How To Become A Process Development Associate: What It Is and Career Path

What is a process development associate and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Professor Susan Bergeson

The role of a process development associate is vital to the efficiency of research facilities and laboratories. Their primary responsibility is to develop, plan, and implement various processes to optimize laboratory experiments and make full use of available resources. Furthermore, a process development associate is in charge of fine-tuning existing processes to help the company reach its full potential.

Other duties of a process development associate may include creating presentations, authorizing procedures for testing processes, and conducting regular audits to ensure that the facility is complying with GMP standards.

Becoming a process development associate generally requires a high level of education. Most process development associates have at least a bachelor's or master's degree in their field. However, individuals with doctorates are usually the most preferred.

Apart from formal education, a process development associate also needs adequate experience working in a laboratory in their field. Previous working experience will teach them the skills that they need for this role, which include data analysis, laboratory techniques, technical skills, and familiarity with laboratory programs.

A process development associate can make up to $80,000 a year, but the average lies at $61,000. Job opportunities are abundant in the healthcare, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical industries.

What general advice would you give to a process development associate?

Professor Susan Bergeson

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center

Knowledge, enthusiasm, and hard work go a long way in a career, once you have a job. However, getting that first job can be difficult. Biotechnology careers often involve constructive collaboration. Many CEOs have realized that Emotional Intelligence is valuable. EI-related interview questions give an idea of how you might fit within an organization. Be prepared. Remember, as big Pharma contracted, Biotechnology has expanded; your future is bright.

ScoreProcess Development AssociateUS Average

Salary

5.5

Avg. Salary $70,655

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.8

Growth rate 14%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

7.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.38%

Asian 21.79%

Black or African American 3.54%

Hispanic or Latino 9.15%

Unknown 5.60%

White 59.55%

Gender

female 42.11%

male 57.89%

Age - 39

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 39

Stress level

6.8

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.3

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

5.3

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a process development associate

Explore process development associate education requirements

Most common process development associate degrees

Bachelor's

81.8 %

Master's

11.1 %

Associate

5.0 %

Start to develop specific process development associate skills

Skills	Percentages
GMP	7.66%
Data Analysis	5.74%
Statistical Analysis	5.48%
Analytical Methods	4.49%
Troubleshoot	4.10%

Complete relevant process development associate training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New process development associates learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a process development associate based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real process development associate resumes.

Research process development associate duties and responsibilities

Lead the execution of protein extraction, quantification and identification from medicinal plants, germinating seeds and seedlings.
Used virological plaque assays to determine viral titers of cell's harvest.
Perform HPLC purification of individual bone growth factors including TGF- 1 and TGF- 2.
Develop HPLC base assays to show clearance of purification additives from process buffer pools.

Apply for process development associate jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a process development associate job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average process development associate salary

The average process development associate salary in the United States is $70,655 per year or $34 per hour. Process development associate salaries range between $53,000 and $93,000 per year.

Average process development associate salary

$70,655 Yearly

$33.97 hourly

What is a process development associate and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a process development associate?

Process development associate career paths

Key steps to become a process development associate

Explore process development associate education requirements

Most common process development associate degrees

Start to develop specific process development associate skills

Complete relevant process development associate training and internships

Research process development associate duties and responsibilities

Apply for process development associate jobs

How did you land your first process development associate job

Average process development associate salary

How do process development associates rate their job?