Consider an Allied Health Career in Biomanufacturing

By Gina Wynn

If you are passionate about science but don’t have the time or financial resources to commit to years of university study, a career in biomanufacturing may be right for you. With the amount of science knowledge you can obtain at a community college, you can embark on a career in a growing market sector that offers competitive pay, job security, and an opportunity to contribute to society.

What Is Biomanufacturing?

Biomanufacturing technology uses nature-based tools and materials—microorganisms, enzymes, and the fermentation process—to develop new products or improve upon existing ones. Biomanufacturing methods are used to produce biofuels, biopharmaceuticals, chemicals, human tissues, industrial enzymes, replacement organs, and vaccines, among other products. Because biomanufacturing works using natural processes, it typically requires less energy than the traditional synthetic processes that are often used to produce everyday items like plastics, soaps, textiles, and preservatives in food.

Appreciation for the value of biotechnology has been on the rise since the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a race for vaccine development. Advancements in cell and gene therapy—like the development of new treatments for genetic vision loss and some cancers—have also ignited interest in the possible biotechnological breakthroughs of the future.

A Booming Bioeconomy

Despite the economic uncertainty left in the wake of the pandemic, the biomanufacturing sector of the life sciences industry is thriving. Companies are struggling to hire enough biotechnicians to adequately staff their production facilities. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts alone is planning to add at least 20,000 life sciences jobs by the end of 2024—a 23 percent increase from 2020—according to a 2021 report from Massachusetts Biotechnology Education Foundation (MassBioEd).

Companies like Ginkgo Bioworks in Boston expect to hire dozens of people over the next few years to run fermentation tanks, operate cell-growing machinery, and sequence DNA, according to the Chemical & Engineering News article “Help wanted in biomanufacturing” by Matt Blois.

In California, Maryland, North Carolina, and other states, private companies, industry groups, and educational institutions are funding short-term 10- to 12-week training programs to help swiftly prepare new talent to join the biomanufacturing workforce. And many companies formalize on-the-job learning in apprenticeship programs.

Long-Term Earning Potential

Depending on where you live, the amount of training you receive, and your experience, the average entry-level biopharma manufacturing salary ranges from $45,000 to $60,000 per year, according to the North Carolina Biotechnology Center article “Top 5 Reasons to Pivot Into a Biomanufacturing Career” by Mindy Hamlin. She also reported that the average North Carolina biopharma manufacturing salary is $97,575, which is more than twice the state’s average private-sector salary.

Benefits to the Planet

A biomanufacturing career not only offers competitive pay and an opportunity to be part of an expanding industry, it may also provide lifelong fulfillment. Biotechnology production methods can help the environment by reducing energy use, and products created through biotechnology are easier to dispose of and safer to recycle, according to the Advanced Technology Services article “Biomanufacturing: How Biology is Driving Manufacturing into the Future.” Advancements in biomanufacturing are also enabling medical innovations and treatments that could positively impact public health on a global scale.

To learn more about how you can benefit from a career in biomanufacturing, speak with a school or career counselor, visit community college websites, and browse internet resources that highlight programs being offered nationwide.