is becoming increasingly computational so the ability to derive data from large data sets will be increasingly important. As more PhDs choose not to choose the traditional academic path, I think that familiarity with business-related concepts, such as technology transfer, patents, marketing, etc. will be increasingly important. I also think that personal skills - "soft skills" - are perennially important.
What will help Biomedical Scientists increase their earning potential?
Jason Bodily: There is such a diversity in career paths that it is hard to say. Many of our graduates choose career paths for reasons other than maximizing salary potential. Almost everyone in academia, for example. Ultimately, I believe that people will pay you what they think you are worth, and people are of most worth when they are willing and able to do jobs that other people are not willing or able to do.
What soft skills should all Biomedical Scientists possess?
Janet Alder Ph.D.: The soft skills all graduates should possess in order to be successful are communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. Specially, they need to be able to explain their research and communicate about their project with non-technical people rather than just other scientists. Furthermore, although academic research has become more collaborative over the past decade, graduate students typically have ownership of their thesis project whereas in industry they will need to be working with many others on a team in order to move a product from bench to bedside. Finally, it is important to be able to inspire and motivate others to work toward a common goal in industry so leadership qualities make an individual stand out.
What general advice would you give to a Biomedical Scientist?
Cary Lai Ph.D.: Bioinformatics is a growing field. Individuals who are able to code well and who have a good understanding of biological principles are in high demand. More experiments at biotechnology companies are being performed using robotics. Scientists in biotechnology companies are also interested in using AI to further their research, but seem to be unsure on how AI is best used. Use of AI in biotechnology companies could grow to be a very important part of the field (if they figure out how they exactly will use it).
What Biomedical Scientist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?
Cary Lai Ph.D.: A lot of preparation that you do to get a job right after graduation is done well before graduation. While still a student, pursue internships in labs or at companies. That work experience is going to make your resume much stronger when you are applying for your first job. Also, make sure you are building your professional network well before you graduate. Make sure that you have a professional profile on LinkedIn.com and start adding connections through LinkedIn. You can also attend industry conferences, seminars, and meet ups to network with industry professionals.
What will help Biomedical Scientists increase their earning potential?
Cary Lai Ph.D.: You have put together your resume and cover letter, sent your applications out to companies, impressed at the interviews, and now have finally received your first job offer for a permanent position at a biotech company. Congratulations! You may be overjoyed to take the company's first salary offer for your position. This can be a mistake though, as there frequently is room to negotiate a higher salary. Many companies will be able to offer you a 5-10% higher annual salary than their original offer. Having a higher starting salary not only puts more money in your pocket now, but future annual raises will be based upon your original starting salary so being underpaid from the start can affect your earnings for years.
What type of skills will young Biomedical Scientists need?
Dennis Doverspike Ph.D.: Seemingly a paradox, there will continue to be a need for very general, but highly fungible, skills and demand for too specialized skills, requiring advanced education. Coding, statistics, and data analysis related skills will remain a hot growth area. The aging of the baby boomers will create demand for medical and healthcare-related regions, especially nursing, nursing aides, and emergency services. Despite the automation of many people facing jobs, there will continue to be a demand for interpersonal and people skills, including various types of sales. The switch to remote work, due to COVID, will create a substantial future market to fill the leadership and managerial skills gap. In many areas of Technology and engineering, it is already challenging to find a combination of technical knowledge and people skills, and this demand will intensify.