by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Pharmacology involves the study of Pharmacology. A Program That Focuses On The Scientific Study Of Drug Interactions On Biological Systems And Organisms And The Sources, Chemical Properties, Biological Effects, And Therapeutic Uses Of Drugs. Includes Instruction In Pharmacodynamics, Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology, Drug Therapeutics, Drug Action, Bodily Responses To Drug Events, Biochemical Proliferation And Differentiation, Apoptosis, Cell Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, And Studies Of Specific Drugs And Drug Interactions. Read on to learn the essential details every pharmacology student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering pharmacology programs.
Nationwide, pharmacology is a popular field of study, with 483 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Pharmacology Schools ranking analyzes these 51 schools to determine the best overall colleges for pharmacology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of pharmacology programs later in this article.
Programs in Pharmacology develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations pharmacology graduates commonly enter.
Skills built by a pharmacology program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a pharmacology major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several pharmacology degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 67 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 217 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 199 |
People currently working in careers related to pharmacology tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 25.9% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 23.2% |
| Doctoral degree | 20.4% |
| Post-doctoral training | 19.8% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 3.6% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 3.3% |
| Some college courses | 1.6% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 1.2% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.6% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 0.4% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in pharmacology careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in pharmacology prepares you for many career paths. Below are some of the most common occupations related to pharmacology.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to pharmacology.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Health Specialties Teachers, Postsecondary | 1,335,407 | 10.7% |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | 542,888 | 10.4% |
| Biological Science Teachers, Postsecondary | 276,211 | 6.3% |
| Geneticists | 183,832 | -1.1% |
| Natural Sciences Managers | 179,495 | 8.7% |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | 164,357 | 8.7% |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | 125,815 | 8.9% |
| Biologists | 118,631 | -3.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of pharmacology graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Earnings tend to climb as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $58,787 |
| 4 years | $74,178 |
| 5 years | $91,829 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for pharmacology graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers pharmacology grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Water Resource Specialists | $179,716 |
| Natural Sciences Managers | $132,227 |
| Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists | $111,314 |
| Clinical Research Coordinators | $110,931 |
| Molecular and Cellular Biologists | $100,077 |
| Bioinformatics Scientists | $92,484 |
| Biological Scientists, All Other | $79,550 |
| Biologists | $54,070 |
With 51 different pharmacology programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased pharmacology school rankings to help you.
Those considering pharmacology, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Pharmacology and Toxicology | 252 |
| Toxicology | 152 |
| Molecular Pharmacology | 85 |
| Environmental Toxicology | 78 |
| Pharmacology and Toxicology, Other | 53 |
| Neuropharmacology | 39 |
| Molecular Toxicology | 2 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
