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The pharmaceutical industry employs more than 4.4 million people worldwide. 270,000 of those employees live and work in the United States. And regardless of where these workers reside, they all contribute to a $437 billion market!
Are you considering pursuing such a career path? Why are pharmaceutical careers so desirable, exactly?
For one, they cultivate the care and keeping of our population. They innovate and improve the lives of many globally. They foster health and well-being while never being stagnant or behind.
That’s one brief reason why you might consider this noble profession. We’ve got six others here! If you still need convincing, keep reading to see why this may be the job for you.
1. The Job Variety Is Massive
When it comes to careers in the pharmaceutical industry, there is no one-size-fits-all. This industry requires a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and skills. That makes way for a variety of job paths within this scope of this field.
Reflect on your accomplishments (or shortcomings) to see what job may be best for you. There are many departments you can consider:
- Quality Control—Provides testing of various products; ensures a standard of product manufacturing
- Quality Assurance—Monitors the manufacturing process to ensure all is up to code and standards
- Operations—Fit for someone who works well in a warehouse setting; ensures functioning and operational flow
- Product Manufacturing—Operate the machinery that produces the products
- Research and Development—Works in labs; tests and improves medications while creating new ones
- Pharmacist—Delivers products, insight, science-backed assistance
This list is certainly not all-inclusive.
Whether your background is in maintenance, quality, engineering, IT, or something else, there is a place for you in this industry.
2. Pharmaceutical Careers Are Rewarding and Challenging
Medical care, to put it simply, is not cheap.
The pharmaceutical industry works to eliminate some of those high costs of healthcare by providing patients with treatment beforehand. Those who work in this industry are improving the lives of others by treating diseases, illnesses, and more.
Whatever your job choice, you’ll have a direct hand in improving the health of those worldwide. The sense of reward that comes from such an impact is one that is fulfilling and unique to this industry.
Few professions can say they have such a global influence.
Of course, none of this comes without challenge — and that’s a good thing. Prepare to always be on the edge of your brain’s power, creativity, and critical thinking.
3. They Offer Great Pay and Benefits
Of course, with the variety of job positions comes a variety of pay and benefits. But the bottom line is still that pharmaceutical careers offer a competitive salary. Of the thousands of available jobs, the pay outlook ranges from $26,724 to an incredible $797,416!
Did your jaw just drop?
Your pay range will vary based on the career of your choice, your expertise and skill set, your education, location, and more.
In general, some of the more high-paying pharmaceutical jobs are as follows:
- Senior Research Scientist—$98,527
- Research Scientist—$82,452
- Pharmaceutical Field Sales Rep—Almost $72,000
- Pharmaceutical Outside Sales Rep—$66,000
- Pharmaceutical Financial Analyst—$60, 025
The pay range is so broad that you’ll have much opportunity to grow your salary. The difference between a research scientist and senior research scientist is a whopping $16,075 per year.
With dedication and motivation, you could advance your career to one of these higher standings.
4. The Job Outlook Is Positive
There will always be a need for healthcare. And in general, the job outlook for pharmaceutical careers is one that is promising.
The job outlook for a pharmacist 2006-2016 saw a 6 percent growth. This is an average number for this industry, proving that it’s not slowing down. The employment change in those ten years was 17,400 people.
As long as we need healthcare, we need pharmaceutical professionals. In other words — forever.
5. Opportunity to Take Part in Groundbreaking Research
Did you know that there are currently at least 7,000 medications getting developed for patients right now? Of those 7,000, 74 percent have the potential to be first-in-class treatments.
Breakthroughs in science, medicine, and therapy mean that you’ll continuously participate in research. These new innovative medicines keep patients happy, healthy, and out of the hospital. This, in turn, contributes to lower healthcare costs (sometimes we’ve touched on).
The biggest cost-driver of health care spending — an astounding 90 percent — is due to chronic disease. The best bet for tackling that problem is medicine. The industry will never stop trying to revolutionize the way it treats diseases.
6. The Industry Is Always Changing and Growing
This reason to pursue a pharmaceutical career piggy-backs off the one we just discussed.
This industry requires innovation from its workers both in-front and behind the scenes. With changes and improvements in technology, you, too, will grow with the industry. There’s no such thing as “stagnant” in this career!
How much could the vape industry possibly change? Or tattooing, fashion, and the like? Although noble career paths, they’re not exactly revolutionizing on such an essential basis.
From updates in technology (see here how they’ve upgraded packaging) to revolutions in medicine, you’ll never get bored optimizing the state of pharmaceuticals.
Are You Ready to Get Started?
This article should show you why pharmaceutical careers are a worthwhile job path. There will never be a day when you won’t be challenged and rewarded. You’ll be directly contributing to the state of the world’s health and well-being.
And that’s something to admire.
If you’re ready to get started, we can help there, too. Check out the “Business” section of our blog for tips on how to excel at interviews, build an excellent reputation for yourself, and much more.