When most people hear life sciences, they picture doctors, nurses, or scientists in white lab coats. They’re only seeing part of the picture. Behind every new medicine, medical device, diagnostic test, or breakthrough treatment is an entire workforce of people solving problems, building products, analyzing data, managing supply chains, operating advanced manufacturing facilities, developing software, and ensuring quality at every step.
That’s what makes Indiana’s life sciences industry one of the state’s most exciting career destinations.
Whether you’re interested in biology, engineering, technology, business, logistics, communications, or advanced manufacturing, there’s a good chance your skills have a place in life sciences.
Indiana is quietly leading one of America's fastest-growing industries
Indiana isn’t just participating in the life sciences economy. In many ways, it’s helping shape it. The state ranks No. 1 in the nation for both life sciences exports and pharmaceutical exports, supporting more than 70,000 life sciences jobs across 3,300+ companies and organizations. The average annual wage in the industry is approximately $177,000, reflecting the specialized skills these careers require. It’s also an industry that continues to grow.
Companies are investing billions of dollars in new facilities, expanding advanced manufacturing, accelerating biotechnology research, and using artificial intelligence to transform the discovery and production of medicines.
More than scientists
One of the biggest misconceptions about life sciences is that every job requires becoming a physician or research scientist. In reality, it takes thousands of professionals with different backgrounds to move a single product from discovery to the patient.
That includes careers in:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Engineering
- Automation and robots
- Quality assurance and quality control
- Information technology and cybersecurity
- Data analytics and artificial intelligence
- Sales and customer support
- Supply chain and logistics
- Project management
- Regulatory affairs
- Human resources
- Finance and accounting
- Marketing and communications
Ask ten people in Indiana’s life sciences industry how they got their start, and you’ll likely hear ten different stories. Some began with advanced degrees. Others found their way through technical education, internships, apprenticeships, or entry-level roles that grew over time. What many careers have in common isn’t where they started; it’s how they continue to grow.
Companies you've heard of - and many you haven't
Indiana is home to globally recognized employers, including Eli Lilly and Company, Roche Diagnostics, Cook Medical, Zimmer Biomet, Elanco, and an expanding network of biotechnology, radiopharmaceutical, diagnostics, and medical device companies. Together, they form one of the country’s most diverse life sciences ecosystems.
That diversity also means careers look very different from one company to the next. Some employees spend their days developing breakthrough medicines. Others maintain automated manufacturing systems, manage production schedules, analyze laboratory data, improve quality systems, or use artificial intelligence to solve complex problems. Their work may look different, but every role plays a part in bringing new ideas, technologies, and medicines from concept to patient.
Your first job doesn't have to be your forever job
One of the reasons life sciences appeals to so many early-career professionals is the opportunity to keep growing. Industries evolve, technologies change, new medicines are developed, and companies expand. But the skills you build in one role often open doors to another. That’s exactly what professionals like Andrea Faberlle-Diaz discovered.
She entered college knowing she loved science but unsure what career she wanted. A required internship introduced her to pharmaceutical manufacturing, and one conversation at a career fair eventually led her from Puerto Rico to Indiana, where she now supports advanced manufacturing operations at Eli Lilly.
Her story isn’t unusual. Many professionals in Indiana’s life sciences industry didn’t start with a detailed career blueprint. They started by exploring opportunities, asking questions, and gaining experience.
Start exploring now
Few people begin their careers with all of the answers. More often, they begin with a conversation at a career fair, an internship, a classroom project, or someone willing to show them what’s possible. Indiana’s life sciences industry is no different.
Whether your interests lean toward science, technology, engineering, advanced manufacturing, business, data, or problem-solving, there’s a place for people with different skills and different perspectives. The hardest part isn’t choosing your entire career today; it’s simply taking the first step to explore what’s possible.
