20 Best Paying Jobs In Major Pharmaceuticals Industry 2024 | Pharmaceutical Career Paths

Published June 6, 2022 · · Updated May 30, 2024 · 8 minutes · by Kamerpower ·

20 Best Paying Jobs In Major Pharmaceuticals Industry | Pharmaceutical career paths. The majority of careers in the pharmaceutical industry are quite well paid, as the field is extremely complicated and precise. Mistakes can also have life-altering consequences. 

Many of the skills required for these careers move you into a niche, and a career in this field is likely to involve continued specialization. The industry has various branches that can accommodate people from numerous fields, that’s why there are various pharma industry jobs in the market.

Certification Required for a Career in Pharmaceuticals 

Higher levels of education are strongly recommended for a career in this field. It, of course, depends on what you’re aiming for, but here are some suggestions.

1. Medicine:

Of course, this is a higher-level degree with lots of options. However, those with medical degrees and certifications are sought after in pharmaceuticals, either for research or helping in trials.

2. Chemistry

Pharmaceuticals all boil down to chemistry. A chemistry degree can get you into the pharmaceutical industry, especially if it’s a higher-level degree. It’s also an excellent bachelor’s that you can then transition into pharmacology.

3. Pharmacists must be licensed 

This varies from state to state, but all pharmacists must have the required level of education and complete a training program. Then you have to get licensed by your state’s board.

4. Certified Pharamceducatal Industry Professional (CPIP)

This is a professional certification program for the industry. It’s a broad certification that covers knowledge of the whole process, development through manufacturing.

5. Nurses have to be registered 

Of course, this isn’t just for nurses. Any medical professional has to have the right level of education and training before they can legally practice.

6. Biology:

Medicine affects biology in different ways. This is best if you’re interested in being a microbiologist, or it’s an excellent bachelor’s to segue into pharmacology.

7. Certified Sales Professional (CSP) 

This is a certification if you’re interested in going in the sales direction. The Manufacturer’s Representatives Education Research Foundation (MRERF) certifies you.

8. Pharmacology 

This one is likely to open the most doors and have the most uses in the pharmaceutical industry, especially if you have a higher-level degree, such as a master’s or doctorate.

What are the Best Paying Jobs In Major Pharmaceuticals Industry?

1. Drug Safety Scientist – Average Annual Salary: $101,000

A person in this position is tasked with making sure that the drug in question is safe and is used safely. They’re aware of different medications that can have synergistic or other adverse effects with the drug.

2. Research Scientist – Average Annual Salary: $84,000

This career is not unique to the pharmaceutical industry, but a lot of research goes into the creation, development, and safety testing of drugs. Research scientists are higher-level researchers spending their workday in a research environment.

3. Formulation Scientist – Average Annual Salary: $83,000

Formulation scientists aren’t exclusive to pharmaceuticals, but that is where the majority of them are employed. This job requires in-depth knowledge of chemistry, as their job is to create chemical formulas for products.

4. Pharmacology Professor – Average Annual Salary: $94,000

The pay and duties of this job are going to vary depending on what college or university you work for and how long you’ve been there. It requires a high level of education – unusually, a doctoral degree. Duties will include teaching classes, doing research, and getting research papers published.

5. Pharmacoepidemiologist

This role is focused on after the drug has been released rather than creating new medicine. Pharmacoepidemiogists study the effects of drugs on populations. It’s so named because it mixes the study of clinical pharmacology with epidemiology, or how illness or other adverse health conditions affect a population.

6. Medical Writer – Average Annual Salary: $104,000

Medical writers require a strong understanding of medicine and its subject. So, in this case, you could be a medical writer about pharmaceuticals. People in this career are well paid because they require high levels of knowledge about their subject as well as the writing practices in the field.

7. Microbiologist – Average Annual Salary: $56,000

This job relates less directly to pharmaceuticals, as it doesn’t require pharmacology or a medical degree. However, many drugs (antibiotics) are created expressly to deal with bacteria. And bacteria are a microbiologist’s specialty.

8. Pharmacometrician

A pharmacometrician is a cross between a pharmacologist and a mathematician, hence the name. Someone in this position is in charge of all of the mathematical metrics of a study. Because of that, they also need to be well versed in pharmacology or medicine.

