Biotechnologist
Impact: Medical advancements, agricultural innovation, environmental sustainability
Develops and applies biological systems and organisms to create new products and technologies, advancing fields like medicine, agriculture, and environmental science.
What the day looks like
- People interaction
- Moderate
- Team vs solo
- 70% Team / 30% Solo
- Client facing
- Sometimes
- Impact visibility
- High
- Travel
- Minimal
- Schedule flexibility
- Moderate
- Remote work
- Limited Remote
- Typical work hours
- 40-50 hours/week
- Stress level
- Moderate
At a glance
- Median salary
- $95,000
- Entry-level
- $60,000 - $85,000
- Senior
- $130,000+
- Growth by 2033
- 9% (faster than average)
- Demand
- Growing Fast
- Freelance potential
- Low
- Salary growth potential
- High to 80-120% growth from entry to senior
- Typical student debt
- $30,000 - $70,000
Skills you'll use
Hard skills
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Culture
- PCR
- Data Analysis
- Bioinformatics
- Fermentation
- Chromatography
- GMP
Soft skills
- Critical Thinking
- Problem Solving
- Attention to Detail
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Adaptability
Technical complexity: Very High
How to get there
- Minimum education
- Bachelor's Degree
- Licensing
- No
- Years to mid-career
- 4-6 years
- Years to senior
- 8-12 years
- Career switching
- Moderate
Where this career leads
How people arrive here
Where you can go from here
Typical progression
- Lab Technician
- Biotechnologist
- Senior Biotechnologist
- Research Scientist/Manager
Future outlook
- Automation probability
- 20% to low risk
- AI disruption risk
- Moderate
- Demand trend
- Growing Fast
How people feel about it
- Overall satisfaction
- 3.9/10
- Meaning
- 4.2/10
- Work-life balance
- 3.2/10
- Prestige
- 7.5/10
- Social perception
- High