Biotechnology Production Workers

Production workers in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, which includes biotechnology production workers, averaged approximately $25.05 per hour in May 2023 (or $52,100 annually), according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The pay range for these employees is broad, depending on the size of the firm, the shift to which the worker is assigned, years at the company, and the geographic location of the plant. Some workers may earn as little as minimum wage ($7.25 an hour, or $15,080 annually). Overtime compensation is usually equal to time and a half or double time.

The DOL also reports the following median hourly earnings for pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing production workers in May 2023: first-line supervisors of production and operating workers, $37.97 ($80,510 annually); chemical equipment operators and tenders, $23.13 ($50,760 annually); inspectors, testers, sorters, samplers, and weighers, $26.19 ($58,070 annually); mixing and blending machine setters, operators, and tenders, $21.29 ($47,980 annually); and packaging and filling machine operators and tenders, $19.14 ($43,160 annually).

All full-time workers, regardless of their work specialty, receive paid vacations, medical and dental insurance, paid sick and personal days, pension plans, and life insurance. Some workers may also be offered profit-sharing, savings plans, and reimbursement for job-related education.