Biostats Masters and Working in Industry?

[jpmangogg]

What role does the institution in which you received your masters degree play in one's competitiveness in the job market/or one's starting/median salary? 

 

I am asking this because in the research I've been doing about programs, it seems like the lower ranked programs offer more funding. 

The degree requirements are for the most part the same across all programs (biostats courses, regression, survival analysis, SAS/R programming, etc). And most of them require/offer some kind of practicum or internship or consulting lab/experience. So to me, it seems like all masters students, regardless of the program, come out with more or less the same knowledge and skill set. 

 

I expect after a few years of work experience, the school in which one received their degree will not significantly affect their competitiveness and/or salary, but is it significant for new graduates and how?

 

 

[cyprusprior]

I'm currently in a stats masters program in the DC area. My experience is that most of the graduates stay in the DC area. So this suggests to me that the geographic location of where you do your masters will influence where you are able to find jobs.

[CommonerCoffee]

This is somewhat related but does anyone know how the industry job market differs for those who hold a Masters and those who hold a PhD?

Things like salary, location options, what ceilings are present and anything else relevant?

[bedmas]

This is somewhat related but does anyone know how the industry job market differs for those who hold a Masters and those who hold a PhD?

Things like salary, location options, what ceilings are present and anything else relevant?

 

I went to a seminar given by a biostatistician last week and he literally said "jobs will advertise for you to have an msc, pay like you have an msc, but expect phd level work." it was pretty disheartening! i imagine the salary is much lower given just an msc.

[cyberwulf]

Masters graduates from our department typically see starting salaries ranging from 50-75k, while PhD grads who go to industry start at 100-120k.

[CommonerCoffee]

Masters graduates from our department typically see starting salaries ranging from 50-75k, while PhD grads who go to industry start at 100-120k.

 

 

I went to a seminar given by a biostatistician last week and he literally said "jobs will advertise for you to have an msc, pay like you have an msc, but expect phd level work." it was pretty disheartening! i imagine the salary is much lower given just an msc.

 

Ah, it sounds like the job market for PhD graduates is significantly better. Not going to lie, 50k is disappointing to hear for someone with a Masters degree. Thank you very much for sharing this information.

[bedmas]

Masters graduates from our department typically see starting salaries ranging from 50-75k, while PhD grads who go to industry start at 100-120k.

 

Can you speak to the salary for non-biostatistician stat grads in industry?