best life sciences jobs for 2025.

A research associate plays an important role within a research team. They conduct experiments, analyze data, and interpret results from various experiments or studies.

They also liaise with stakeholders and other research personnel, ensuring that projects progress as planned and desired outcomes are achieved. 

Research associates find opportunities in pharmaceuticals, academia, biotechnology, and environmental science. Candidates with a degree in a relevant field like biology, chemistry, or engineering and hands-on experience with lab techniques, data analysis, and research tools stand a better chance at securing a role.

Learn more about the role of a research associate to help you evaluate if this path aligns with your career aspirations.

Effective leadership is more essential than ever in today's fast-moving healthcare world. Working as a medical director could be an exciting career option for individuals who aspire to improve healthcare quality and efficiency.

A medical director ensures the business side of health care runs smoothly. They manage facility budgets, relationships with supply chain vendors, regulatory compliance, and cultivating a supportive work environment. Some responsibilities also include identifying health trends and implementing new technology.

Some medical directors have backgrounds as physicians, while others transition from healthcare executive roles. While some organizations require medical directors to have an M.D., others accept a master's degree in health administration or public health.

Research scientists are at the heart of every area of science. They plan and conduct experiments to help expand the barrel of scientific knowledge.

It would help if you usually had an academic mindset and an inquisitive personality. A Ph.D. or an advanced degree in a relevant field is also required. A strong foundation in experimental design, data interpretation, and specialized tools is also essential.

Opportunities for advancement include leading projects, mentoring teams, or transitioning into applied research roles.

If you are passionate about research, a career as a research scientist might be your best option as there are excellent opportunities and strong earning potential in this field.

Clinical research associates (CRAs) set up, coordinate, and supervise clinical studies. They monitor trial sites, manage documentation, and collaborate with teams to test the safety and efficacy of new treatments.

The best CRAs boast a rare blend of soft and hard skills: interpersonal skills (site monitoring), familiarity with complex technical documentation (case report forms), digital savvy (Google Cloud Platform), and a whole lot more.

Employers typically look for a life sciences or nursing degree alongside certifications like ACRP or SOCRA. Well-rounded professionals are also extraordinarily hard to come by, so compensation is competitive. For these reasons and more, CRAs are on our list of in-demand life sciences jobs.

An analytical chemist is a scientist who studies the chemical compositions and interactions of different materials. Their work is crucial in pharmaceuticals, food safety, environmental monitoring, and materials science.

If learning about the materials that combine to form different substances and the process of how they do it interests you, then a career as an analytical chemist might be best suited for you.

A chemistry or chemical engineering degree and expertise in chromatography, spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry is needed. Analytical chemists excel at problem-solving, precision, and interpreting complex data.

Every industry that produces or manufactures goods requires quality control analysts. Often known as QC analysts, they are responsible for ensuring the quality and safety of a company's products before they are released to the market.

They perform various tests to ensure products are safe and meet the specifications provided by manufacturers before leaving the facility.

These professionals work in pharmaceuticals, food production, cosmetics, and other related fields. A background in chemistry, biology, or a related science is essential, as is proficiency in lab techniques and regulatory knowledge.

Browse our latest jobs to find a life sciences career that aligns with your skills and career goals.

Salaries are very competitive in the life sciences sector, partly due to severe skills shortages. Expectations for salaries among the best life sciences jobs in 2025 have significantly shifted, with an entry of $84,000, a median of $97,800 and higher of 111,000. For more details on salaries for life sciences professionals, view our salary comparison tool.

Life sciences professionals demand is particularly high among colleges, universities and professional schools, general medical and surgical hospitals, employment placement agencies, offices of physicians, pharmaceutical manufacturing, direct health insurance carriers and research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences. These industries consistently need life sciences positions.

Find out what skills and certifications employers are looking for in life sciences jobs in 2025. Be sure to include any of these valuable skills on your resume if your are looking for a job in the life sciences industry.

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