ADVERTISEMENT
Pharmaceutical Industry (Medical Science Liaison)

Pharmaceutical Industry (Medical Science Liaison)

Medical science liaisons (MSLs) connect the pharmaceutical industry with the medical community by exchanging scientific knowledge, supporting clinical research, and educating health care professionals about therapies and diseases. These roles demand strong clinical expertise, communication, and networking skills, often allowing for remote work and collaboration with providers, researchers, and policy leaders. A career as an MSL offers independence, opportunities for professional growth, and the chance to influence patient care indirectly through education and evidence-based insights.

Meet the Pharmacist

Mrs. Catherine Avery
Chief of Clinical Pharmacist, Seattle Pharmacy Group

Mrs. Avery is a board-certified clinical pharmacist with over 28 years of experience in managing complex medication therapies. She is passionate about patient education and leveraging technology to improve health outcomes.
At Wellness Pharmacy Group, he leads a team of dedicated pharmacists committed to providing personalized care and expert advice.

Mr. John Doe, PharmaD
Lead Clinical Pharmacist, Wellness Pharmacy Group

Dr. Chen is a board-certified clinical pharmacist with over 12 years of experience in managing complex medication therapies. He is passionate about patient education and leveraging technology to improve health outcomes.
At Wellness Pharmacy Group, he leads a team of dedicated pharmacists committed to providing personalized care and expert advice.

Table of Contents

  • Background
  • Characteristics
  • Insider’s perspective
  • Most appealing aspects
  • Least appealing aspects
  • Advice
  • Critical factors ratings
  • Critical factors
  • References / resources
  • Professional organizations

Background

There are many diverse opportunities for pharmacists in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry, leveraging their scientific and clinical knowledge. Roles can be found in corporate affairs, research and development, biomedical researchers, medical information, regulatory affairs, and various commercial areas. A strong background in biomedical sciences, research, pharmacology, and clinical practice, combined with advanced degrees or specialized training (residencies, fellowships), can be highly beneficial. 

There are a few competencies that this group leverages, including: 

  • Scientific and clinical knowledge 
  • Communication skills 
  • Analytical skills 
  • Interpersonal skills 
  • Adaptability 
  • Learning agility 

This profile highlights information related to specific roles held by managers and medical science liaisons (MSLs) across the pharmaceutical industry. 

Characteristics

A total of 50 pharmaceutical industry MSLs responded to the 2024–2025 APhA Career Pathways Program. Twenty percent of the respondents completed a fellowship, and 16 % completed a residency. Six percent completed both a fellowship and residency. An additional 28.0% completed an additional degree such as an MS (12.0%), MBA (6.0%), PhD (4.0%), MHA (2.0%), MPH (2.0%), or a JD (2.0%) degree. 

Information provided indicated that pharmaceutical industry managers and MSLs have an average age of 47 years old. The median salary for an MSL in the U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry falls between $120,000 and $186,000 annually. The median total pay for a MSL is around $153,139. Total pay can included bonuses dependent on the specific position and the company. The median salary for a pharmaceutical industry manager falls between $130,000 and $188,000. The average salary is $140,563. Median total pay is around $165,000. 

The average time worked was the standard 40 hours per week. The number of hours can depend on the specific type of position, department, and size of the organization. Fifty-six percent indicated that they travel for work. Another 47.1% indicated that they work nights and weekends. 

A total of 32 pharmacists responded directly to a question about what they felt was an important skill for their role. The group provided numerous responses to the open-ended question. Three skills stood out the most: communication (18.8%), networking (15.6%), and being clinically focused (12.5%). 

One respondent from California stated, “Communicating with colleagues with and without a scientific or health care background.” Another from Illinois supported this by adding, “Being able to talk to individuals with varying medical knowledge.” 

A pharmacist from Texas highlighted the importance of “Clinical skills, communication, emotional intelligence, management.” One additional respondent from North Carolina added, “Good communication skills and being a team player.” 

