Find a Job You Really Want In
Yes, biotechnology laboratory analytical instruments is a good career path. It’s highly specialized and requires high levels of education, meaning that it’s unlikely to be replaced by machines. Also, due to the higher degrees involved, the jobs are well paid and generally secure, as experts are hard to replace.
As with most tech-focused sectors, biotechnology keeps improving and diversifying, meaning that there are a lot of options and opportunities in the field, and it’s likely to keep expanding. If you’re interested in biology, technology, and medical equipment, then this is a field for you to look at.
Biotechnology is a complex field requiring high levels of education. There are different fields within it, either relating to medicine, manufacturing, or research. It’s possible to tailor your education towards one particular part of it, depending on what interests you.
Here are 20 great jobs in biotechnology laboratory analytical instruments:
10 of the Best Paying Jobs in Biotechnology Laboratory Analytical Instruments
Due to the complicated nature of biotechnology and the complexity of the instruments and equipment used, it’s a lucrative field. It does require extensive education, and the majority of the jobs listed here are going to require experience in the field. However, if you aren’t deterred by higher degrees and challenging subjects, then you can do very well in this field.
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Average Annual Salary: $84,000
This role isn’t unique to biotechnology, but a lot of research goes into the subject. Research scientists are responsible for undertaking, recording, and analyzing experiments, medical trials, and other lab work.
It’s rare for research scientists to work alone, as they often work in teams and have a large support staff of technicians, assistants, and technologists.
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Average Annual Salary: $85,000
Bioinformatics is a sort of fusion of biology and computer science. This means that in order to be a bioinformatics scientist, you need to be familiar with both biology and programming, as many of them work on creating and improving software applications to meet their needs.
As a bioinformatics scientist, you’ll spend most of your time on a computer, rarely working with patients or subjects, using computers to collate and analyze data.
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Average Annual Salary: $84,000
Research engineers work in a wide variety of fields. As the title suggests, research engineers are focused on the research aspect. Their main duties are to research better engineering techniques, which will vary based on the type of engineering they’re focused on.
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Average Annual Salary: $113,000
As expected of a liaison position, medical science liaisons are responsible for creating and maintaining a working relationship between healthcare workers, like physicians and clinicians, and healthcare companies.
They typically work for the healthcare company, representing them to both the government and decision-makers in healthcare, such as physician’s panels.
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Average Annual Salary: $54,000
Biotechnologists work in a wide variety of fields, including agriculture, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Basically, biotechnologists use biological processes to help them in their job. This can be in manufacturing, selecting crops to alternate, or creating cosmetics that have the desired look and effect.
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Average Annual Salary: $89,000
Bioprocess engineers are experts in biology and biological processes. They typically work in biopharmaceuticals and biotechnology, but their expertise is useful in other fields as well.
They create products using biological materials and processes. They’re expected to draw up process documents and generally manage the practical aspects of manufacturing and processing.
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Average Annual Salary: $102,000
As expected from the job title, data scientists work with data. Because of that, they’re useful in almost any industry, but a lot of data is generated to be organized and analyzed in biotechnology.
This position requires a strong knowledge of both mathematics and computers, as most of the data is analyzed via databases. They’re expected to come up with data-driven solutions and marketing techniques, as well as keep the data organized and present it in ways that are easy to understand.
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Average Annual Salary: $78,000
Biomedical engineers are focused on healthcare. Their main responsibility is to help with advancing medical equipment and making it more intuitive to use. They’re also involved in checking the equipment for safety, usability, and effectiveness, as well as providing technical support when needed.
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Average Annual Salary: $81,000
This job is a fusion of biology, medicine, and mathematics. As you’d expect from a job title with “statistician” in it, their main job involves analyzing statistics. They are involved with gathering the data, maintaining it, and analyzing it.
Biostatisticians are often the ones who come up with surveys to collect data, as the way the questions are worded is important. They also use data analysis to make recommendations and form conclusions.
