Average salary for biotechnologist across European countries (Ireland, UK, France, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland)
This includes roles such as Chief
Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Chief Scientific
Officer (CSO), Chief Operational Officer (COO), and Chief Financial
Officer (CFO).
In short, the people filling these roles are at the very top of the hierarchy, reporting directly to the Board of Directors. They have total responsibility for their respective domains.
CEOs and Managing Directors are a special case. As they are in charge of managing entire companies and are often the public face of their organizations, this is the highest paid role in a company and salary is usually negotiated based on the individual’s experience and accolades.
These roles report to top-tier management and often carry responsibility for entire divisions. For example, a company that focuses on infectious disease and diabetes will likely have a VP of R&D for each of these divisions.
Other roles in this category include Head of Medical Affairs, Head of Pharmaceuticals, VP Pharmacovigilance, Medical Director, Clinical Program Director.
This category is quite fluid and will differ depending on the company and its specific activities. Heads of Major Divisions are typically leading large groups of employees and report to the VPs of their respective areas. For example, a biopharmaceutical company will likely have heads for divisions such as raw materials, formulation, and finished products.
Other examples include Head of Pre Clinical Development and Head of Medical Liaisons.
Directors and Heads of Medium-Sized Units can be thought of as local VP, often heading up their respective area within a given site. Qualified Persons are individuals approved by local regulatory authorities, to ensure that quality matters are in compliance, and to sign off on product releases.
Examples in this category include Associate Pharmacovigilance Director and Clinical Operations Manager.
A Senior Manager typically oversees groups of managers within a specific area. For example, a Senior Line Manager would oversee the activities carried out on multiple assembly lines on one site. Other examples include Sales Manager, who oversees the activities of Area Sales Managers across a geographical region, and Brand Manager.
Individuals belonging to this category are typically leading small- to medium-sized teams of employees, including specialists, senior and entry-level staff. Alternatively, they are leading projects, which may also involve a certain amount of team leading, depending on the organization.
Examples include Quality Assurance Manager, Clinical Trials Manager, and Line and Warehouse Managers.
This category overlaps to some extent with the previous category. While a Principal Scientist isn’t necessarily a manager, they may have responsibility for and oversee certain tasks carried out by other team members, such as quality assays. The same can be said about Specialists.
Specialists and Principle Scientists often work very closely with Project Managers, Team Leaders, and Supervisors.
Individuals who enter the industry at entry level often progress to senior roles within 2-4 years. Those with PhDs and relevant experience may actually enter the industry at senior level, such as Senior Scientist.
Other examples include Clinical Research Associates II, Senior Clinical Research Associates, Marketing Executives, Technical Support Specialists, Senior QA Officers, Senior Regulatory Officers and Senior PV Officers.
These tend to be the way in for many graduates who don’t have PhDs or PhD-level graduates with no industrial experience.
Examples include Junior Scientists, Analytical Chemists, Clinical Research Associates I, Clinical Trial Coordinators, Clinical Trial Administrators, QA Officers, QC Analysts, Laboratory Technicians, Regulatory Affairs Associates, Production and Process Technicians, and PV Officers.
Although we can’t provide an average salary range for internships and graduate program participants, this category is worth mentioning because it is an important route into the biotech industry for many young professionals today. In this category the salary tends to be low but it can vary widely depending on the company.
In reality, the actual annual salary for any role will vary based on many factors, such as the specific industry area, the stage and size of the company (early-stage companies may pass less gross salary than established companies), and the geographic location.
Of course, your educational background, skill set and the extent of your experience also play a big role in the salary you might secure. So go polish those negotiating skills and make the most of your next biotech job.
In short, the people filling these roles are at the very top of the hierarchy, reporting directly to the Board of Directors. They have total responsibility for their respective domains.
CEOs and Managing Directors are a special case. As they are in charge of managing entire companies and are often the public face of their organizations, this is the highest paid role in a company and salary is usually negotiated based on the individual’s experience and accolades.
Vice Presidents
Average annual salary range: €120,000 – €149,000These roles report to top-tier management and often carry responsibility for entire divisions. For example, a company that focuses on infectious disease and diabetes will likely have a VP of R&D for each of these divisions.
