Many people finish their education and feel pigeonholed in their job options. Pharmacists especially may feel like retail and hospital jobs are the only career paths out there. Maybe you’ve heard of medical science liaison positions, but there is so much more out there! 

This list is a growing list of different jobs options I’ve found for pharmacists. I’m planning on adding to this list as I discover more, so feel free to check back! 

Pharmaceutical Industry & Biotech Roles

1. Medical Science Liaison (MSL)

   • What they do: Act as a scientific expert for pharmaceutical and biotech companies, educating healthcare providers on new drugs and therapies.

   • Salary: $120,000 – $180,000, +bonus, commission, stock, etc.

2. Regulatory Affairs Specialist

   • What they do: Ensure medications comply with FDA and global regulations, assist with drug approval applications.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $140,000; though this is a typical entry-level range, and can go much higher.

3. Drug Safety Pharmacist (Pharmacovigilance)

   • What they do: Monitor, report, and analyze adverse drug reactions and safety concerns.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $200,000

4. Informatics Pharmacist

   • What they do: Implement and optimize pharmacy-related healthcare IT systems.

   • Salary: $100,000 – $150,000

5. Toxicologist

   • What they do: Study the effects of chemicals and drugs on humans and the environment.

   • Salary: $110,000 – $140,000

6. Medical Affairs Pharmacist

   • What they do: Serve as a liaison between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals. This is a broader category and can include several different types of positions in pharma (example- MSLs frequently fall under Medical Affairs, see #1).

   • Salary: $110,000 – $340,000

7. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative

   • What they do: Sell medications and therapeutics to healthcare providers and hospitals.

   • Salary: $70,000 – $150,000+ (Base + Commission)

8. Orphan Drug Specialist

   • What they do: Work with rare disease medications and advocate for patient access, regulatory approval, and market access strategies.

   • Salary: $100,000 – $160,000

9. Pharmaceutical Project Manager

   • What they do: Coordinate and lead drug development or post-marketing projects for pharma companies.

   • Salary: $100,000 – $150,000

Insurance & Managed Care

1. Prior Authorization Pharmacist

   • What they do: Review medication requests from healthcare providers for insurance approval.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $130,000

2. Utilization Review Pharmacist

   • What they do: Analyze prescription trends and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $150,000

3. Medicare/Medicaid Clinical Pharmacist

   • What they do: Ensure compliance with government insurance programs and medication accessibility.

   • Salary: $110,000 – $150,000

4. Pharmacy Compliance Officer (Insurance/PBM)

   • What they do: Ensure insurance companies comply with federal/state pharmacy regulations.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $145,000

5. Appeals and Grievances Pharmacist

   • What they do: Review patient appeals for denied medication coverage.

   • Salary: $85,000 – $130,000

6. Benefits Strategy Pharmacist

   • What they do: Help insurance plans develop cost-effective and clinically appropriate pharmacy benefits.

   • Salary: $100,000 – $145,000

7. Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Pharmacist

   • What they do: Work for PBMs like CVS Caremark or Express Scripts to manage medication costs and formulary design.

   • Salary: $100,000 – $150,000

   8. Clinical Program Manager – Specialty Pharmacy

• •   What they do: Work for PBMs like CVS Caremark or Express Scripts to manage medication costs and formulary design.

• • Salary: $135,000 – $230,000

Government & Public Policy

1. Poison Control Specialist

   • What they do: Provide expert guidance on toxic exposures and overdose treatment.

   • Salary: $110,000 – $140,000

2. Government/Policy Pharmacist

   • What they do: Work with government agencies like the FDA, CDC, or WHO on drug policies and public health initiatives.

   • Salary: $95,000 – $150,000

3. FDA Regulatory Intelligence Analyst

   • What they do: Monitor global pharmaceutical regulations, analyze policy changes, and guide compliance strategies.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $150,000

4. Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) Pharmacist

   • What they do: Analyze healthcare data to determine the cost-effectiveness of medications and treatments.

   • Salary: $110,000 – $250,000

Clinical & Research Roles

1. Oncology Specialty Pharmacist

   • What they do: Work with pharmaceutical companies or research institutions to develop and manage oncology drug therapies, provide clinical insights, and support trials.

   • Salary: $110,000 – $170,000

2. Telepharmacy Pharmacist

   • What they do: Provide remote medication counseling and management via telehealth platforms.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $140,000

3. Clinical Research Associate (CRA)

   • What they do: Oversee clinical trials for new medications and therapies.

   • Salary: $80,000 – $120,000

4. Nuclear Pharmacist

   • What they do: Prepare and dispense radioactive drugs used in medical imaging.

   • Salary: $110,000 – $160,000

5. Veterinary Pharmacist

   • What they do: Specialize in animal medications and dosages.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $140,000

Creative & Entrepreneurial Roles

1. Medical Science Editor

   • What they do: Edit and review scientific manuscripts, regulatory documents, and medical publications for accuracy and clarity.

   • Salary: $80,000 – $130,000

2. Digital Health Pharmacist

   • What they do: Work with health tech companies developing medication-related apps, AI-driven prescription tools, and telehealth solutions.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $150,000

3. GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) Compliance Officer

   • What they do: Ensure pharmaceutical manufacturing meets industry regulations and quality standards.

   • Salary: $95,000 – $140,000

4. Medical Podcast Host/Pharmacy Content Creator

   • What they do: Create pharmacy-focused educational content, training materials, or online courses.

   • Salary: Varies widely ($50,000 – $150,000+ depending on audience and monetization strategies; this is a self-employed/entrepreneurial role)

5. Intellectual Property/Patent Analyst (Pharma)

   • What they do: Analyze patent landscapes and assess intellectual property strategies for drug products.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $160,000

6. Cannabis Industry Pharmacist

   • What they do: Advise on medical cannabis formulations, dosing, and regulatory compliance.

   • Salary: $80,000 – $140,000+

7. Pharmaceutical Industry Consultant

   • What they do: Advise pharmaceutical companies on drug development, compliance, and marketing strategies.

   • Salary: $100,000 – $200,000+

8. Medical Writer

   • What they do: Write scientific documents, regulatory submissions, and patient education materials.

   • Salary: $80,000 – $140,000

Pharmacy-Focused Consulting & Specialized Roles

1. Concierge Pharmacist

   • What they do: Provide personalized medication management and wellness consultations directly to patients.

   • Salary: $80,000 – $150,000+

2. Compounding Pharmacist (Non-Retail)

   • What they do: Create custom medications in specialized compounding pharmacies.

   • Salary: $115,000 – $140,000

3. Academic Pharmacist (pharmacy school)

   • What they do: Teach pharmacy students, conduct research, and develop curricula.

   • Salary: $90,000 – $140,000

Salary ranges were pulled from job postings, salary.com, ziprecruiter.com, and glassdoor.com. Many of the ranges I found were very different between these resources, so these should be considered a guide, and not definitive salaries.

What have I missed? Do you do work in pharmacy in a job I didn’t mention?

Want me to dive deeper into one of these in a future post?

Drop a comment! I’d love to hear from you!

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