Biotechnology is the key to solving many of the world’s most pressing problems, from food security to climate change to disease.
Bill Gates
Biotechnology is a popular choice at college because of just how many well-paying careers are possible with it.
So many different sectors involve biotechnology, making it an incredible career choice with a bright future for graduates in terms of employability and average salary.
Here, we'll be looking at what biotechnology is, the kinds of jobs and careers there are in biotech, and why you should consider it.
What Exactly is Biotechnology?
Defining biotechnology might seem quite obvious. After all, it's a combination of the terms biology and technology. But what does that even mean?
In biotechnology, biological systems and processes are used to provide technological solutions. This can help people, animals, and even businesses, and the wide-ranging biotech applications have made it a promising and lucrative area of study for many students.
A lot of biotech focuses on improving our health and well-being, which is why there are so many biotech solutions in medicine and healthcare, though there are also applications in agriculture, engineering, and a range of other industries. Biotech is a rapidly advancing field thanks to this broad range of uses and applications.
Biotech development has brought us everyday products like pregnancy tests, agricultural processes, common clinical procedures, and so many other things.
Biotechnology is wide-reaching, but it's certainly not easy. To work in biotech, you need to understand science, engineering, and technology. Expertise in biology is a must, but it's not the only science you have to master before you can start landing jobs.
Why You Should Choose a Career in Biotechnology
Choosing to work in biotech is a great idea. We've already alluded to just how many different areas and industries biotech professionals can work in, but there's more to biotech than just a wide range of career choices.
Anyone with the brains and the drive to pursue a career in biotechnology might be surprised at all the benefits of working in the industry.
Biotech Can Provide Lucrative Career Options
The salary shouldn't be the only reason you choose a career in biotechnology, but your future financial security is certainly something to take into consideration when choosing what you study.
Even if you love your job, you can't keep doing it if the pay isn't sufficient. With biotechnology, this is unlikely to be the case as the average biotechnologist salary is over $80,000 a year and this doesn't even consider the incredibly lucrative specialized roles that come with even more money.
Remember that biotechnology roles will also pay according to expertise and experience so while the average salaries are good to give you an indication of what you'll likely earn in the middle of your career, your starting salaries will probably be lower but you could retire on much more than that.
Biotechnology Offers Career Development
The large number of biotech applications means that not only are there lots of jobs in biotech, but there is also a wide range of industries and careers you can choose from, each with many options for progression or even a change.
Whether it's in manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, or pharmaceuticals, biotechnology careers allow for both upward and lateral mobility.
Biotechnology is complicated and with many projects requiring many people, there tend to be various levels of seniority. Graduates fresh out of college will largely be at the bottom of this ladder, though those with more advanced degrees may be able to skip a few rungs.
Biotechnologists Are in Demand
With so many different fields and industries to work in, large companies and tech startups are always looking for professionals with a background in biotechnology.
Committing to a career in biotechnology means that you'll rarely struggle to find work. As we alluded to earlier, there are always options for lateral moves for professionals looking to work in different areas of biotech.
Biotechnology is Growing
The more biotech advances, the more we find uses and applications for it. This means that biotech is now a vast and varied field with lots of areas of specialization and subfields.
This allows those in biotechnology to increase their earning potential by specializing in a particular area while also allowing them to keep other options open across biotechnology as a whole.
The consensus is that there's so much more to discover in the field of biotechnology and as a research-driven field, there'll always be new applications for biotech being discovered.
Biotechnology is a Respected Career Choice
Working in biotechnology can provide you with work that you're proud of. More often than not, biotech is used to create solutions that help humankind and this can come with respect and job satisfaction for the people working on these projects.
If you're interested in work that makes a difference and that you'd be proud to say you were involved in, biotechnology is an area where you'll likely be happy with what you do and why you're doing it.
The PCR testing biotechnology was developed during the SARS epidemic in 2002 and proved invaluable during the COVID-10 pandemic.
Biotechnology is an Exciting Field
The growth in biotechnology is due to how many uses we're finding for it. This continuous development and advancement is present in almost every science, but biotechnology is certainly one that's particularly exciting.
With all the various specialized branches being developed and the interdisciplinary potential of biotech, there's always something exciting and groundbreaking taking place in the field.
