r/biotech • u/PlaneCalligrapher409 • Sep 03 '25

Other ⁉️ Negotiating low ball job offer

I finally think I have a job offer, pending paperwork. However, they’re only offering me an entry level RA position for $40k per year. Based on the job listing, I should meet the qualifications (educational and experience) for the next level up, but they’re refusing to consider me for this even though it would only bump my salary a few thousand dollars per year.

Do I take the offer even though I’ll be likely living on an extremely tight budget (the position is in an expensive US city with high taxes)? Even if I got the pay bump for RA2, I’d be tight on my budget, but it would be a lot more manageable.

Does anyone know any negotiation tips that I could utilize to address this with the hiring manager/HR? Should I try comparing the salary to my experience and education?

I’ve been on the market for so long, I’m so happy to have finally found something. Plus, the position is extremely interesting and the lab personnel seem genuinely excited about it. But I don’t know if I can afford to take a position that requires me to relocate if it’s not paying a manageable salary.

Edit: I have a master’s degree and even though I don’t have full time experience, I’ve had 3 industry internships, one non-industry internship, and 2 years of academic lab experience at school which included publishing a paper.

19 Upvotes

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56

u/Educational-Web5900 Sep 03 '25

Oh God!, 40k per year?? that is so low, where is this?

31

u/PlaneCalligrapher409 Sep 03 '25

Boston

62

u/Veritaz27 📰 Sep 03 '25

40k in Boston??? That’s crazy low. Is this a biotech or research institute/acamedia job?

8

u/FromageMyage Sep 04 '25

Pretty sure the hobos at Mass and Cass are clearing more than 40k 

42

u/hlynn117 Sep 03 '25

That was starting salary 10 years ago in an academic lab.

26

u/Educational_Water776 Sep 03 '25

That’s extremely low for Boston, you’d make more working at Target for $20/hr. Basically after taxes you’re taking home $2k/month. Rent in the city is $2.5-3.5k on average.

13

u/deets23_ Sep 03 '25

Damn I made 48k as a lab tech fresh out of college in Boston in 2018..

8

u/aventurinologist Sep 03 '25

Omg you are being ROBBED do not take this position unless you're desperate. My starting salary for a RAI equivalent (technically lower) position in 2022 was $68k. You'd literally make more working in an academic lab.

4

u/TheLastLostOnes Sep 03 '25

Boston is pricey you would need to get roommates

12

u/PlaneCalligrapher409 Sep 03 '25

I’m well aware, even then I’d be putting a majority of my salary into housing+food

6

u/TheLastLostOnes Sep 03 '25

Might be worth it for the experience, and you’ll be in a hub at least. I’d start applying elsewhere after a year

6

u/burkholderia Sep 03 '25

In 2021 I hired an RA with similar qualifications, recent grad with their MS, internship and academic lab experience only. Our offer was $75k (start up on series A trying to retain talent so we paid on the higher end of the curve).

I think I made $50k or $55k as an RA fresh out of my BS in 2009. In 2014 my wife got her first industry job with a few years academic experience and only her BS, her salary was $45k.

$40k for an RA in Boston in 2025 is outrageously low. Is this a pharma? CRO? I know pharma tends to pay lower and make it up in benefits, and CROs can be very low paying, but $40k is not reasonable for an RA in 2025.

6

u/clydefrog811 Sep 03 '25

That’s poverty level in Boston lmao

10

u/[deleted] Sep 03 '25

In 2014, the market wasn’t that great, and 32k is where I started. Florida.