AAPS salary survey shows 6.7% compensation increase since 2022

Written by AAPS

The only survey to exclusively address compensation trends for pharmaceutical scientists

Arlington, VA—The 2023 AAPS salary survey shows that salaries for those employed in the United States in pharmaceutical sciences have increased by 6.7% since 2022. The mean annual base salary earned by those employed full-time in the United States as of June 1 2023 was US $190,100.

In comparison, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that compensation rose 4.5% across all industries from June 2022 to June 2023.

“It is refreshing to see that salaries continue to rise in pharmaceutical science despite a challenging year in the biotech sector,” said 2023 AAPS President Patrick J. Sinko, Ph.D., R.Ph., FAAPS. “Pharmaceutical science is resilient in the face of layoffs, picked up M&A activity and reduced venture funding. While we are all facing this disruption, the industry still needs scientists to advance the capacity of pharmaceutical scientists to develop products and therapies that improve global health, which is also AAPS’ mission.”

The AAPS salary survey is the only survey that exclusively tracks compensation data within the pharmaceutical science sector. Each year, AAPS surveys the membership about salary and compensation information and collects demographic data. The survey collects base salary information and supplemental income, including bonuses, summer-time work, grants, summer teaching, etc., and income from other professional work such as consulting. Information is also collected about salaries outside the United States. Salary data is also broken down by education level, years of experience and career field, i.e., industry or academia.

The survey is an AAPS members-only benefit that can be accessed on the AAPS career development website. AAPS members also have access to a salary calculator for full-time employees in the United States that can be used to research salaries across industry and academia. This data can then be used to negotiate their next salary.


About AAPS

American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) is a non-profit association of more than 7000 scientists and professionals employed in academia, industry, regulatory and other research related to the pharmaceutical sciences worldwide. Its mission is to advance the capacity of pharmaceutical scientists to develop products and therapies that improve global health, which members pursue through four peer-reviewed journals and a variety of events in person and online.