So first of all, I recommend the book "
Leaving the Ivory Tower" for anyone interested in non-research or non-medical fields.
A quick comment on the above posts, most of which are absolutely correct, but some miss the big picture:
IBanking: This will be a no-growth industry for the next half decade. It was a VERY attractive field to physicians who don't like patients but like the process of scientific discovery and exploration, because almost all the big investment banks have medical device and bio/pharma divisions which valuate companies in those fields. The pay is equivalent to a medical specialty, and the hours can definitely vary, but as one advances and solidifies their position there is the opportunity to still make the large salery while working very normal hours (with no call!)
Consulting: In my exploration here, I have found many PCPs who have LEFT medicine and have gone INTO life science consulting because the pay is equivalent to your average FP/IM physician, and the hours are equivalent as well. SO WHY GO HERE? Easy, you are often "treated better", and there is the possibility for promotion/advancement, which is almost absent in medicine.
Medical Physicist: I don't know much on this, other than it can be a sweet job if you are very good at physics and applying it to medical situations. Pay is low 6 figures, hours are 40-50ish, and you really can do what you love (if you love physics!)
Patent Lawyer: I would argue that a life science patent lawyer is a very well compensated posistion. It is also incredibly boring. I think my worst day as a PCP would compare to the best day here, but that is just me (and why I am chosing this path). If you can stomach the boredom, you can find that this is the one area of law where you may not need that T14 degree (although it helps immensely) but if you bring an advanced science degree plus your JD, you have something to offer. I really think this market is starting to get flooded, and salaries are going to drop. (i.e. enough people have been saying for long enough "GO HERE!" that people have finally listened).
General MBA in life science company: avoid like the plague. There is no job security in this market, so unless you like uprooting your family ON A WHIM of an exec board, that or unemployment, this field is not for you. The money is drying out in biotech/pharma, and there is a flood of people into it because, as bad as it is, IT IS ONE OF THE LAST DESIRABLE INDUSTRIES LEFT IN THIS COUNTRY! I would also argue how much better the hours are for someone at one of these companies, because they work 50 to 60 hours a week, and then road time just murders you!
OK, comments welcome, hope I can give a bit of guidance after all the guidance SDN has given me!
