I’m currently feeling overwhelmed in my role as a manufacturing associate in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. I’ve been working with infectious diseases in BSL-2/3 level labs, but the situation at my company has become increasingly challenging. Since I started in the spring of 2025, I’ve noticed that my workload has ballooned due to ongoing layoffs. With fewer employees left, I find myself taking on the responsibilities of multiple roles, including quality control and customer service, all while earning less than I did as a lab tech at my community college. It’s disheartening to see temporary workers earning more than I do, especially given the extensive training I’ve completed—over 750+ trainings since I started. I feel like I’m constantly working hard without any clear path to promotion or a living wage, which adds to my exhaustion and burnout. I’m starting to question how to balance my efforts with the reality of my compensation. I’m curious to know how much others in similar roles are making and how they cope with the pressure. Sometimes it feels like the harder I work, the quicker I burn out, and I’m struggling to remind myself to act my wage.