Best Careers in Pharmaceuticals

According to the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA), it can take up to fifteen years and more than $500 million to discover, cultivate, approve and release a new drug. The pharmaceutical industry is booming and will never go out of business because we will always need new drugs and medicines to keep the world healthy. The best careers in pharmaceuticals are those with high salaries, high job security and low risk.

When most people think of careers in pharmaceuticals, the first word that probably comes to mind is Pharmacist. Pharmacists are those professionals who stand behind tall white counters and dispense drugs to consumers. There are a wide range of careers in pharmaceuticals, however, that have nothing to do with handing out medicine.

Sales
Arguably the most lucrative career in pharmaceuticals, sales representatives work for drug manufacturers and sell their products to doctor's offices, hospitals and medical centers. Like most sales careers, pharmaceutical sales professionals usually work for commission based on how much product they move on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. They form strong relationships with medical personnel and anticipate the needs of doctors and hospitals. Many pharmaceutical sales professionals make more than $100,000 per year, though the average is around $60,000.

Biotechnology
Another lucrative career in pharmaceuticals is a career in biotechnology. With a career in biomedical science, you can work for drug manufacturers in discovering, testing and cultivating new drugs, usually in a lab setting. Some biotechnologists make very little, working as lab technicians or gophers for large corporations, while others become highly desired for their keen ability to discover and create new drugs.

Clinical Testing
Clinical testing is a growing career field in pharmaceuticals. With this career choice, you would be responsible for setting up clinical trials, interviewing applicants, creating control groups and overseeing the testing process. This is a critical phase in the development of pharmaceuticals and can be quite lucrative if you work for or own a private corporation.

Pharmacy Technician
Many of today's workers need to enter the workforce as quickly as possible, making an extensive education nearly impossible. If this is the case for you, a career as a pharmacy technician might be just up your alley. Most pharmacies offer on-the-job training and all that is required is a high school diploma. Although the hours can be inconvenient, you can make more money if you work evenings and weekends. The average salary for a pharmacy technician was $17.30 per hour in 2006, according to the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC).