When residents think about the industries shaping the future of Palm Beach County, life sciences may not be the first that comes to mind. But it should be. The sector is now home to 668 companies employing 7,740 people at an average annual salary of $132,396 — nearly double the county’s overall average wage and among the highest of any industry in the region.
Behind those numbers is a coordinated effort to make sure Palm Beach County continues to attract, retain, and expand life sciences employers. That work took another step forward today when the Life Science Advisory Council convened at the Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches for its latest meeting — bringing together the leaders shaping the sector’s next chapter.
A Council Focused on the Sector’s Future
Chaired by Gina Melby, CEO of the newly opened Alan B. Miller Medical Center, the Life Science Advisory Council is one of BDB’s most consequential industry-specific working groups. Its role is to steer the strategy that keeps Palm Beach County’s life sciences ecosystem competitive nationally — from prospect recruitment to workforce alignment to marketing.
Today’s meeting included:
- A BDB update on the latest economic development activity and the launch of a new Scientific Advisory Board tasked with vetting life sciences prospects considering relocation or expansion in the Palm Beaches
- A special presentation from David Kristjanson, Global Life Science Industry Lead for Project and Development Services at JLL, on how site selectors and brokers evaluate life sciences markets — and how Palm Beach County should position itself in that process
- A marketing update exploring how the sector can be presented to a broader national and international audience of employers, investors, and talent
Why This Matters for the Local Community
Life sciences careers in Palm Beach County are not abstract. They are lab technicians, biomedical engineers, pharmaceutical researchers, medical device specialists, clinical operations staff, and administrative professionals working at some of the most advanced organizations in the country. At an average salary of $132,396, they are the kind of jobs that keep young professionals from moving away for opportunity — and that give the next generation of Palm Beach County graduates a reason to consider staying.
Every life sciences company recruited or retained by BDB adds to a workforce that pays into the local economy, supports the local tax base, and strengthens the case for the next employer evaluating the region. When the Life Science Advisory Council sharpens its strategy, expands its Scientific Advisory Board, and refines how the sector is marketed, the impact reaches every resident, business, and student in the county.
The Business Development Board of the Palm Beaches is the official economic development organization for Palm Beach County, recruiting new business, assisting local companies with expansions, and retaining the quality industries that create career opportunities for current and future generations.
