i'm sorry about your plight.. a degree holder doing job scope no different from my estate bangla workers. biology is really one dead industry in sillypore. i appreciate your efforts to draw out your own pay progression. if pay is a main concern, try to get out of biology. you have to forgo either passion or renumeration.

my advice is:

1. transit horizontally within your workplace.
2. take up other positions in public health.
3. take up teaching career

my friend in biology now doing research admin in a local uni.... occassionally have to teach or become teacher's assistant. paywise not too sure, but the job scope gives lots of room for future improvement.

if you need the money, stay on your current high paying job. btw, imho masters will not add much value to your pay package. cheers.