I am a Senior Research Assoc at a west coast cancer bio-pharma with one approved drug and a few on the way. We have gone, in the time I have worked here, from a one building presence to 11 buildings locally and with 2 offices in Europe. I am lucky to have landed here after a few missteps in the wrong places. That is the downside of bio-pharma some jobs can come and go with failures of the vision.
My AA is in veterinary technology and I worked 20 years in clinical before getting back on track in research in my late 30s. I got in to my first research position based on my extensive clinical experience. I entered my current job as an RAII and promoted up over 16 years. I have been senior for about 8 years. Everything I have now I got along the way, on the job learning. I do in-vivo work with mice and specialize in tumor modeling and manage a cell bank. In my position I am a go-to person for a company division and help new scientists with their study concepts. I am near retirement. I also mentor and guide new associates in my group.
The majority of my co-workers have BS degrees; cell biology, microbiology, chemistry, protein biology, microbiology and general biology and pharmacology. They do extensive discovery work in their interest area; cell biology, protein engineering, target validation , histology and pathology. Almost all are co-authors on papers and meeting presentations( international conventions)
The title "Scientist: is usually reserved for PhDs and their jobs are more personnel management and oversight, not actually working on the bench. They direct and manage the knowledge.
There are also many working in clinical trial management, manufacturing and process sciences. We have a very extensive field team of sale marketing and medical liaisons. You have to have the passion and drive for sales and personal contact for those jobs.
I would say of your 60-75 K range, that is likely to be the top entry point for most of our science associates. We also get stock options based on our performance and annual bonus based on company performance as determined by the BOD. Top tier benefits( which really adds value) , student loan consolidation support, maternity / paternity leave, sabbatical at 8 year and 16 year, many other life balance benefits what will not show up in the average wage numbers you mention.
This is not easy work. It can be quite intense and grinding. There are many experienced people in my field who prefer the smaller companies and will often move on to another smaller company when their current company becomes large and successful. They enjoy the “birth” process
I would encourage you to continue your journey and probably consider focus on cell biology. Immunology is also a very hot field. Thing about the sciences is that there is always something more and new to learn. If you like to learn, being in a company like mine you will never lack for opportunity.
You need to get out into the real world and if you can, get a part time job or internship in a company lab where you can find out for yourself what the work is like, gain experience and discover that spark that will guide you. Our company offers paid summer internship as do many larger bio-pharma. We get students from all over the country.