9. Clinical Research Coordinator – Average Annual Salary: $52,000

This job is more of a managerial role than a research one. However, in order to effectively manage a research project, you have to have an understanding of what it is you’re researching.

10. Pharmacologist – Average Annual Salary: $82,000

Pharmacologists create new medicines. A high-level degree is required, either in pharmacology or medicine. Sometimes they’re involved in the running of clinical trials if they have the right qualifications.

11. Clinical Research Manager – Average Annual Salary: $90,000

Clinical Research Managers are in charge of the clinical trials. They make sure that everything is done properly and that they have the right people for the project. This job is going to require knowledge of the research being done and often a degree in pharmacology if that’s what’s being researched.

12. Pharmacist – Average Annual Salary: $125,000

This job is generally more customer-facing and can range from working in a national chain, such as CVS, to a local pharmacy, to a dispensary in a hospital. A degree in pharmacology or pharmacy is required, but it doesn’t need as high a level of education as someone who fabricates new drugs.

13. Clinical Research Associate – Average Annual Salary: $62,000

If you’re interested in research, this is a way to get started in it. This is a low-level research position where you’d be aiding the more experienced researchers. Many people in this role have a bachelor’s degree, making it easier to get into.

14. Research Assistant – Average Annual Salary: $41,000

This is a less specialized type of researcher than a clinical research assistant, and it’s not specific to pharmaceuticals. However, if you’re aiming to become a pharmacologist, researcher, or research coordinator, this is the place to start that career path.

15. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative – Average Annual Salary: $103,000

If you’re interested in pharmacology but don’t want to be a researcher, this is a job to look at. Salespeople for pharmaceutical companies need to have an understanding of the product they’re selling, so a degree in the field is highly recommended, especially as most of the people and companies you’d be selling to would have a strong understanding of the drugs as well.

16. Quality Assurance Technician – Average Annual Salary: $37,000

Quality assurance technicians make sure that ingredients and the manufacturing process are up to par. As the standards in pharmaceuticals are exacting, they’re utterly necessary to the industry.

17. Pharmacist Clerk – Average Annual Salary: $32,000

This position doesn’t even require a pharmacology degree or college degree at all, though a bachelor’s is preferred. A pharmacist clerk is entirely on the customer-facing side of a pharmacy. They’re responsible for dealing with payments, appointments, and communicating about the drugs to the customers.

18. Toxicologist – Average Annual Salary: $74,000

While not directly involved in the creation or study of drugs, a strong understanding of pharmacology is helpful in this position. Toxicologists study tissue samples to look for signs of drugs, chemicals, or poisons.

19. Staff Nurse – Average Annual Salary: $66,000

Nursing is known for having a brutal schedule. However, a staff nurse works a much more reasonable set of hours – more along the lines of the typical forty-hour week.

20. Drug Manufacturer

The primary duties of a drug manufacturer include overseeing the production and distribution of various medical products and substances. It is considered one of the best-paying pharma industry job, and it requires you to look over a host of activities.

Where Can You Find High Paying Major Pharmaceuticals Jobs

There are places online you can find jobs in the pharmaceutical industry. When you’re ready to start your job hunt, before you start, make sure you’re armed with a professional resume. 

Indeed

Indeed is one of the largest job search engines online. You can search jobs by keyword and location. It’s a simple, easy-to-use search tool and you can apply to jobs right on the site.

Glassdoor Jobs

Glassdoor Jobs is the job search section of the Glassdoor website. You can search for jobs by keyword and filter your results by location, job type, salary, and more.

Skills Needed To Work In Major Pharmaceuticals

• Leadership: Having strong leadership skills means you can lead others. You work within a team environment and have strong managerial skills, which is beneficial for management and leadership positions.
• Technical analysis: You can analyze data and information well on a technical level. You’ll be able to look at complex problems with a technical eye. This is a strong skill to have if you work in data, research, or analysis within the pharmaceutical industry.
• Excellent communication: This means you are good at expressing yourself and have strong listening skills. You can communicate well with others.

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