Is Pharmaceuticals A Good Career Path? (10 Jobs In Pharmaceuticals: Best-Paying + Entry-Level)

Yes, Pharmaceuticals is a good career path. As a professional in Pharmaceuticals, you’ll be at the forefront of treating patients. That’s because you’ll spend your time discovering, developing, producing, and marketing drugs that can be used as effective medications.

Of course, such a job comes with a massive responsibility, as in many cases, the lives of patients depend on you doing your work correctly. However, the diligence and knowledge needed to perform the role successfully also comes with the benefit of typically paying higher than the average American salary of $53,000 per year.

Luckily, if you’re interested in any of these jobs, which all pay more than the average American salary, this article will cover everything you need to know. From learning about the various Pharmaceuticals career paths on the market to what you need to do to achieve one, let’s dive in.

The 7 Best-Paying Jobs in Pharmaceuticals

Many Pharmaceuticals jobs do pay higher than the average U.S. income of just over $53,000 per year, with some paying over $100,000 per year. With that in mind, this section will dive into the highest-paying Pharmaceuticals jobs out there. Just remember that with higher pay typically comes unique education and experience requirements.

Overall though, here are the best-paying Pharmaceuticals jobs, according to our research:

1. Principal Scientist

   Average Annual Salary: $131,000
   Jobs Available: 96,600
   Job Growth: 8%

   Principal Scientists are paid well because they’re responsible for planning and performing experiments and investigations. Without them, we likely wouldn’t have many of the vital medications we use daily.

   Ultimately, the goal of Principle Scientists within the Pharmaceuticals industry is to perform pharmacology experiments that will provide new information about a drug or phenomena. With that in mind, this job requires a thorough understanding of not only what’s being experimented on but also the laws and regulations that dictate a medication’s use.

   While Principal Scientists do get paid a great deal, it’s important to note that this comes with the necessity to work long hours in the lab. Often, urgent projects may also keep you at work for extra hours or on weekends. However, if this isn’t a dealbreaker for you, becoming a Principal Scientist is a highly rewarding career.

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2. Validation Manager

   Average Annual Salary: $126,000
   Jobs Available: 8,600
   Job Growth: 1%

   Validation Managers are highly involved in the manufacturing process of a pharmaceutical drug to ensure that all company and government standards are followed during its production. This can be done through things like quality analysis (QA) tests, documenting compliance, and improving efficiency on the assembly line.

   Overall, the goal of a Validation Manager is to ensure a drug or any other pharmaceutical product is produced safely and correctly. Not only does this ensure that the company and government are happy, but also that the patients receiving the product are safe.

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3. Medical Science Liaison

   Average Annual Salary: $114,000
   Jobs Available: 49,100
   Job Growth: 8%

   As professional mediators, Medical Science Liaisons communicate with medical researchers and healthcare professionals. They serve as a bridge of information between the two, so everyone knows about the latest research developments, up-to-date approaches to diseases and their treatments, and results of new clinical trials.

   Usually, this type of work is carried out at conferences, where these professionals present the information they’ve gathered to pharmaceutical product teams, physicians, and other medical personnel. In turn, their goal is to be rewarded with new clients and marketplaces for the product they’ve been tasked with discussing.

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4. Senior Quality Specialist

   Average Annual Salary: $93,000
   Jobs Available: 69,900
   Job Growth: 8%

   As the title would suggest, this job is all about maintaining quality control. Typically, this is done by overseeing a production line or factory to ensure all products meet the appropriate standards and regulations. They may test every product individually or pick it out of a batch. Defective products are either destroyed or broken down and remade.

   Essentially, a Senior Quality Specialist is responsible for ensuring that products are made perfectly. To do so, some of the methods at their disposal include testing products (individually or in entire batches), destroying faulty products, and filing reports when needed.

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5. Clinical Research Scientist

   Average Annual Salary: $92,000
   Jobs Available: 144,300
   Job Growth: 6%

   Spending most of their time in laboratories, Clinical Research Scientists conduct medical research. In the Pharmaceutical industry, the purpose of this research is usually to find more secure ways of diagnosing and treating diseases.