Jobs in Biotechnology
Here are just a few of the excellent jobs you could do with the right qualifications in biotechnology.
| Job | Annual Average Salary | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical Technician | $47,977 | Collect data, conduct research, and process and report on different medical specimens. |
| DNA Analyst | $66, 673 | Collect DNA samples and conduct different tests to gather genetic information to assess genetic information, help law enforcement institutions, or for research purposes. |
| Scientist | $77, 232 | Use biotechnology to research and conduct experiments in rider to expand current theories. |
| Biomedical Engineer | $81,674 | Create different biotechnology devices, equipment. Develop various products and processes like biosensors, pacemakers, injectables, etc. |
| Pharmaceutical Manufacturer | $68,627 | Create different pharmaceuticals, medications, chemical products, and processes. |
| Chemical Operator | $52,029 | Control and maintain machinery and chemical plants, review project reports, and sort, weight, and mix chemical ingredients. |
| Microbiologist | $61,070 | Research things like bacteria, viruses, and cells. Study how microorganisms behave. |
| Process Engineer | $86,304 | Optimize the processes involved in product manufacture including labor, supplies, and equipment. |
| Bioprocess Engineer | $94,770 | Supervise production processes for biotech products. |
| Biostatistician | $145,385 | Collect and analyze data. Design research projects. Use statistical analysis and statistical modeling. |
The Challenges Faced When Studying Biotechnology
Biotechnology can be difficult especially since the skills and knowledge required cover various areas of science, engineering, manufacturing, etc. Even if you're studying biotechnology in college, it's quite common for students to find it difficult.
With any multidisciplinary field, you have to be good at a lot of different things and even students with an aptitude for most of the subjects involved in biotechnology, it's unlikely that they'll be adept in every single thing they have to study.
With so many things to consider, even something as simple as organization can make studying biotechnology complicated. Even gifted students might struggle to keep up with advanced biotechnology college programs because of how many plates they have to keep spinning.
Every student's first challenge will be to get on top of all their classes, projects, and studies. After all, if you can't keep up with everything you need to do at college, you'll be in for a shock once you're working as a technician or scientist within the industry.
This can be a slippery slope, too, as if you have to spend more time catching up with one particular class, you may start to see your grades and performance slipping in your other classes.
Some students might struggle simply because they have a class with a professor whose teaching approach doesn't quite match their preferred learning style. With so many factors to consider and a lot of students to teach, most professors can't be blamed for being unable to tailor every class to every student.
Private tutors, however, are free to teach exactly what their students need to know using the approaches and resources that work for them, especially in one-on-one tutoring.
Embark on a cutting-edge exploration of biotechnology with our specialized biology class! Whether you're curious about genetic engineering, bioinformatics, or pharmaceuticals, our expert tutors will illuminate the exciting intersections of biology and technology. From understanding the principles of gene editing to exploring the ethical implications of biotechnological advancements, our personalized lessons will empower you to navigate this rapidly evolving field with confidence. Join us and dive into the world of biotechnology - let's unlock the potential of science to shape the future together!
Get Help Studying Biotechnology with Superprof
Whether it's learning skills that you can use to study biotechnology or working specifically with a biotechnology tutor, tutoring can help struggling students get back on track and push gifted students to get the best possible results they can.
For anybody looking for experienced and qualified biotechnology tutors, you've come to the right place. On the Superprof website, you can find tutors to help you earn your biotechnology degree.
You can search for online biology classes from across the US and around the world and even find tutors in specialized areas of biotechnology.
When you start your search, you can compare the various tutors' profiles, see the kinds of tutoring they offer, how much they charge, and whether or not they offer the first session for free.
Once you've filtered out the tutors that would be suitable for what you're looking for, you can rank them. Start by contacting the best matches first and if one of them works out, you can start learning with them!
Don't forget that the best and most experienced tutors will charge more and even if you find a really cheap tutor, it might cost you more in the long run if you need more sessions from them to achieve your learning goals!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
Very Helpful Article covers everything about Biotech Carrier
What are your thoughts of doing a fellowship after graduating with a Biology/Biotechnology degree?
Hello Lisa! Thank you for your comment. The completion of a fellowship depends on the student’s goals and their school’s requirements. If you would like additional information, please check out our team of expert tutors. They can provide you with valuable advice regarding fellowships after graduating with your degree.
Very helpful article, Thanks!
Thank you for the comment, Brason! I’m glad you enjoyed the article!