Life Sciences

With a large industry base, highly skilled workforce and direct access to one of the most extensive transportation systems in the country, Ogden is a leading location for the life sciences industry. The industry is comprised of three niche sectors: medical equipment and supplies manufacturing, pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, and drugs and druggists’ sundries wholesalers. Key industry data is presented below (source: JobsEQ, Q4 2022).

Life Sciences by the Numbers

  • 254 - Businesses

  • 5,328 - Jobs

  • 1.09 - LQ

  • $72,468 - Wages Per Job

  • 1.8% - Total Regional Employment

Industry Sectors

Industry Empl. LQ Avg. Ann. Wage
Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing 1,647 6.24 $75,810
Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing 1,375 3.25 $56,998
Medicinal and Botanical Manufacturing 721 9.37 $67,091
Dental Laboratories 111 1.16 $39,915
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) 260 0.26 $106,355
Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers 248 0.53 $76,033
Testing Laboratories and Services 225 .67 $84,585
Medical Laboratories 139 0.31 $110,460

Workforce

Occupation Empl. Avg. Wage
Team Assemblers 243 $38,600
Packaging and Filing Machine Operators and Tenders 311 $33,000
Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers 202 $52,500
General and Operations Managers 216 $115,000
Dental Laboratory Technicians 148 $44,900
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products 117 $95,100
First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers 155 $69,800
Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders  150 $38,800

Major Employers

Company Employees
Fresenius USA Manufacturing 1,000 to 1,999
Nutraceutical 1,000 to 1,999
Capstone Nutrition 500 to 999
Global Health Industries 100 to 249
Thermo Fisher Scientific 250 to 499
Mineral Resources International 20 to 49
Systemic Formulas 50 to 99
Merical 100 to 249

Education & Training

Over 2,500 students complete engineering and manufacturing programs at area colleges each year. These colleges include:

  • Weber State University
  • Utah State University
  • University of Utah
  • Bridgerland, Davis, and Ogden-Weber technical colleges
  • Salt Lake Community College

Pathway programs at local high schools include Advanced Composites, Engineering, and Information Technology. Apprenticeships developed by industry associations receive state funding (e.g., Machine Utah).

Life Sciences Related Regional Degree Completions 

  • Engineering: 2,188

  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies/Technicians: 1,096

  • Engineering Technologies: 730

  • Precision Production: 609

Industry data sources: JobsEQ Q4 2022; Utah Firm Find