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The average salary for a pharmaceutical engineer is approximately $84,592 annually, translating to about $41 per hour. This figure varies based on factors such as geographic location, experience, and specific job responsibilities. For instance, entry-level positions may earn less, while those with advanced expertise can command higher compensation.
Salary ranges differ significantly across states. For example, states like California and New York often offer higher salaries compared to the national average, making them attractive locations for job seekers in the pharmaceutical engineering field. The demand for skilled professionals continues to rise, positioning this career path as a lucrative option for those with the right qualifications.
As you explore potential career opportunities, consider how various factors affect salary estimates. Experience plays a crucial role, with seasoned professionals seeing substantial increases in their earnings. Understanding these dynamics helps job seekers make informed decisions about their career paths.
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The average pharmaceutical engineer salary in Washington, Massachusetts, and California are the highest in the U.S. The lowest average pharmaceutical engineer salary states are Indiana, Arkansas, and Vermont.
| Rank | State | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | $121,158 | $58.25 |
| 2 | Massachusetts | $101,805 | $48.94 |
| 3 | Michigan | $92,028 | $44.24 |
| 4 | California | $99,276 | $47.73 |
| 5 | New Mexico | $97,769 | $47.00 |
| 6 | Utah | $89,846 | $43.20 |
| 7 | Nevada | $97,453 | $46.85 |
| 8 | Wyoming | $99,121 | $47.65 |
| 9 | Georgia | $89,493 | $43.03 |
| 10 | Arizona | $84,767 | $40.75 |
| 11 | Idaho | $93,514 | $44.96 |
| 12 | Colorado | $87,322 | $41.98 |
| 13 | Oklahoma | $90,689 | $43.60 |
| 14 | Virginia | $85,177 | $40.95 |
| 15 | Minnesota | $83,917 | $40.34 |
| 16 | Connecticut | $85,874 | $41.29 |
| 17 | New Jersey | $89,891 | $43.22 |
| 18 | North Carolina | $81,072 | $38.98 |
| 19 | District of Columbia | $85,536 | $41.12 |
| 20 | Missouri | $86,156 | $41.42 |
| 21 | Montana | $89,369 | $42.97 |
| 22 | North Dakota | $83,409 | $40.10 |
| 23 | Delaware | $81,072 | $38.98 |
| 24 | Wisconsin | $80,735 | $38.81 |
| 25 | Tennessee | $81,727 | $39.29 |
| 26 | Oregon | $78,784 | $37.88 |
| 27 | New Hampshire | $77,996 | $37.50 |
| 28 | Ohio | $77,348 | $37.19 |
| 29 | Maryland | $80,560 | $38.73 |
| 30 | New York | $82,754 | $39.79 |
| 31 | Mississippi | $79,226 | $38.09 |
| 32 | Texas | $77,866 | $37.44 |
| 33 | Pennsylvania | $77,777 | $37.39 |
| 34 | Alabama | $76,078 | $36.58 |
| 35 | Rhode Island | $78,901 | $37.93 |
| 36 | West Virginia | $76,363 | $36.71 |
| 37 | Alaska | $82,070 | $39.46 |
| 38 | Maine | $77,682 | $37.35 |
| 39 | Kentucky | $74,110 | $35.63 |
| 40 | South Carolina | $74,178 | $35.66 |
| 41 | Indiana | $72,050 | $34.64 |
| 42 | Nebraska | $73,801 | $35.48 |
| 43 | South Dakota | $73,780 | $35.47 |
| 44 | Illinois | $72,860 | $35.03 |
| 45 | Arkansas | $69,223 | $33.28 |
| 46 | Kansas | $72,742 | $34.97 |
| 47 | Louisiana | $74,060 | $35.61 |
| 48 | Florida | $62,760 | $30.17 |
| 49 | Vermont | $68,303 | $32.84 |
| 50 | Iowa | $67,843 | $32.62 |
| 51 | Hawaii | $62,422 | $30.01 |
The highest-paying cities for pharmaceutical engineers are Foster City, CA, Marlborough, MA, and North Andover, MA.
| Rank | City | Avg. salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foster City, CA | $108,915 | $52.36 |
| 2 | Marlborough, MA | $101,739 | $48.91 |
| 3 | North Andover, MA | $100,988 | $48.55 |
| 4 | Thousand Oaks, CA | $96,813 | $46.54 |
| 5 | East Windsor, NJ | $89,906 | $43.22 |
| 6 | Piscataway, NJ | $89,824 | $43.18 |
| 7 | Willowbrook, IL | $72,911 | $35.05 |
A pharmaceutical engineer's salary ranges from $58,000 a year at the 10th percentile to $121,000 at the 90th percentile.

