Nonprofit organizations are also located here, supporting patients and research into diseases and medical conditions ranging from Alzheimer’s and autism to brain injury, cancer, diabetes, leukemia, and more. Westchester is home to Regeneron, New York State’s largest life sciences company, which employs more than 4,000 people in the county. With so many diverse employment options, the life sciences are an excellent career choice for Westchester jobseekers.
Read on for more detail on jobs, trainings, and opportunities in this sector.
3 Important Jobs
These jobs pay well and are set to grow between 2020 and 2030 in the Hudson Valley (Source: NYS Department of Labor)
1. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians
What do they do? Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians perform medical laboratory tests for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease.
- Required education: Bachelor’s degree
- Projected growth: 17.4%
- Entry-level salary: $48,335
- Median salary: $81,450
2. Chemists
What do they do? Conduct qualitative and quantitative chemical analyses or experiments in laboratories for quality or process control or to develop new products or knowledge.
- Required education: Bachelor’s degree
- Projected growth: 14.9%
- Entry-level salary: $58,744
- Median salary: $84,502
3. Medical Scientists
What do they do? Medical scientists conduct research aimed at improving overall human health.
- Required education: Doctoral or professional degree
- Projected growth: 33.9%
- Entry-level salary: $84,751
- Experienced salary: $161,589
Q&A: Bridget Gibbons, Director of Economic Development, and Deborah Novick, Director of Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Westchester County
What are some of the fastest-growing aspects of life sciences in Westchester?
DN: There are three: neurology, robotics, and cell and gene therapy. The very strong neurology sector, anchored by Burke Neurological Institute, focuses on neurological conditions and brain injuries and is doing innovative work. Dr. Gary Gibson there obtained a $40 million grant to study Alzheimer’s disease. Several other companies are also working on different approaches for treating Alzheimer’s. Also, many startups are focused on autism, pain management, or appropriate diagnoses of chronic pain.
Cell and gene therapy is obviously anchored by Regeneron, which is developing many drugs, including one to treat wet macular degeneration, and other companies are working on eye-related diseases. The New York Blood Center moved their headquarters to a large campus in Rye, and anything having to do with blood diseases will be very important. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is also headquartered here.
BG: WMCHealth and their work in cell and tissue engineering, led by Dr. Mitchell Cairo, are doing amazing things on sickle cell disease, which can actually be cured through cell and gene therapy. And in robotics, Clarapath has relocated to Westchester from Manhattan. Burke also ties in with medical robotics, as brain injury can lead to paralysis or reduced function, and several medical robotics companies have come through our accelerator program.
Q: What kinds of jobs will emerge from this growth?
BG: The fundamental job we are focusing on in 2025 is clinical lab technician. You don’t need an advanced degree for it and it is in high demand. In fact, it is the number-one gap employers noted in our survey. (See Catalyst link below for more information. ) Other technicians in demand include phlebotomists and science technicians. We have training programs in the county for those jobs that don’t require advanced degrees.
We also need folks with more of a science background, like clinical lab scientists, health services management, health IT, radiological technician, all of which require an associate’s degree and certification or a bachelor’s degree. People with that training are in high demand. Computer science and engineering positions need a bachelor’s or master’s. In general, a STEM education will be widely in demand across all sectors of life sciences.
Who should consider a career in the life sciences field?
BG: Another gap that surfaced in our report is that high school kids don’t understand what life sciences is. A lot of adults don’t understand, either. So, we are working with schools in the county to come up with some kind of program to give exposure to what it means to work in life science. It’s not all lab work; you are not necessarily wearing a white lab coat.
DN: Career awareness is a big factor, and we have plans for addressing that. I also think people don’t realize that if you want to go into lawyering or accounting, or marketing and communications, you could still end up in the life sciences field because companies in the field all have those operational areas.
Data science is also important. A lot of drug discovery is now done by quantitative analysis skills and AI. You don’t need biology skills to have a very successful career without ever touching a Bunsen burner. In robotics, that’s engineering, so you can be in [life sciences] and not know that much about biology.
So, almost everyone should consider a career here. Everything you can learn to do has a place. If you are interested in human health, you don’t have to be a doctor. You can be any other thing and still contribute to health.
Links and Resources
Iona University
Iona University offers a number of degree programs that can pave the way to life sciences careers, including bachelor’s degrees in biology and biochemistry.
Manhattanville University
Biomedical sciences and biochemistry are a major focus at Manhattanville, which offers different degree options in these and other related disciplines.
Mercy University
A Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences is among the life sciences options available at Mercy.
Westchester Catalyst
Workforce and economic development in the life sciences is a major focus for Westchester County. Learn more about growth and opportunities in this sector, including a 2024 report on Westchester’s life sciences potential and an interactive map that shows where life sciences employers are located.
Related: Yonkers Industrial Development Agency Continues to Shatter Records
