Media Misinformation Puts a Spin on the Biotech Job Market

recently in a popular annualized directory of careers that the bio pharma industry is superhot. In fact, the publication goes on to say that if you are a biologist--B.S., M.S., or Ph.D.--you will be earning a mid level salary of $93,000. According to the directory, salaries, benefits, and work hours in biology are among the best for any career choice and in any industry.

Sounds wonderful. But this isn't the biotechnology job that I've been working in for many years!

In fact, nothing about biotechnology jobs in that publication rings true. Although some senior scientists with special expertise might earn more than six figures, they are not in the majority. Perhaps the authors forgot about the many postdocs earning $30,000 and an equally large number of B.S.-level research associates running assays for $40,000 a year. And how about those Forest Service and Fisheries biologists earning $25,000 to $30,000?

Further reading only supports the conclusion that the comments about work hours appear to be pure fiction as well. This book states that biologists get high marks for quality of life because of their 45-hour workweek. (Do you know anyone in biotech who works a 45-hour workweek? Neither do I.)

Just what is going on here? Why is the biotechnology job market being presented in such glowing terms by the lay press?