High paying jobs with undergrad Bio degree?

[Chrono]

I graduated in May with a Bio degree...and am looking for a job that pays 20+ per hour. I'm currently working a sales job but am beginning to hate it because I work with a bunch of idiots (plus retail just sucks). For anyone who has recently graduated with B.S in bio or chem, were you able to get a better job (If so, what? - if you don't mind sharing job title and approx pay).

What are some good options? Working in a lab? Research assistant? I'm looking for ideas. I want to milk my bio degree for everything its worth till I get admission to a dental school.

Thanks guys.

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[FutureDent020]

I looked and looked, but could not find anything local. Most hospitals and research centers I came across require masters. There are some lab assistant positions that only require a B.S., but also want previous experience in a laboratory or the specific field. I work as an OR assistant in a hospital for 12$/ hour. The other OR assistants are either high schol graduates who didn't go to college (ages 25-50) or pre-med students who have already graduated from college and waiting to get into med-school (ages 23-25). To make 20$/hr you will either have to have higher education like a masters or lots of previous experience. My experiences may be different from others. So 20$/hr with a B.S. may be possible, I just didn't come across it.

 

[Avery07]

I looked and looked, but could not find anything local. Most hospitals and research centers I came across require masters. There are some lab assistant positions that only require a B.S., but also want previous experience in a laboratory or the specific field. I work as an OR assistant in a hospital for 12$/ hour. The other OR assistants are either high schol graduates who didn't go to college (ages 25-50) or pre-med students who have already graduated from college and waiting to get into med-school (ages 23-25). To make 20$/hr you will either have to have higher education like a masters or lots of previous experience. My experiences may be different from others. So 20$/hr with a B.S. may be possible, I just didn't come across it.

How is this possible? $20/hr puts you just over $40k annualy before taxes. Last I checked, a biology degree was worth about that starting out.

I'm in the midwest and there are several plant genetics research facilities that higher BS of biology & chemistry as research associates. I'm not sure what the pay is though. Maybe you can get a job teaching at a univesity? I teach chemistry and tutor for my university and get paid $15 without a degree.

 

[eliwoohoo]

my gf got her first job out of undergrad with a molecular biology degree at a biotech company starting at 60K/yr with awesome benefits. my first job as a research associate in the genetics department of a university paid me $21/hr. i dont think it should be difficult to find jobs that pay >$20/hr, as long as your CV/resume are sufficiently strong. however, from what i hear regarding the current job market, the difficult part will be getting the job - my previous employer put out an ad for a research associate and recieved over 500 applicants! 😱

 

[Chrono]

I looked and looked, but could not find anything local. Most hospitals and research centers I came across require masters. There are some lab assistant positions that only require a B.S., but also want previous experience in a laboratory or the specific field. I work as an OR assistant in a hospital for 12$/ hour. The other OR assistants are either high schol graduates who didn't go to college (ages 25-50) or pre-med students who have already graduated from college and waiting to get into med-school (ages 23-25). To make 20$/hr you will either have to have higher education like a masters or lots of previous experience. My experiences may be different from others. So 20$/hr with a B.S. may be possible, I just didn't come across it.

thanks futuredent. I'll mention that it doesn't HAVE to be a science related job. I'm gonna check out some dental labs for a technician position...let me know if you or anyone else here has any experience applying for this job. It seems like it'd be very useful experience that would help in dental school...and in admission.

 

[nitrolegs]

you probably already considered this but have you thought about teaching the DAT or SAT? last i hear, the pay is not bad and you get to set your own hours. if not, you can try tutoring middle and high school students. i'm currently tutoring ap bio and algebra at an after-school academy for about 15-20 hours a week at $20/hr. it's not a lot of hours but it's flexible and it gives me considerable time off to relax and vacation before i start in the fall.

 

[Kneecoal]

my friend got a job as a pulmonary tech in one of the major hospitals in boston making about $40-50K... she also was EMT certified though from undergrad. I feel like hospitals are generally a good place to work, right now I'm making a little over $15/hour as a clerk on the med/surg floor, and the benefits package is awesome (but you don't need a bio degree to do it, although the bio classes i think have actually helped me be a little more in the know).

 

[fsddsms]

I wish it was the same in California... so tough to find a bio-related job right now. Most of the places I looked either wanted a masters or some specific 5+ years of experience with a type of lab to get the 20$+/hr. Its tough to find someone willing to train out of undergrad but they're out there; just gotta look and wait.

On a good note though, there are plenty of dentists willing to hire predents bc they can pay them less than RDAs hehe. That's how I landed my OMFS assistant job but I make like 15/hr only. O well, it funds the good times till dental school comes next fall.

 

[Chrono]

bump

 

[FutureDent020]

I wish it was the same in California... so tough to find a bio-related job right now. Most of the places I looked either wanted a masters or some specific 5+ years of experience with a type of lab to get the 20$+/hr. Its tough to find someone willing to train out of undergrad but they're out there; just gotta look and wait.

I ran into the exact same situation. It's tough right now.

 

[Zubnaya Feya]

I don't know where people are taking 50-60k per year with a bachelor's in bio/chem. I looked for 3 months and couldn't find anything above 17$/hour around Seattle area. All of the positions above 17$ per hour that I saw required MS, PhD or 10+ years of experience doing some bullcrap assay.

 

[sugarsting]

You can teach. That's what I'm doing, but at a poor school, so I'm only making $30K, but that's better than any other job I would have qualified for. In a better school or location you may make closer to $40K.