Other roles in this category include Head of Medical Affairs, Head of Pharmaceuticals, VP Pharmacovigilance, Medical Director, Clinical Program Director.
Heads of Major Divisions
Average annual salary range: €91,000 – €118,000This category is quite fluid and will differ depending on the company and its specific activities. Heads of Major Divisions are typically leading large groups of employees and report to the VPs of their respective areas. For example, a biopharmaceutical company will likely have heads for divisions such as raw materials, formulation, and finished products.
Other examples include Head of Pre Clinical Development and Head of Medical Liaisons.
Directors, Qualified Persons and Heads of Medium-Sized Units
Average annual salary range: € 88,000 – €94,000Directors and Heads of Medium-Sized Units can be thought of as local VP, often heading up their respective area within a given site. Qualified Persons are individuals approved by local regulatory authorities, to ensure that quality matters are in compliance, and to sign off on product releases.
Examples in this category include Associate Pharmacovigilance Director and Clinical Operations Manager.
Senior Managers
Average annual salary range: €67,000 – €84,000A Senior Manager typically oversees groups of managers within a specific area. For example, a Senior Line Manager would oversee the activities carried out on multiple assembly lines on one site. Other examples include Sales Manager, who oversees the activities of Area Sales Managers across a geographical region, and Brand Manager.
Project Managers, Team Leaders and Supervisors
Average annual salary range: €59,000 – €71,000Individuals belonging to this category are typically leading small- to medium-sized teams of employees, including specialists, senior and entry-level staff. Alternatively, they are leading projects, which may also involve a certain amount of team leading, depending on the organization.
Examples include Quality Assurance Manager, Clinical Trials Manager, and Line and Warehouse Managers.
Specialists and Principal Scientists
Average annual salary range: €59,000 – €74,000This category overlaps to some extent with the previous category. While a Principal Scientist isn’t necessarily a manager, they may have responsibility for and oversee certain tasks carried out by other team members, such as quality assays. The same can be said about Specialists.
Specialists and Principle Scientists often work very closely with Project Managers, Team Leaders, and Supervisors.
Senior Staff
Average annual salary range: €50,000 – €60,000Individuals who enter the industry at entry level often progress to senior roles within 2-4 years. Those with PhDs and relevant experience may actually enter the industry at senior level, such as Senior Scientist.
Other examples include Clinical Research Associates II, Senior Clinical Research Associates, Marketing Executives, Technical Support Specialists, Senior QA Officers, Senior Regulatory Officers and Senior PV Officers.
Entry-Level Roles
Average annual salary range: €40,000 – €50,000These tend to be the way in for many graduates who don’t have PhDs or PhD-level graduates with no industrial experience.
Examples include Junior Scientists, Analytical Chemists, Clinical Research Associates I, Clinical Trial Coordinators, Clinical Trial Administrators, QA Officers, QC Analysts, Laboratory Technicians, Regulatory Affairs Associates, Production and Process Technicians, and PV Officers.
Interns and Graduate Programs
No data availableAlthough we can’t provide an average salary range for internships and graduate program participants, this category is worth mentioning because it is an important route into the biotech industry for many young professionals today. In this category the salary tends to be low but it can vary widely depending on the company.
There is no rule of thumb
The figures presented above represent the average salaries for biotech roles in the European countries included in the survey. Just as there is no fixed salary for any given role, the same set of tasks may constitute a different role depending on the country or company. Therefore, these figures should only be taken as a guide to help you get an idea of how much you can expect in a new position.In reality, the actual annual salary for any role will vary based on many factors, such as the specific industry area, the stage and size of the company (early-stage companies may pass less gross salary than established companies), and the geographic location.
Of course, your educational background, skill set and the extent of your experience also play a big role in the salary you might secure. So go polish those negotiating skills and make the most of your next biotech job.
Remember to look at the whole package
While the salary may be the deciding factor for many of us in the final stages of the jobseeking process, it’s important not to lose sight of the whole package. Depending on your circumstances, there may be perks in your contract that end up being worth more than your salary! For example:- Health insurance – this often extends to dependent children and spouses
- Relocation allowance
- Annual vacation days
- Possibility to work flexitime
- Work-from-home opportunities
- Subsidized childcare
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