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Average Annual Salary: $84,000
Biomechanical engineers work with both mechanical and biological components. Their duties can vary depending on their area of expertise, but many of them help with the creation of medical devices, such as pacemakers and artificial organs.
Some will also be involved in designing sports and workout equipment that reduces injuries. Biomechanical engineers are also the ones tasked with creating and improving prosthetics.
All of these jobs are going to require higher levels of education. A master’s is highly recommended for most, if not all of them, and experience in a similar field is going to make it easier to get into the position. If you’re just starting in the field of biotechnology, then the below list is a better place to begin.
10 Entry-Level Jobs in Biotechnology Laboratory Analytical Instruments
For all of these jobs, some level of higher education is a must. There are a few positions you may be able to get into with a GED, but you’d have to be very lucky. An associate’s degree is enough for some of them, but the more education you have, the better you’re going to do in this field.
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Average Annual Salary: $50,000
Medical technologists are responsible for conducting laboratory tests. This means that they’ll be working with tissue, blood, and other bodily fluid samples. They have to be precise, accurate, and detail-focused, as an inaccurate result could cause the patient to get improper treatment.
Someone in this role is also expected to keep an organized, precise, and confidential record of tests.
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Average Annual Salary: $32,000
Phlebotomists are experts in blood. They draw blood, analyze it, test it, and maintain accurate records of the results. Other clerical tasks include generating reports, responding to inquiries, and dealing with suppliers.
This job requires not being squeamish, being an expert on blood and blood-borne diseases, and being highly organized.
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Average Annual Salary: $85,000
As it sounds, a biotechnician is a technician position. That means that they assist the physicians and scientists in a laboratory setting with what they’re studying. They’re the ones responsible for setting up, prepping, and taking care of the equipment.
Technicians are often the equipment experts and are aware of its care and limitations. They’re also involved in the gathering and processing of the collected data.
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Average Annual Salary: $37,000
As with most technician positions, this involves more hands-on work than a scientist position. Laboratory technicians collect samples, help analyze them, and care for the equipment. They’re involved in proper sterilization, maintenance, and testing of the equipment. They’re also responsible for the prep work and organization.
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Average Annual Salary: $56,000
Microbiology is the study of microorganisms. So microbiologists study, categorize and identify different types of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Depending on where they work and their specialty, microbiologists can be focused on diseases and infections, contamination, or microbiomes.
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Average Annual Salary: $50,000
Biology research assistants perform support tasks for scientists, clinicians, and technicians. Their main responsibilities are organizational, both for research documents and samples.
They’re usually the ones updating databases as needed, doing document reviews, and summarizing reports. They also handle clerical duties like answering the phone and inquiries and preparing and caring for the laboratory equipment.
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Average Annual Salary: $53,000
Cytogenetic technologists specialize in chromosomes. Their focus is on how DNA ties in with health and illness. They’re also responsible for diagnosing genetic illnesses by examining chromosomes, both normal and abnormal.
They spend a lot of time with a microscope and lab samples, but when they aren’t doing that, they work with doctors to help in the diagnosis and treatment of chromosomal illnesses.
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Biomedical Equipment Technician
Average Annual Salary: $54,000
Someone with this job title is an expert in biomedical equipment. Biomedical equipment technicians know how to properly install, repair, and maintain medical equipment. They also know to calibrate it – and when it is and isn’t properly calibrated – as well as test the machines and their parts and repair and replace them as needed.
Biomedical equipment technicians can work in different places, such as a hospital, laboratories, or clinics. They’re responsible for the equipment being properly set up and maintained.
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Average Annual Salary: $53,000
Molecular technologists typically work in laboratories. They help conduct medical research, including analyzing samples and documenting findings. They need to be familiar with different laboratory equipment and its proper usage.
As their specialty is on a molecular level, molecular technologists use powerful equipment and have to be very precise in their measurements and observations.
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Average Annual Salary: $33,000
Laboratory assistants help out in a laboratory setting. Their tasks vary but can include processing samples, recording findings, and classifying results. This job requires a basic understanding of what’s being researched in the lab as well as laboratory safety, proper documentation of results, and storage for samples.