Insider’s perspective

Respondents listed the following critical factors as those being the most important to them. Please note that a factor can rank highly based on wanting the factor or wanting to avoid the factor. As an example, some may rank repetitive activities as a top factor as this is something that they want or look to avoid in their practice. The factors listed below are based on the number of respondents who indicated these would be the top five factors they would like to have in a role. Note that there are 25 total critical factors from which to select.  

Top 5 – first tier 

Of interest is that this group listed a few of the different critical factors at the same percentage. 

  • Leisure and family time (20.0%) 
  • Work type (e.g., repetitive versus variable work) (16.0%) 
  • Application of knowledge (clinical or scientific) (12.0%) 
  • Graduate degree (8.0%) 
  • Problem solving (8.0%) 

In addition to the top 5 factors, the second tier of critical factors are listed below. Note that two of the factors—leisure and family time and application of knowledge (clinical or scientific)—are listed in both areas. This can be interpreted to mean that for some these factors are in their top five list while for others are a close second.  

Top 5 – second tier 

  • Compensation (16%) 
  • Application of knowledge (e.g., clinical or scientific) (14.0%) 
  • Leisure and family time (12.0%) 
  • Collaborating with health professionals (8.0%) 
  • Innovative thinking/problem solving (8.0%) 

Regarding the ranking of “graduate degrees” in the first tier, a respondent from Connecticut indicated, “Advanced degrees (PhD) are very worthwhile in the pharmaceutical industry both for leadership advancements, and when interacting with counterparts at FDA and in academia.” 

A respondent from North Carolina discussed the importance of leisure and family time when she stated, “I have 2 young children, and I will never get these years back. I am eternally grateful for my work-life balance.” Another respondent from Georgia added, “I enjoy problem solving and creating. If I did not have this in my job, I would not feel challenged.”  

There are many rewarding and challenging experiences in being a pharmacist in the pharmaceutical industry. Twenty percent of the respondents indicated that a rewarding aspect is supporting patients in various areas. Numerous other areas were highlighted by the respondents.  

A respondent from New Jersey stated that it is “Rewarding to implement real change in patient care based on new evidence.” Another respondent from Indiana added, “The responsibility of having millions of patients for whom I am responsible for transforming the treatment paradigm for.” 

A couple of additional rewarding and challenging statements from respondents include one from Washington, DC, who said, “Most rewarding is being able to impact an entire system to work better. Most challenging is convincing others to move the needle proactively rather than reactively.” 

A respondent from Florida discussed both the rewards and challenges when they stated, “Rewarding–knowing that I am helping tens of thousands of patients with the work that I do. Challenging–overcoming the implicit bias that professionals have for industry employees because they do not understand the regulations that we are bound by, and the difference between commercial (sales) and medical (education).” 

Twelve percent indicated that work schedule and self-worth/value are additional factors that are important to them. In addition, 8.0% listed each of the following: geographic work location, flexibility, job security, and pressure/stress as important factors to consider. 

The managers and MSLs in the pharmaceutical industry had a variety of responses that they provided as highlights of their career and where they see the future of the role. Several of the responses are listed below. 

  • “Being named MSL Rookie of the Year and being chosen for a global Trek for Health trip to support Save the Children and Amref Health Africa.” 
  • “Implementing pharmacy and clinical services that have a daily impact on patients.” 
  • “Some of the important safety reviews that I have worked on for new products.” 
  • “Presenting to four FDA Advisory Committees.” 
  • “Better collaboration with academic institutions for greater evidence generation in the very misunderstood disease spaces we serve.” 
  • “I hope there will be more pharmacy personnel in positions of federal and state policy making.” 
  • “There is a lot of potential and room for growth within the med comms industry.” 
  • “Personalized medicine.” 

Most appealing aspects

What aspects of the role are most appealing?

Respondents listed several different aspects that are appealing. Work-life balance was listed most often by 16.0% of the respondents. This was followed by flexibility (12.0%) and then autonomy (8.0%). 

One respondent from Mississippi stated that they enjoyed the “Work-life balance and the difference I make (indirectly) in patients' lives.” Another respondent from Pennsylvania added, “Flexibility and ease with making my own schedule (fully remote work).” One additional respondent from Georgia summed this up briefly when they stated, “Autonomy and ability to be creative.” 

