Outlook,
Earnings and
Education
Requirements
for
Specific Job
Types in
Pharmaceutical
and
Medicine Manufacturing
The
following
pharmaceutical-related
career paths are
presented by
order of
anticipated rate
of growth,
according to
projections by
the U.S. Bureau
of Labor
Statistics.
|
Career
Path |
Percent
Change
2004 -
2014* |
Median
Hourly
Salary |
Education
Requirements |
|
Medical
scientists,
except
epidemiologists
|
41.8% |
$36.92 |
Ph.D. in
a
biological
science
minimum.
Those
who
administer
drug or
gene
therapy
or
interact
medically
with
patients
must
also be
licensed
physicians. |
|
Business
operations
specialists,
all
other |
41.8% |
$26.76 |
N/A |
|
Computer
systems
analysts |
41.7% |
Varies*** |
Min.
bachelor's
in
CompSci,
information
science,
or MIS |
|
Sales
representatives,
wholesale
and
manufacturing,
technical
and
scientific
products |
28.9% |
$30.69
sal/comm. |
Prefer
or
require
bachelor’s
and
familiarity
with
computer
technology.
May
require
a
technical
degree
in
addition
to some
sales
experience.
Many
take
courses
in
marketing,
economics,
communication,
and
foreign
languages. |
|
First-line
supervisors/managers
of
production
and
operating
workers |
28.9% |
$25.46 |
N/A |
|
Chemical
equipment
operators
and
tenders |
28.9% |
$15.80 |
N/A |
|
Mixing
and
blending
machine
setters,
operators,
and
tenders |
28.9% |
$14.14 |
N/A |
|
Industrial
machinery
installation,
repair,
and
maintenance
workers |
28.9% |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Separating,
filtering,
clarifying,
precipitating,
and
still
machine
setters,
operators,
and
tenders |
28.9% |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Biological
technicians |
28.2% |
$18.62 |
Two
years
specialized
or
related
Associate's
degree
minimum;
some
hold
bachelor's
in
biology
or
chemistry,
or some
related
coursework
at a
4-year
college. |
|
Chemists |
23.6% |
$27.43 |
Bachelor’s
in
chemistry
or
related
discipline
minimum.
Many
research
jobs
require
a
master’s
degree
or more
Ph.D. |
|
Laborers
and
material
movers,
hand |
18.2% |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Inspectors,
testers,
sorters,
samplers,
and
weighers |
16.3%** |
$15.08 |
Diploma;
specialized
in-house
training;
computer
skills |
|
Packaging
and
filling
machine
operators
and
tenders |
9.8% |
$12.89 |
N/A |
* (Industry
Average 26%)
**
decline reflects growth of automated inspection
***
Computer systems
analysts
earnings
overall; not
industry
specific
Information
compiled from
the 2006-07
edition of the
Occupational
Outlook Handbook
and the BLS
Career Guide to
Industries.
See detailed
tables with
updated
adjustments in
new browser
window
here.
In-Demand Biotechnology Related Occupations and Their Projected 10
Year Growth
The
following
biotechnology-related
career paths are
presented by
order of
anticipated rate
of growth,
and are based on
analysis of
multiple
government data
sources,
presented on the
"Career Voyages"
website by the U.S.
Department of
Labor.
This summary
lists those
occupations
projected to be
the
fastest-growing,
with 10-20%
growth rate or
higher.
Additional
details and
occupations are
included in
sortable,
interactive
tables on the
"In-Demand"
section of the
site here.
|
Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists |
37,000 |
21-35% |
$29 |
|
Biomedical Engineers |
5,000 |
21-35% |
$34 |
|
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians |
76,000 |
21-35% |
$15 |
|
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technologists |
74,000 |
21-35% |
$22 |
|
Biochemists and Biophysicists |
8,000 |
21-35% |
$33 |
|
Environmental Scientists and Specialists,
Including Health |
26,000 |
10-20% |
$25 |
|
Biological Technicians |
22,000 |
10-20% |
$17 |
|
Microbiologists |
7,000 |
10-20% |
$27 |
|
Sales Representatives, Wholesale and
Manufacturing, Technical and Scientific Products |
161,000 |
10-20% |
$29 |
|
Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists |
7,000 |
10-20% |
$24 |
|
Agricultural and Food Science Technicians |
7,000 |
10-20% |
$15 |
|
Chemical Engineers |
12,000 |
10-20% |
$37 |
|
Industrial Engineering Technicians |
22,000 |
10-20% |
$22 |
|
|
Occupational Outlooks for Selected Pharmaceutical Careers