Biotech & Life Science

Workforce and education trends for biotech and life sciences include:

  • This technology-intensive cluster requires a wide range of skilled workers and education levels range from community college graduates to post-doctorates
  • Encourage the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to facilitate statewide articulation agreements between education and training institutions that include workforce programs and not just academic programs
  • Increase public awareness of career lattice opportunities starting in middle school through adults transitioning into new positions
  • Promote programs where industry trains the trainer while training the students
  • Create paid internship opportunities for both faculty and students starting at the high school level

What is Biotechnology?
For a brief introduction to Biotechnology click here to learn more.


Texas has a dynamic biotechnology marketplace with an estimated economic impact of $75 billion. The state is home to over 4,100 biotechnology, biomedical research, business and government consortia, medical manufacturing companies, and world-class research facilities, employing over 104,400 at an average annual salary of over $67,300. A significant number of top global biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies have Texas locations.  Government support; a highly trained work force, excellent educational, medical, and research institutions; a first-rate transportation and logistics infrastructure; and a top ranked business climate all strengthen the state’s status as a biotechnology leader.

For a complete report on the Biotechnology in the State of Texas, click here: http://www.texaswideopenforbusiness.com/assets/documents/biotech/Texas_Biotech_Industry_Report.pdf
For information about careers in the Biotechnology industry, explore the LifeWorks interactive website: http://science.education.nih.gov/LifeWorks.nsf/feature/indexhtm

LifeWorks is an interactive career exploration web site for middle and high school students to browse for information on more than 100 medical science and health careers by title, education required, interest area, or median salary. The site complements its factual career data by highlighting true stories of successful people illustrating the variety of real-life career pathways, from the carefully planned to the unpredictable.

For more information, visit your local Workforce Solutions Center.

Interested in a Career in Healthcare? Click on the banner below to access the Explore Health Careers website and download your free Health Career Planning Kit today!