Least appealing aspects

What aspects of the role are least appealing?

On the other side of the spectrum are the aspects of the role that are least appealing. There was one theme related to repetitiveness in the role which was listed by 8.0% of the respondents. One of the pharmacists from New York indicated the least appealing aspect is “The repetitiveness of some of the tasks.” Another from North Carolina added, “Sometimes my work can be repetitive.” 

One of the other areas that a different respondent from North Carolina mentioned was “Dealing with some persons that have no idea about the importance of complying with government regulations.” 

Advice

What advice should student pharmacists and practitioners consider when selecting a position in the pharmaceutical industry (Managers and MSLs)

Respondents provided advice for student pharmacists across several areas. One specific trend from the pharmaceutical industry manager and MSLs was networking (10.0%). One respondent from Mississippi stated, “Network with anyone and everyone because you will need all types of connections once you are an MSL. Get involved with research, projects, grants, state and national associations, etc., because you will need ALL of these skills and networking connections.” Another from North Carolina added, “The opportunities in the industry are endless, but you have to work for them they will not just be handed to you.” 

The following list provides a partial sample of the open-ended comments from participants: 

  • “Become competent (a content expert) in the basic and clinical sciences, if you'd like to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry.” 
  • “Network and seek out opportunities, it's not always what you know but who you know that can help get your foot in the door for opportunities with small to mid-size pharmaceutical companies and you can grow from there!” 
  • “Get clinical experience first. You will be more valuable within a medical affairs organization if you understand the challenges and barriers providers face in a clinical setting.” 
  • “Communication skills and being detail-oriented are essential as you will be liaising with colleagues from varying backgrounds and health authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration.” 
  • “Work hard and be flexible since things change in our field constantly. Also, soft skills (communication, teamwork, reliability) are just as important as clinical skills.” 

Critical factors ratings

Opportunities for Advancement
[To what degree does your work allow for advancement?]

Pharmaceutical managers and MSLs rated the opportunities for advancement at a 7.95 rating.

One respondent from Mississippi indicated, “I have significantly more opportunities in my MSL role than I ever did in my former role, and the opportunities are very diverse, ranging from field medical, medical information, capabilities, to leadership and with advancement opportunities across various therapeutic areas.” Another respondent from Florida added, “Industry has many pathways that aid in advancement. Once an employee is familiar with the ways of working within the organization, it opens doors to areas one might not have previously considered.”

A pharmacist from Connecticut stated, “Working for the pharmaceutical industry allowed me to move between disciplines and grow into leadership positions.” One additional respondent from North Carolina had a slightly different perspective and added, “My company takes a bit longer but in general in industry, there is considerable advancement opportunity.”

7.95
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Little advancement opportunities 10 = Great opportunities for advancement

Leadership development/professional involvement
[To what extent does your work allow for the development of leadership skills and professional involvement in the pharmacy profession?]

Respondents rated leadership development/professional involvement at an upper mid-range rating of 7.97.

One respondent from Mississippi provided a rather detailed response to this critical factor when they stated, “Leadership and professional development is a huge focus from my director and all parts within our company. Professional development is not just an annual checkbox but rather something that is discussed at every single 1:1 meeting with my director. I receive honest feedback about why something may or may not be a good fit for me personally and my director helps direct me towards opportunities believed to be a good fit for me and then we discuss together. As soon as I mention something I might be interested in, I am directed towards a next step, someone to talk to, a training module, etc. so that we can make it happen.”

Another respondent from Florida indicated, “While leadership skills are the focus of medical affairs due to the nature of relationships formed, the ability to be involved in a professional manner within pharmacy associations, conferences, meetings etc. is limited by legal obligations to the company one works for.”

One additional respondent from Maryland added, “The license fees are covered by the company, and they will pay for classes. However, I have to be proactive and find the opportunities myself.”

7.97
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Little development of leadership skills and professional involvement 10 = Great opportunities for leadership development and professional involvement

Community impact
[How much impact is your work in terms of serving the community?]