   Because potentially deadly diseases are involved, these professionals work in a highly regulated environment and must follow serious safety measures. This also includes important steps like documenting daily activities and recording all results, no matter how small.

   There are many jobs available in this field, likely due to its broad reach. Clinical Research Scientists can work anywhere from pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, universities, or government agencies.

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6. Clinical Trial Manager

   Average Annual Salary: $91,000
   Jobs Available: 69,800
   Job Growth: 6%

   When medicine is newly created, it’s the role of a Clinical Trial Manager to test these medicines on human beings. Due to the somewhat unpredictable nature of these trials, it’s crucial that these professionals manage them safely and effectively.

   Some common tasks Clinical Trial Managers are responsible for include: clinical operations, trials of medicines, overseeing clinical policies, managing regulatory documents, hiring new staff, and managing staff.

   Overall, Clinical Trial Managers have a lot on their shoulders, especially concerning the health and safety of trial participants. However, this is also a highly rewarding role that can make a positive difference in many people’s lives.

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7. Sales Manager

   Average Annual Salary: $90,000
   Jobs Available: 149,800
   Job Growth: 5%

   A Sales Manager might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Pharmaceuticals, but it’s nonetheless a vital job for the industry.

   This professional acts as a team leader who oversees all other staff members in the sales department. They spend their time ensuring quotas are met, approving discounts and promotions, contacting potential leads, and more.

   In the context of Pharmaceuticals, this can include tasks like contacting potential buyers, creating advertisements for medicine, and other tasks that help market the medicine.

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3 Entry-Level Jobs in Pharmaceuticals

There are some options for Pharmaceutical jobs that have minimal education requirements, allowing you to earn a respectable wage with no more than a High School diploma or Associate’s degree. For more information about the best entry-level jobs in the industry, here are our top three picks:

1. Calibration Technician

   Average Annual Salary: $48,000
   Jobs Available: 41,300
   Job Growth: N/A

   With 59% of Calibration Technicians having either a High School Diploma or an Associate’s degree as their highest level of education, this is a great, high-paying entry-level position. Typically, this job entails conducting routine testing, inspecting, maintaining, and repairing manufacturing equipment.

   This job is especially important for the Pharmaceutical industry, as these professionals ensure all measurements taken by equipment are done accurately, as well as ensuring that other workers are complying with good calibration practices. All in all, this job plays an essential role in the safe production of pharmaceutical products.

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2. Maintenance Technician

   Average Annual Salary: $43,000
   Jobs Available: 190,200
   Job Growth: 6%

   Even the most experienced Scientists rely on machines and other equipment for their jobs, and Maintenance Technicians in the Pharmaceutical industry ensure those machines are running correctly. This includes repairing and maintaining things like tablet coating machines, powder mixers, capsule filling machines, rotary tablet presses, roller mills, and many more.

   Luckily, the skills needed to perform these vital repairs can be learned with only a High School Diploma or two-year degree.

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3. Packaging Operator

   Average Annual Salary: $34,000
   Jobs Available: 78,700
   Job Growth: N/A

   Taking all the time to produce a new medicine and barter deals with clients is useless if the product isn’t packaged properly. The fact is that many medicines are sensitive to temperature, humidity, and a whole host of other factors. With that in mind, Packaging Operators are experts in knowing the best way to package these particular products.

   Overall, a Packaging Operator’s tasks include ensuring quality and protection when packing products for shipping. And while this does require some attention to detail, a considerable 39% of those currently in this field only needed a High School Diploma to start their career.

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Why Choose a Career in Pharmaceuticals?