| Percentile | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90th Percentile | $121,000 | $10,083 | $58 |
| 75th Percentile | $102,000 | $8,500 | $49 |
| Average | $84,592 | $7,049 | $41 |
| 25th Percentile | $69,000 | $5,750 | $33 |
| 10th Percentile | $58,000 | $4,833 | $28 |
The highest paying types of pharmaceutical engineers are manager, quality engineer, reliability engineer, and senior process engineer.
| Job title | Annual salary | Monthly salary | Hourly rate | Job openings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing Engineering Internship | $53,047 | $4,421 | $25.50 | 125,868 |
| Research And Development Engineer | $100,169 | $8,347 | $48.16 | 187,910 |
| Reliability Engineer | $105,551 | $8,796 | $50.75 | 44,471 |
| Engineer | $92,076 | $7,673 | $44.27 | 618,207 |
| Co-Operations Engineer | $42,618 | $3,552 | $20.49 | 86,804 |
| Product Development Engineer | $86,075 | $7,173 | $41.38 | 202,155 |
Top companies hiring pharmaceutical engineers now:
Pharmaceutical engineer salaries at Gilead Sciences and PuraCap are the highest-paying according to our most recent salary estimates. In addition, the average pharmaceutical engineer salary at companies like Aurobindo Pharma USA and Eurofins are highly competitive.
| Rank | Company | Average salary | Hourly rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gilead Sciences | $96,062 | $46.18 |
| 2 | PuraCap | $88,147 | $42.38 |
| 3 | Aurobindo Pharma USA | $87,297 | $41.97 |
| 4 | Eurofins | $86,426 | $41.55 |
| 5 | Hyde Engineering + Consulting | $86,075 | $41.38 |
| 6 | Lancaster | $83,724 | $40.25 |
| 7 | Ava | $66,476 | $31.96 |
The average pharmaceutical engineer salary has risen by $11,137 over the last ten years. In 2014, the average pharmaceutical engineer earned $73,455 annually, but today, they earn $84,592 a year. That works out to a 6% change in pay for pharmaceutical engineers over the last decade.
Compare pharmaceutical engineer salaries for cities or states with the national average over time.
Compare pharmaceutical engineer salaries for individual cities or states with the national average.
| Year | Avg. salary | Hourly rate | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $84,600 | $40.67 | +1.0% |
| 2025 | $83,700 | $40.24 | +1.1% |
| 2024 | $82,800 | $39.80 | +1.3% |
| 2023 | $81,700 | $39.27 | +1.8% |
| 2022 | $80,200 | $38.55 | +1.0% |
| Company | Job | Location | Date added | Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISPE International | Pharmaceutical MES Recipe Engineer | Bothell, WA | 10/23/2024 | $127,307 |
| Atrilogy Solutions Group | MES Engineer-Pharmaceutical | Bothell, WA | 10/17/2024 | $125,220 |
| Atrilogy Solutions Group | RA III, Antibody Discovery & Engineering-Pharmaceutical | Bothell, WA | 09/25/2024 | $83,480 |
| Atrilogy Solutions Group | RA III, Antibody Discovery & Engineering-Pharmaceutical | Bothell, WA | 09/11/2024 | $83,480 |
| Gilead Sciences, Inc. | SR. Pharmaceutical Engineer 1 | Foster City, CA | 08/13/2024 | $141,992 |
| Ava, Inc. | Senior Pharmaceutical Engineer | Willowbrook, IL | 08/13/2024 | $115,066 |
| Belcan | Engineer-Pharmaceutical | Thousand Oaks, CA | 05/15/2024 | $85,692 |
| Belcan | Engineer-Pharmaceutical | Thousand Oaks, CA | 05/10/2024 | $85,692 |
| Belcan | Engineer-Pharmaceutical | Boston, MA | 05/03/2024 | $89,908 |
| Belcan | Engineer-Pharmaceutical | Boston, MA | 05/03/2024 | $89,908 |
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