Respondents rated community impact with a 7.92 rating, indicating a high mid-range response.

A respondent from Washington, DC, indicated, “I feel very strongly that my work allows for increased patient access and quality of care because the pharmacist lens has a seat at the table when evaluating health policy.” Another respondent from New York looked at this a little differently when they stated, “Community impact was very indirect in that the role in pharmacovigilance is to help the company evaluate the safety of its product portfolio and therefore help it to understand the safe use of its products in patients.”

One additional comment was provided by a pharmacist from Florida when they added, “My organization makes it a point to ensure that each and every employee has the means to provide service to their community in any form or fashion they see fit.”

7.92
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Little impact 10 = High level of impact

Autonomy
[To what extent does your work allow for autonomy in decision making?]

Respondents rated autonomy 7.73, indicating that managers and MSLs in the pharmaceutical industry lean more toward higher autonomy.

A respondent from Florida indicated, “The role of MSL is autonomous by nature and required individuals to be self-motivated for day-to-day success. My current position offers autonomy within the legal and regulatory bounds of industry which is held to a high and strict standard of laws and rules.” Another respondent from Pennsylvania has a different role and added, “Medical communications is very client driven but medical professionals can make the final decisions as to what is appropriate/factual/important to include.”

One additional comment was provided by a different pharmacist from Pennsylvania when they stated, “Transparency.”

7.73
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Very little low autonomy 10 = High level of autonomy

Focus
[To what extent does your work allow you to be focused on the future versus a focus only on immediate tasks?]

The rating for focus was mid-range at 6.73, leaning slightly toward the future.

A respondent from Indiana stated, “There are many fire drills and things clean up in a large organization (our business unit was several thousand people), but my last role in strategy and operations was all about planning for future success.” Another respondent from Florida added, “Within my role, there are many facets that are future focused, and they are dependent on the life cycle status of the drug we support. Many administrative aspects of my role are immediate so there is a good balance of both.”

6.73
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Immediate tasks only 10 = Tasks focused on the future

Prestige
[To what extent does your work provide professional prestige?]

Respondents rated prestige with a mid-range score of 7.59.

A respondent from Pennsylvania indicated that, “I don't think medical communications is any more or less prestigious than the majority of pharmacy positions out there.” Another from North Carolina stated that, “Validation is extremely important to the industry. Most people, however, don't understand what validation is.”

Another pharmacist from Florida added a different perspective as they said, “Building relationships with thought leaders within the disease spaces we support immediately elevates my status within the medical community due to my role as a content expert. I am sought out by some of the leaders in the field (medical and pharmacy) for my knowledge and understanding of the disease space and drugs we support.”

7.59
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Provides low prestige 10 = Provides high prestige

Creating value/positive outcomes
[To what extent does your work allow for personal fulfillment through the creation of value and positive outcomes?]

Respondents listed creating values/positive outcomes as the second highest rating of 8.35, a high-range response.

One respondent from Maryland put this simply, saying, “It’s great to see the drug make it to the patient especially when it works.” Another respondent from North Carolina added, “My work means a lot to the success of the company division I work on. I get much personal satisfaction from my work.”

One additional pharmacy from New York stated, “The work provides a sense pf professional and personal satisfaction in knowing that the product of your work is taken seriously.”

8.35
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Little extent 10 = High extent

Patient relationships
[To what degree do you have ongoing or long-term relationships with patients?]

Respondents rated patient relationships as the lowest rated critical factor for the group at 0.65. This makes a great deal of sense based on where the respondents work and the roles that they have within the industry.

A pharmacist from Indiana stated, “Patient contact is very limited by design, because you do not want undue influence regarding testing of new drugs in the clinic. However, I was in contact with a patient support group for cluster headaches when we explored that rare disease indication. It was literally gripping to discuss what the individuals went through as they suffered from ‘suicide’ headaches. It drove our team and motivated them to get the indication approved by management (it wasn't going to be a huge money-maker, but it was very much needed clinically).” Another respondent from New York added, “There is no direct patient contact, so the only ‘long-term relationship’ is knowing that what you do helps keep patients who use the company's products safe.”