There are many reasons why someone might want to pursue a career in Pharmaceuticals. So, to know if you’re a good fit for the industry, here are some important factors to consider:

• Flexible job opportunities. Despite the common assumption that Pharmaceuticals is a limited industry, there are actually tons of job types out there in the industry. For example, you can have a successful Pharmaceuticals career working in:

  • Research and development

  • Clinical trials

  • Production and manufacturing

  • Regulatory affairs

  • Validation

  • Quality assurance and control

  • Operations

  • Sales and marketing

• Research opportunities. As a scientist or someone running clinical trials, you have the amazing opportunity to perform research that’s never been done before. Therefore, if you have a thirst for knowledge or solving problems, a job in Pharmaceuticals might be perfect for you.

• Access to new technology. New technology is always exciting, and as a Pharmaceuticals worker, you’ll have access to some of the most state-of-the-art machines in the world.

• Making a difference. Developing a new medicine can make a huge difference in the lives of Americans and people all over the world. After all, these medicines can help people deal with chronic illnesses, recover from debilitating diseases, and more.

• Networking. Many Pharmaceutical jobs, and especially marketing jobs, allow you to network with healthcare professionals and medical researchers from all over the country. All of this can help boost your career and set you up for new opportunities in the future.

• Impressive salaries. A large portion of the jobs in Pharmaceuticals consistently pay more than $60,000 per year, with some even paying as high as $130,000. In fact, almost all of the jobs on our list pay more than $80,000 per year or 50% more than the average U.S. salary.

• Teamwork. If you thrive in a team-oriented environment, then pursuing a career in Pharmaceuticals might be perfect for you. Whether you’re working as a research scientist, in clinical trials, or within the manufacturing process, most jobs in this industry will require you to work in a team.

Education and Certification Requirements for a Career in Pharmaceuticals

Pharmaceuticals is an important U.S. industry, and therefore, education requirements will vary depending on the career you’re interested in. However, here are some general facts about what you should expect:

• You’ll likely need a Bachelor’s degree. While not every career in Pharmaceuticals requires you to have a Bachelor’s degree, this is the most common degree earned by workers in the industry.

  For example, 51% of Principle Scientists, 71% of Validation Managers, and 52% of Medical Science Liaisons have a Bachelor’s as their highest level of education.

• Master’s and Doctorate degrees are a plus. You won’t necessarily need a Master’s or Doctorate degree to start your career, but having one will make it far easier to earn those impressive salaries.

  Overall, the most common advanced degrees pursued by Pharmaceuticals workers include Chemistry, Biology (or Biochemistry), Business, Nursing, and Pharmacy degrees.

• Certifications. Not all jobs in Pharmaceuticals require certifications, but they can be a huge bonus whether you have a Master’s degree or High School Diploma. Some of the most commonly earned certifications include:

  • Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT)

  • Board Certified Medication Therapy Management Specialists (BCMTMS)

  • Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP)

  • Board Certified Nuclear Pharmacist (BCNP)

  • Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (CGP)

  • Board Certified Psychiatric Pharmacist (BCPP)

What Do People Working In Pharmaceuticals Do?

Pharmaceuticals workers play a crucial role in researching, creating, testing, and ultimately delivering new medicines to the public. Understandably, this is a huge industry, and there are many jobs available at every step of the process.

Without Pharmaceuticals workers, U.S. citizens wouldn’t have access to the wide range of invaluable medications we rely on today. From insulin to anti-depressants, we can thank Pharmaceutical workers for many of these advancements in medical technology.

Of course, working with diseases and sensitive drugs requires a vast understanding of not only those materials themselves but also the state and federal regulations that inform ethical research and experimentation. That means Pharmaceutical workers need to have an incredible wealth of knowledge and attention to detail.

Overall, succeeding as a Pharmaceuticals worker requires you to have exceptional attention to detail, teamwork skills, and a thirst for new knowledge. So if that sounds like you, you can likely learn what you need to pursue a successful Pharmaceuticals career, even with no experience.

Author

Jack Flynn

Jack Flynn is a writer for Zippia. In his professional career he’s written over 100 research papers, articles and blog posts. Some of his most popular published works include his writing about economic terms and research into job classifications. Jack received his BS from Hampshire College.