Table II: Top five job functions.
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Job description.
The most common field of expertise was in quality assurance and quality control (20%), followed by pharmaceutical analytical
development (11%), pharmaceutical development (10%), validation (8%), and production research and development (7%) (see Table
II). On average, participants reported they are contracted to work 38 hours per week and actually work 39 hours per week.
For the first time, this average is less than 40 hours per week, which may be attributed to the increased number of part-time
work, flexible hours, or company-enforced work schedules. About 88% reported that they do not receive financial reimbursement
for extra hours worked. Most employees have worked for their current employer for 8 years.
In 2006 and 2007 the industry underwent several major restructures, closures, and downsizings. A majority of respondents (57%)
say they have been through a company downsizing, restructuring, or merger or acquisition in the past two years. Although 37%
of respondents indicated these activities changed their job responsibilities, more than 48% reported no significant change
in their jobs as a result.
Salary and benefits
Overall results.
The mean base annual salary was $90,059 for all respondents, which represents a small increase from last year's average of
$88,729. Overall, employees reported an average of $12,162 in additional income from their principal employer, including bonuses,
summer work, and grants, and an average of $1531 in additional income from other professional work. Taking into account the
average salaries since 1998, it appears the reported annual base salaries have remained at the low $90,000 level since 2004.
Figure 3. Annual salaries of men and women worldwide (overall) and in the United States (US).
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Salary by gender only.
The biggest change in salary was the increase in women's full-time earnings (see Figure 3). Although the gap between men and
women's salaries still exists, it is much smaller than it was last year (a 10% gap versus 20%, respectively). On average,
women reported an annual base salary of $83,981, which is nearly $10,000 more than the average reported last year, while their
male colleagues earned $92,888 in compensation.
Figure 4. Salary according to job function.
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Salary by job function.
Jobs in consultancy, pharmaceutical development, and computer information systems were the top-earning fields this year, each
reporting an average of more than $100,000 (see Figure 4). Jobs in engineering and finished dosage form manufacturing also
are among the highest paid. Employees working in education and preformulation reported the lowest average salaries.
Figure 5. Salary according to region. Southwest (CA, HI, AZ, NM, NV, CO, UT, OK, TX); Southeast (LA, MS, AL, GA, FL, TN, KY,
NC, SC, AR, DE, VA, WV, MD, DC); Midwest (OH, IN, IL, IA, MO, MI, MN, WI, KS, ND, SD, NB); Northeast (MA, CT, NY, NJ, PA,
VT, NH, RI, ME); and Northwest (OR, WA, ID, MT, WY, AK).
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Salary according to location.
On average, employees in Northeastern and Southwestern states earned the highest salaries (see Figure 5). These regions also
had the greatest number of respondents. Respondents from Puerto Rico reported the lowest average salary of $78,720.
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