0.65
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = No ongoing/long-term relationships 10 = All are long-term relationships

Coworker/client relationships
[To what degree do you have ongoing or long-term relationships with coworkers or clients?]

In contrast to patient relationships, respondents listed their coworker and client relationships as the highest critical factor across the group at 8.41, a high-range response.

A pharmacist from Mississippi stated, “The culture and these ongoing long-term relationships with both coworkers and other health care providers is one of the main reasons I swapped careers. However, one of the things I miss the most is my direct patient interactions and relationships.” A respondent from North Carolina looked at this a little differently when they added, “Legally limited to speaking with patients since I work in industry.”

A pharmacist from Florida indicated, “Being in management, I am able to create close relationships with my direct reports and also feel great satisfaction when they have wins and successes.”

8.41
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = No ongoing/long-term relationships 10 = All are long-term relationships

Writing/conducting research
[How often do you engage in writing and/or conducting research?]

The respondents varied based on their position how much writing and conducting research that they do. Overall, the group rated this factor a mid-range rating of 5.11.

One respondent from Maryland was straightforward that their writing “is daily, protocols, informed consent forms, regulatory submissions, etc.” A pharmacist North Carolina on the regulatory side stated, “I author a number of regulatory documents including statements on standards for accounting and review services (SSARS), marketing authorizations (MAs), and other regulatory contracts/agreements.”

Another pharmacist from Florida provided the following information, “We have a team within our organization who focuses solely on writing and research. All materials that we share have to be approved by an interdisciplinary board including legal, regulatory, and compliance. As field employees we are often asked to aid in creation of resources that will be utilized for education of providers by the field team (literature review, meta-analysis, etc.) and this affords us the opportunity to engage in writing and research and different times throughout the year.”

Another respondent from Alabama had a different view of this when they stated, “I did this early in my career, but mostly I was in management positions or working with management in senior adversarial roles. I reviewed a lot of others' work and research but didn't generate the content myself.”

5.11
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = None of my time 10 = All my time

Generating new ideas
[To what degree does your work involve generating new ideas?]

Respondents were in the mid-range with a rating of 7.65 related to generating new ideas.

One respondent from New York stated, “We were encouraged to think about better ways to approach case data.” Another respondent from North Carolina supported this when they added, “We are always looking for ways to improve the approach to performing our work.”

Another respondent from Pennsylvania provided a short and to the point response, “Innovative and (using) AI.”

7.65
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Little innovative thinking 10 = High degree of innovative thinking

Supervision/management
[To what extent do you spend your time organizing, managing, or supervising others and/or business operations?]

Pharmaceutical industry managers and MSLs rated supervision/management with a mid-range rating of 5.38.

One respondent from Pennsylvania stated, “As a medical writer, I am at the bottom of the totem pole currently, but each step up allows for you to get a direct report to manage.” Another from Florida added, “Due to my dual role within the organization, I am mostly focused on my team and their success, however, I also maintain a field role focused on federal accounts which offers me time to engage customers on top of my daily interactions with my team.”

5.38
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = None of my time 10 = All my time

Patient interaction
[How much time do you spend interacting with patients?]

Pharmacists indicated that interacting with patients was at the low end of the spectrum with a rating of 1.22.

Almost all indicated that they do not interact with patients in any way which was supported by the comments from a Florida pharmacist who stated, “Most of my time is with providers, key opinion leaders, and key decision makers for clinics, treatment centers, and health systems.”

1.22
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = None of my time 10 = All my time

Public interaction
[How much time do you spend interacting with the public?]

Respondents rated public interaction at the low range with a 3.81 rating.

A respondent from Massachusetts indicated, “My interactions are with providers, office staff, and c-suite executives in health systems.” Another from Ohio added, “I am working in a facility for a company. If I have contact with outsiders it will be with, customers, FDA, and other regulatory agencies.”

3.81
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = None of my time 10 = All my time

Collaboration
[How often do you work or collaborate with other health professionals or educate other professionals in your work?]

