JBRA Assisted Reproduction 2025;29(Suppl.2 SBRA 2025):215
Poster Presentation
29th Annual Congress of the SBRA. São Paulo/SP - Brazil, 2025
doi: 10.5935/1518-0557.20263868
P-203. Salaries and Performance: an analysis of the reality of embryologists in Brazil
Jonathan Boncristiano1, Bernardo Rodrigues Moura2,3, Luiz Mauro Oliveira Gomes4, Mariana Penha Nadai Sartori5, Edson Guimarães Lo Turco6, Patrícia Pinho França3, Fernando Prado Ferreira7
1 Gerar In Vitro - Vitoria da Conquista - BA – Brasil
2 Gerar In Vitro - Belo Horizonte - MG - Brasil
3 Pronúcleo - Belo Horizonte - MG - Brasil
4 Pronúcleo – São José dos Campos - SP - Brasil
5 Pronúcleo – Vila Velha - ES - Brasil
6 Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp) - São Paulo - Brasil
7 NeoVita - São Paulo – Brasil
Objective: This study aimed to map the compensation of embryologists in Brazil and analyze how factors such as hierarchical level, employment type, academic background, and workload influence salaries and job satisfaction. It also sought to understand professionals' perceptions regarding career growth opportunities and professional recognition.
Methods: An online questionnaire with 13 questions was distributed via social media and professional groups for seven days. A total of 223 responses were collected from embryologists at various career levels: assistant (13), junior (46), mid- level (48), senior (68), manager (37), and partner (11). Data analysis was based on descriptive statistics and AI-assisted automatic categorization of open-ended responses. To facilitate understanding for an international audience, salaries were converted to U. S. dollars based on the average exchange rate for the year 2024, which was approximately R$ 5.39 to $1 USD. Regarding employment types in Brazil:
• CLT (Consolidação das Leis do Trabalho) refers to formal employment under Brazilian labor laws, providing benefits such as paid vacation, 13th salary, job security, and health insurance.
• PJ (Pessoa Jurídica) refers to a self-employed or independent contractor arrangement where professionals provide services through their own company, without the same labor benefits. However, PJ workers have more flexibility in terms of work hours and potentially higher earnings due to lack of labor regulations.
Results: The sample included 223 embryologists: 13 assistants, 46 juniors, 48 mid-levels, 68 seniors, and 37 managers. Average years of experience ranged from 0.9 to 3.3 for assistants; 1.6 to 4.3 for juniors; 3.6 to 6.7 for mid-levels; over 10 years for seniors; and more than 11 years for managers. Among assistants, 6 had postgraduate degrees, 6 held bachelor’s degrees, and 1 had incomplete higher education. Salaries ranged from $292 to $490, with little variation by education level. Juniors with a bachelor’s degree (12) earned around $567, while those with postgraduate degrees (23) earned approximately $641. Professionals with a master’s or PhD (11) reached up to $747–$842. Among mid-levels, those with postgraduate degrees (30) had the highest average salaries ($929–$1,294), surpassing those with master’s or PhDs (13), who averaged around $1,089 with greater variation. Seniors with master’s degrees (23) earned up to $2,774, while those with PhDs earned between $1,759 and $2,119. Managers with postgraduate degrees (12) had the highest salaries, averaging $3,709, with outliers reaching $9,281. Those with master’s or PhDs (20) earned between $1,849 and $5,518, with less variation. Regarding employment type, among the 68 seniors, 17 were self-employed (PJ), earning a median of $2,774 (up to $9,281), while 51 were formally employed (CLT), earning $1,294 to $2,119. Among the 37 managers, 15 were PJ and 22 were CLT, both with a median of $1,849, though PJ professionals had greater salary dispersion.
Conclusion: Embryology in Brazil is emerging as a high-impact career, blending science, precision, and purpose. Despite existing challenges, it offers competitive pay, growth opportunities, and a vital role in helping make dreams come true. Being an embryologist is more than lab work — it’s participating in the beginning of life. With greater recognition, ongoing education, and career support, the field has everything it needs to become one of the most promising in healthcare. For those seeking purpose and passion in their work, embryology is a true calling.everything it needs to become one of the most promising in healthcare. For those seeking purpose and passion in their work, embryology is a true calling.