It’s no secret that the field of pharmacy is getting saturated. In 2019, there were 143 schools and colleges of pharmacy in the US, based on a census conducted by AACP. And just a few weeks ago, the University of California Irvine announced the establishment of its brand new School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.
With so many new professionals being graduated every year, the traditional career paths of community and hospital pharmacy are becoming less available and, if we are being honest, less lucrative. We’ve all heard the stories and rumors of decreasing starting salaries and cut hours.
Whether you are a seasoned pharmacist, new grad, or a student looking to the future, it would be wise to start branching out from the well-worn paths of pharmacy careers. So here, I’ve gone through some well-known and not-so-well-known nontraditional career options.
Pharmaceutical Industry: Medical Science Liaison
When thinking about Industry jobs, the one that everyone seems to know about is the MSL position. And why not? It seems to be right up our alley. A specialized role that concentrates on a specific disease state; establishing and maintain relationships with leading clinicians and researchers in the space. Think salesperson, but without the pressure and metrics of selling anything. The heart of the job is communicating the latest research and developments, talking clinical trial results and the newest prescribing trends. The key to success in this position is the ability to present complex material in a clear and concise manner. Most MSLs are former pharmacists, MDs, and PhDs.
The market range for an MSL salary is $118-181K a year.
Pharmaceutical Industry: Regulatory Affairs Specialist
Another Industry career that is a little less well known is Regulatory Affairs. The RA team in a pharmaceutical company is responsible for navigating the drug approval process and maintaining that approval once granted. Day to day, that means document preparation, project management duties, and acting as liaisons between the company and government officials. People in these roles are involved in product development, research, clinical trials, and manufacturing. They are also at the table when discussing labeling, promotional materials, and policy development. Though you don’t have to be a pharmacist to hold this job, having a PharmD isn’t uncommon, and lends some credibility to an applicant. Not to mention it opens up opportunities for upward mobility.
The market range for a Regulatory Affairs Specialist salary is $59-$120K a year.
FDA: Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Regulatory Affairs is a two-party tango, and just like there are opportunities for pharmacists in the private-sector, there are similar opportunities with the FDA. CDER is the department responsible for drug approval; covering OTC and prescription drugs, including biological therapeutics and generics. Pharmacist duties on these teams include providing advisory and clinical guidance, evaluating the impact of proposed products on public health, and responding to questions on drug maters from the public, media, and interest groups.
Due to the government nature of this position, salary estimations aren’t readily available. But I can tell you that your PharmD allows you to qualify for a position above entry level. So there’s that.
Clinical Operations: Clinical Research Pharmacist
Clinical Research locations require medical personnel to help manage patients and investigational products. And where there are patients and drugs in one place, you better believe there’s a pharmacist somewhere close by. The research pharmacist is in charge of the logistic operation of maintaining accurate accountability of the investigational drug. In short, they oversee inventory management, preparation and dispensing of the medications, and drug destruction among other things. Though some hospitals may have investigational programs, these positions are also available in stand-alone facilities.
The market range for a Clinical Research Pharmacist salary is $115-146K a year.
Poison Control Center: Toxicology Pharmacist
If you enjoy crisis management and the science behind toxicology, boy do I have a job for you. Other than the expected calls from panicked parents, the poison control center also manages calls from law enforcement, hospitals, schools, and physicians’ offices. As a pharmacist, you already have some background in dealing with exposures to beta-blockers, acetaminophen, and NSAIDs. The management of household and environmental exposures are a bit trickier, but no worries as you get extensive on the job training. But if you want a bit more training, there are fellowship opportunities available through the American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, and certifications available through the American Board of Applied Toxicology.
Based on ZipRecruiter, the market range for a Toxicology Pharmacist salary is $72-122K a year
These positions are in no way the only non-traditional career options available. But by mentioning some out there options, I hope that this opens your mind to the possibilities. Do you have an atypical job or career? Sound off in the comments; you never know who may benefit from you sharing your story.
All salary estimates were found on payscale.com or salary.com unless otherwise specified.
Dr. Alyssa Lowder, PharmD.