Respondents rated collaboration with a 7.30 rating, indicating they spend time with other professionals.

One respondent from Massachusetts stated, “This is exactly what my job is. To provide education to health care providers around disease states and patient education on these topics.” Another respondent from Pennsylvania agreed and added, “Lots of medical communications are geared towards educating other health professionals so they can go interact with patients effectively.”

Another respondent from North Carolina looked at this a little differently when they indicated, “Rarely is it on a formal basis, but we do, do tours for nurses and other medical trainees.”

7.30
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = None of my time 10 = All my time

Family/leisure time
[How much free time do you have for leisure and family activities in your work?]

Pharmacists indicated that they were slightly above midpoint with a rating of 6.57 for family/leisure time.

One pharmacists from Florida provided information that many others were stating, “The work-life balance that industry offers are unmatched. I hardly ever feel the pressure of burnout because my organization takes family time very seriously and encourages individuals to utilize time away from work to refresh and recharge.” Another from North Carolina added, “Work-life balance is unmatched especially because I work for a European-owned company.”

Finally, a respondent from Pennsylvania expressed some concern, saying, “In my company, as your job title increases, your free time decreases exponentially.”

6.57
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Little free time 10 = Plenty of time for family and leisure activities

Impact on well-being
[To what degree do you impact the well-being of individuals?]

Respondents rated their impact on the well-being of individuals at the upper mid-range with a 7.59 rating.

A respondent from Indiana stated, “Of course, I'd like to think I had a huge impact, but in reality it was learning to work with the larger organization to get projects across the finish line that made the difference.” Another from New York added, “The impact on well-being of individuals was related to contributing to the well-being of your team members by completing your contribution to complicated reports in a complete and timely manner.”

One additional respondent from Maryland indicated, “When drugs work it’s very exciting and can have a global impact.”

7.59
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Low degree 10 = High degree

Problem solving
[To what degree do you solve problems with tried-and-true alternatives versus untested alternatives in your work?]

Respondents rated problem solving with a 4.86 rating, a mid-range score indicating that they use more tried-and-true solutions compared to untested alternatives.

One respondent from Maryland stated, “You have to follow good clinical practice (GCP) but there is a lot of creativity when it comes to problem investigating and solving.” Another respondent from Georgia added, “I do not believe in change for the sake of change, but I do strive to address problems with fresh eyes, to research and review data, and to think outside of the box.”

A respondent from Florida had a different perspective when they indicated, “We are innovative at my organization and often employ strategies that are unorthodox to solve problems. We will start with methods that are known to work and if those fail, we are not afraid to try something new!” Another respondent from Connecticut added, “You become sought after by senior management and colleagues to help solve problems, which is very satisfying. In addition, it's important to acquire knowledge, but it's extremely important to learn how to apply knowledge to solve problems and innovate!”

4.86
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Tried and true 10 = Untested alternatives

Expertise
[How general or specialized is the expertise required in your work?]

Pharmacists rated their expertise at a 7.44 rating, leaning more toward the specialized side compared to generalists.

A respondent from Indiana indicated, “You have to understand clinical health care to do the work I did, as well as good manufacturing practice (GMP). But, I had to learn many disease state details on a project-by-project basis, so there was continual learning which I very much enjoyed.” Another from Florida added, “We deal with two disease spaces and three drugs. I am an expert on these topics but not in a general sense. I would need to study and refresh myself on other aspects of medicine and clinical practice if I were to go back to direct patient care.”

One pharmacist from Maryland provided a straightforward response, “Oncology departments usually require oncology experience.”

7.44
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Generalized 10 = Specialized

Repetition
[To what degree is your work composed of activities and tasks that are highly repetitive versus highly variable?]

Respondents indicated the amount of repetition in their roles was in the mid-range with a score of 5.83.

