Pharmacologists
Overview
Introduction
Pharmacologists play an important role in medicine and in science by studying the effects of drugs, chemicals, and other substances on humans, animals, and plants. These highly educated scientists conduct research on living tissues and organs to determine how drugs and other chemicals act at the cellular level. Their results help to discover how drugs and other chemicals should be most effectively used. The study of pharmacology is necessary to standardize drug dosages; analyze chemicals, food additives, poisons, insecticides, and o...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
The average annual base salary for pharmaceutical scientists was $160,600 in 2018, according to a survey by the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. Salaries ranged from less than $115,000 to $196,000 or more. Salaries vary by education level. Pharmacologists with a Ph.D. or Pharm.D. typically earn more than those with a master’s degree. Bonuses, especially for those in industry, ...
Work Environment
Pharmacologists work in academic settings or laboratories and generally work 40 hours a week, though they may sometimes be required to work extra hours to monitor experiments that need special attention. Most laboratories associated with academic or major research institutions are clean, well-lit, pleasant workplaces equipped with the sophisticated instruments necessary for modern research. Bec...
Outlook
Although the U.S. Department of Labor does not provide information on pharmacologists, it does recognize the related position of medical scientists (scientists involved with researching the causes of diseases and finding treatments for these diseases). The department predicts that employment for medical scientists will grow faster than the average for all careers through 2028. Those with the mo...