13 Highest Paying Jobs in Pharmaceutical Industry
The pharmaceutical industry in India plays a major role in global healthcare by manufacturing high-quality medicines that are cost-effective. Ranked 3rd globally by volume and 14th by value, the Indian pharmaceutical sector offers numerous highest-paid opportunities for Indiana.
If you are willing to build a career in the pharmaceutical industry, this article will help you explore the highest-paying jobs in the pharmaceutical industry in India, along with the roles, responsibilities, and skills required.
Qualifications Required for High-Paying Pharma Jobs
To build a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry in India, aspirants must develop the following educational requirements.
Class 12th in Science Stream from a recognised board.
Entrance Exams for undergraduate programs: GITAM GAT, WBJEE , and others.
Bachelor’s Degree: B.Pharma or equivalent from a recognised university.
Postgraduate Entrance Exams: GPAT, AP PGECET, BITS HD for admission to M.Pharm and related programs.
Key Skills for Pharmaceutical Industry Jobs
Candidates who want to join the pharmaceutical industry, need to possess relevant skills. In the table below, we have mentioned some important skills candidates must develop to pursue the highest paying jobs in the pharmaceutical industry in India.
Communication skills | Good in ethics |
Reading skills | Analytical mind |
Monitoring skills | Mathematical skill |
Managerial skill | Accuracy |
Leadership quality | Multitasking |
Highest Paying Jobs in the Pharmaceutical Industry in India
The pharmaceutical industry provides numerous career options for freshers and experienced employees. Let us now look at some of the highest-paying jobs in the pharmaceutical industry in India and their average salaries in India.
Pharmaceutical Science Career Options | Salaries in India |
Pharmacist | Rs. 17,000 - 18,000 |
Medical Science Liaisons | Rs. 79,000 - 81,000 |
Patent Attorneys | Rs. 79,000 - 81,000 |
Clinical Researcher | Rs. 30,000 - 31,000 |
Biomedical Researcher | Rs. 25,000 - 60,000 |
Quality Control Analyst | Rs. 30,000 - 31,000 |
Forensic Scientist | Rs. 21,000 - 50,000 |
Biochemist | Rs. 24,000 - 26,000 |
Chemist | Rs. 24,000 - 26,000 |
Clinical Research Coordinator | Rs. 17,000 - 19,000 |
Medical Representative | Rs. 21,000 - 23,000 |
Drug Inspector | Rs. 40,000- 50,000 |
(Salary source: Ambitionbox and Glassdoor)
1. Pharmacist
A pharmacist is a medical expert who prepares and delivers prescription drugs and advises patients on their proper use. They actively coordinate with pharmaceutical companies, clinics, and private physicians. They are responsible for the distribution of medicines and providing proper health care advice to patients. A career as a Pharmacist is highly remunerative with great scope for the future.
2. Medical Science Liaisons
Medical Science Liaisons are professionals who focus on specific therapeutic areas such as cardiology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, oncology, and rheumatology. They are equipped with advanced scientific training. Their work includes collaborating with external and internal stakeholders, like pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals. Candidates who aspire to pursue a career as a medical science liaison must develop strong communication skills and strong scientific knowledge.
3. Patent Attorney
A Patent Attorney manages intellectual property rights related to drugs and medical innovations. They handle trademarking, patent filing, litigation and legal compliance. They ensure the protection of commercial rights of intellectual properties, like inventions in the medical and biotech industries. To excel in this field, candidates should be degree holders in law and knowledgeable in pharmaceuticals.
4 . Clinical Researcher
Clinical researchers are professionals who conduct clinical trials, analyse results, and assist in bringing new drugs to the market. Clinical researchers analyse and record the drug use of different people. Then the drug is introduced and marketed after it is approved as safe for consumption.
5. Biomedical Researcher
Biomedical researchers investigate how the human body functions to discover new methods for improving health and treating diseases. They work in academia and industry, but this role primarily focuses on academic research, improving tools and techniques, studying healthy biological processes and the causes and progress of diseases.
6. Quality Control Analyst
Quality control analysts are responsible for ensuring the quality and quantity of medicinal products. The primary duty of a quality control analyst includes preventing defects and ensuring the safety of pharmaceutical products through testing, sampling, sample analysis, and documentation. This job role requires analytical abilities and an eye for detail to effectively test and report to ensure product accuracy.
7. Forensic Scientist
Forensic Scientists are individuals who apply various methodological approaches to investigate various forensic matters. They analyse different types of samples, such as hair, body fluids, glass, paint and drugs. They apply methodologies including scanning electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy and genetic fingerprinting to record findings and collect evidence from crime scenes and accidents.
8. Biochemist
Biochemists are healthcare professionals who research the chemical processes within living organisms and contribute to drug development. They develop and test new drugs and medications used for commercial distribution. This role also involves understanding how diseases affect cells and organs to contribute to the improvement of the healthcare industry.
9. Chemist
A Chemist utilises knowledge of significant principles of chemistry to improve the living standards of humans. They formulate and test pharmaceutical compounds, cosmetics, and other products. Innovations in fields like health, food and cosmetic industries are highly driven by the contributions of these professionals. To succeed in this field, problem-solving skills and precision are highly valued.
10. Clinical Research Coordinator
A Clinical Research Coordinator supervises successful drug trials and medical research. They also assist researchers in testing new drugs and medical devices. To coordinate recording, adherence, and patient communication during clinical trials, strong medical knowledge and organisational skills are necessary.
11. Medical Representative
Medical Representatives are also referred to as Medical Sales Representatives or Pharmacy Sales Representatives. He or she works for pharmaceutical firms and laboratories to market and distribute medical products. Their role encompasses promoting and selling their company's medications to doctors and hospitals. Sales skills, persuading abilities and flexibility are highly valued in this profession.
12. Drug Inspector
Drug inspectors are experts who ensure the safety, efficiency, and quality of drugs during production and sale. They verify that medications are safe for humans by examining pharmaceuticals at different phases of their production, distribution to ensure that the guidelines have been followed.
The pharmaceutical sector is a growing career path that offers a plethora of high-paying jobs. With extensive career growth opportunities for both freshers and experienced professionals, the pharma industry is thriving currently. Roles like drug inspector, medical science liaison, medical representative, and pharmacist are positioned among the category of highly rewarding and successful careers. Aspirants can develop industry-relevant skills, qualifications and required experience level to build a remunerative career in the pharmaceutical industry.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The highest salary in the pharma industry is Rs. 12.5 LPA. The salary depends on various factors, such as the degree that the individual pursued, the company, location and skills.
The salary for careers related to the pharmaceutical industry is Rs. 2.3 LPA to Rs. 12.5 LPA. Patent Attorneys and Pharmaceutical Scientists are some of the highest-paid professionals in the pharmaceutical industry.
Some of the highest-paying jobs in the pharmaceutical industry are Pharmacist, Medical Science Liaison, Patent Attorney, Pharmaceutical Scientist, Clinical Researcher, Biomedical Researcher, Quality Control Analyst and Forensic Scientist.