One respondent from North Carolina provided a very quick statement, saying, “Each day can be a new adventure.” Another from Georgia supported this when they stated, “As an administrator, I am faced with new challenges every day.” Another pharmacist from Florida provided a little more detail when they added, “My days are never the same. The issues that arise are always different and my schedule fluxes from very full to very open from week to week. I enjoy not knowing how my day is going to go as it keeps things fresh and me at my very best every day.”

5.83
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Highly repetitive 10 = Highly variable

Applying scientific knowledge
[How much of your time is spent applying scientific knowledge in your work?]

The respondents rated the application of scientific knowledge with a 7.54, mid-range response. This is slightly higher than the application of clinical knowledge which is the next critical factor.

One respondent from New York looked at both the clinical and scientific side and stated, “Being able to do a meaningful case series analyses require application of scientific and clinical knowledge.” A respondent form Florida looked at this broadly based on their role and added, “Medical affairs is heavily interested in scientific knowledge, however, due to the nature of the questions we are asked by providers, we also must have a good working knowledge of clinical practice to best serve our customers.”

7.54
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = No application 10 = High level of application all the time

Applying clinical knowledge
[How much of your time is spent applying clinical knowledge in your work?]

Respondents rated the application of clinical knowledge with a 6.80 mid-range rating.

One pharmacist from Georgia stated, “Clinical knowledge was previously 10 but has decreased since I entered administration. I still use clinical knowledge extensively for program development and implementation and continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiatives.” Another respondent from Pennsylvania added, “You need to be well versed in disease management and drug info skills.”

Another respondent from Maryland indicated that “We look at both the mechanisms of action for the drug but also the adverse events that the patients have.”

6.80
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = No application 10 = High level of application all the time

Parental leave
[To what extent does your work setting offer parental leave opportunities?]

Pharmacists rated the opportunity for parental leave in the upper mid-range with a rating of 7.51.

A pharmacist from Maryland stated, “This is very standard in the industry. I have seen 4 weeks to 14 weeks for the father to bond. The mother in addition gets short-term disability.” Of course, how long one takes off is up to the individual as one from California added, “I took the standard leave with my 2nd child (12 weeks). With my first child, I extended my leave to unpaid and didn't go back until 6 months after the birth.”

One additional respondent from North Carolina provided some specific details on her parental leave indicating, “I got 12 weeks of unpaid leave through FMLA, but I opted to use 8 weeks of short-term-disability benefits that were allowed to be for a c-section. Through short-term disability, I received less than half of what my usual pay is for those 8 weeks.”

7.51
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Limited opportunities 10 = Unlimited opportunities

Compensation
[To what degree do you feel compensated for your responsibilities in your work?]

The respondents rated compensation at 7.80, leaning to being well compensated.

One respondent from North Carolina put this bluntly, “High salary plus bonus.” Another from Florida added, “I am well compensated for the work that I do which makes me feel valued.”

One pharmacists from Indiana stated, “the money is ridiculously good in industry, especially in management.”

7.80
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Not well compensated 10 = Well compensated

Benefit package
[How comprehensive is the employee benefit package offered in your work setting?]

Benefit package was rated overall at 7.83.

One pharmacist from Florida provided a broad perspective of what you are offered, saying, “My organization offers many benefits including concierge services that will grocery shop for you, pick up dry cleaning, etc. They offer gym memberships at a discounted rate, life insurance, legal counseling discounts, and a plethora of other options.” A respondent from Maryland supported this when they added, “Depending on the role, there are 401k matching, vacation, unlimited sick time, sick time to take care of family members, bonus at the end of the year, stock options and parental leave.”

Another respondent from Indiana had a different take on this when they stated, “They cut things from the health care over the years, but it's relatively competitive.”

7.83
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
0 = Not comprehensive 10 = Very comprehensive

Advice for student pharmacists

Respondents provided advice across several areas and what the future brings. No specific trend came across in the comments from these pharmacists. Information from several of the pharmacists is listed below: 

  • “Commit to being a lifelong learner.” 
  • “Stay open minded, your career may look different than you expect.” 
  • “Very strong and promising future.” 
  • “Consider fellowship or working as clinical pharmacy specialist and then transitioning to industry.” 
  • “Emphasis on genetics and medications (pharmacogenomics).” 
  • “A lot of change. Concern with job security given politics.” 
  • “Leave the drama at home.”

