Also called: Research Pharmacist, IDS Pharmacist
Manages experimental drugs used in clinical trials.
Stores and tracks experimental drugs that aren't approved yet, prepares blinded doses so neither patient nor doctor knows who gets the placebo, and keeps records for the FDA.
Estimate based on BLS pharmacists (May 2025 median about $137k).
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 8 years after high school. PharmD (usually 2+ years of pre-pharmacy college plus 4 years of pharmacy school), plus state license.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biology.
Growing about average. Pharmacist jobs overall grow slowly, but clinical specialties are in demand.
Low risk in 5 years, medium in 10. Tracking software automates trial records; preparing blinded doses and FDA-grade accountability stay human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, Statistics.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1051.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.