Several of these jobs are somewhat specialized, meaning that if you know you’re interested in them, pushing your education in that direction will help you get the job directly. Education is going to be a requirement for these jobs as well, so that’s the best thing you can do to prepare yourself.
Why Choose a Career in Biotechnology Laboratory Analytical Instruments?
While there are a variety of jobs listed above, almost all of them are in a clinical or laboratory setting, meaning that there are several qualities that are going to make you better suited to a job in biotechnology laboratory analytical instruments.
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Doing research appeals to you. Not every position on this list is a research position, but many of them are. And even if they aren’t, most of them can be segued into a research position easily enough. So, if you’re interested in doing research, then this is a good career path to pursue.
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You’re detail-oriented. All science and research is going to be detail and number focused: that’s data. Biology has a lot of chemistry in it, meaning there are high levels of memorization and that precision is paramount.
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Science has always interested you. All of these careers are focused on science in one way or another – mainly biology or chemistry. If you’ve always done well in studying science, that implies you’re mathematically inclined, too, which is a huge help in research positions.
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You’re not squeamish. Almost all biotechnical and biomedical research is going to involve blood, tissue, or other body fluids. You need to be able to handle them, label them, and study them. This will likely be a major component of your job. If that idea gives you the creeps, this may not be the field for you.
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You want a high-level college degree. Scientific and research positions are heavily education-focused. This means that you have to be willing and able to invest the time, money, and energy into a lot of schooling.
These jobs are going to be highly mentally demanding. And if you work in a hospital setting, there’s a high possibility of working odd or long hours as well, which means that you have to be highly focused while you’re on the clock because mistakes can have large consequences.
However, if the above list describes you and you like the idea of heavily working your mind, then this is an excellent career path for you to pursue.
Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Biotechnology Laboratory Analytical Instruments
The main requirement in this field is going to be education. The higher the education you have, the better you’re going to do. Here are some degree options to look into.
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Chemistry. Almost all biology boils down to chemistry, meaning that a knowledge of this science is going to serve you well in this field.
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Biochemistry. If you want to specialize in the biological aspect. Likely to help you get into biotechnology more directly.
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Biochemical Engineering. If you want to work in bioengineering.
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Biology. This is the most obvious degree choice. A degree in biology is going to give you the education you need to work in most of the jobs, especially if it’s higher education or a specialized version of biology.
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Biomedical engineering. If you want to be a biomedical engineer.
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Medicine. Many of these careers focus on medicine and the betterment of healthcare. Being a medical doctor will help with a lot of these careers, even if you don’t want to work with patients.
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Biomedical Sciences. This is a broader degree covering the study of human health. It includes cell biology, genetics, microbiology, and physiology.
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Pharmacology. The study of drugs can help with many of these careers. Several of these jobs work on pharmaceuticals directly or indirectly and understanding the chemistry and science of pharmaceuticals is helpful.
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Statistics. This is useful if you want to be a data scientist, biostatistician, or bioinformatics scientist.
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Bioinformatics. Pursue this degree if you know you want to be a biostatistician or generally work in bioinformatics.
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Biotechnology. This covers biotechnology, making it a good degree for most of the jobs listed above.
Generally, the higher degree, the better, though there are some jobs, you can get into with an associate’s degree.
There are several different courses you can take to get a certificate in the biotechnology field. However, unless there’s something specific you’re pursuing, it’s likely better to focus on education and experience rather than certifications. However, being certified definitely isn’t going to hurt your career prospects.
What Do People Working in Biotechnology Laboratory Analytical Instruments Do?
People working in biotechnology laboratory analytical instruments work with a fusion of biology and technology. This includes in the literal sense of prosthetics and other insertable medical devices, but also in using biology and biology processes to improve our technology.
Biotechnology laboratory analytical instruments is a specialized field that requires an interest in biology, medicine, technology, and the general advancement of healthcare. It’s heavily research-focused, which means the majority of the people who work in it spend a lot of time looking at microscopes, testing samples, and compiling data.
Author
Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.