Critical factors

Opportunities for advancement 7.95
Leadership development/professional involvement 7.97
Community impact 7.92
Autonomy 7.73
Focus 6.73
Prestige 7.59
Creating value/positive outcomes 8.35
Patient relationships 0.65
Coworker/client relationships 8.41
Writing/conducting research 5.11
Generating new ideas 7.65
Supervision/management 5.38
Patient interaction 1.22
Public interaction 3.81
Collaboration 7.30
Family time/leisure 6.57
Impact on well-being 7.59
Problem solving 4.86
Expertise 7.44
Repetition 5.83
Applying scientific knowledge 7.54
Applying clinical knowledge 6.80
Parental leave 7.51
Compensation 7.80
Benefit package 7.83

References / resources

Schommer JC, Sogol EM, Brown LM. Work profile factors identified from the career pathway evaluation program, 2018 pharmacist profile survey. Am J Pharm. 2019;83(10):7480. 

Medical Science Liaison (MSL) Overview. ISPE. Available at: jobs.ispe.org/career/medical-science-liaison-msl. Accessed July 1, 2025. 

Pharmacy Manager Salaries. Glassdoor. Available at: www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/pharmacy-manager-salary-SRCH_KO0,16.htm#. Accessed July 1, 2025. 

Professional organizations

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) 

675 North Washington Street, Suite 220, Alexandria, VA 22314 
(703) 684-2600 | www.amcp.org 

Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) 

190 South LaSalle Street, Suite 3000, Chicago, IL 60603-3446 
(312) 664-3575 | www.acpe-accredit.org 

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) 

1400 Crystal Drive, Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22202 
(703) 739-2330 | www.aacp.org 

American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) 

Avedisian Hall, 7 Greenhouse Road, Kingston, RI 02881 
(703) 556-0650 | www.aaps.org 

American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) 

8055 O Street, Suite S113, Lincoln, NE 68510 
(402) 476-1677 | www.aapp.org 

American College of Apothecaries (ACA) 

2830 Summer Oaks Drive, Bartlett, TN 38134 
(901) 383-8119 | www.acainfo.org 

American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) 

13000 West 87th Street Parkway, Lenexa, KS 66215-4530 
(913) 492-3311 | www.accp.com 

American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (AFPE) 

11325 Random Hills Road, Suite 360A-105, Fairfax, VA 22030 
(571) 404-0471 | www.afpenet.org 

American Pharmacists Association (APhA) 

2215 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037 
(202) 628-4410 | www.pharmacist.com 

American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) 

1240 North Pitt Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314 
(703) 739-1300 | www.ascp.com 

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) 

4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900, Bethesda, MD 20814 
(866) 279-0681 | www.ashp.org 

Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS) 

2215 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037 
(202) 946-5026 | www.bpsweb.org 

Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) 

555 East Wells Street, Suite 1100, Milwaukee, WI 53202 
(877) 467-2791 | www.hoparx.org 

National Alliance of State Pharmacy Associations (NASPA) 

2530 Professional Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23235 
(804) 285-4431 | www.naspa.us 

National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) 

1600 Feehanville Drive, Mount Prospect, IL 60056 
(847) 391-4406 | www.nabp.pharmacy 

National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) 

1776 Wilson Blvd, Suite 200, Arlington, VA 22209 
(703) 549-3001 | www.nacds.org 

National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) 

300 New Jersey Ave, NW, #900, Washington, DC 20001 
(703) 842.0122 | www.naspnet.org 

National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) 

100 Daingerfield Road, Alexandria, VA 22314 
(703) 683-8200 | www.ncpa.org 

National Pharmaceutical Association (NPhA) 

10810 North Tatum Boulevard, Suite 102-965, Phoenix, AZ 85028 
(480) 405-9291 | www.nationalpharmaceuticalassociation.org 

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) 

670 Maine Avenue, SW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20024 
(202) 835-3400 | www.phrma.org

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
ADVERTISEMENT