Annual Salary
£25,000 to £50,000
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
Swap to Maths or STEM or go back to all job sectors
Swap to Maths or STEM or go back to all job sectors
Pharmacologists study the effects of drugs and other chemical substances on cells, animals, humans and the environment.
Average UK salary in 2022 was £33,200
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: evenings / weekends; flexibly
There will be
2.4% more Pharmacologist jobs in 2027.
As part of your day-to-day duties, you might:
You may need to wear protective clothing.
You could work in a laboratory.
You can get into this job through:
You'll need a science degree to become a pharmacologist. Pharmacology is the most relevant subject, although a degree in biochemistry, physiology, or microbiology may also be accepted by employers.
A postgraduate qualification may also be a requirement when applying for some jobs.
Some courses include a year working in industry, which will give you an advantage when you start applying for work. You can also get experience by working as a lab assistant or through work shadowing.
You'll usually need:
You could do a Clinical pharmacology scientist degree apprenticeship.
As an apprentice clinical pharmacologist you would follow medicines through their entire lifecycle including:
You may need to be:already working in a clinical pharmacology role; a pharmacist looking to use your skills in research; a science graduate
To do this apprenticeship, you'll need:
It's useful to look for work experience opportunities or internships while you are studying that give you the chance to gain laboratory skills like:using pipettes; sterilising equipment; setting up analytical instruments; following safety standards and procedures
You could join the British Pharmacological Society for professional recognition, training opportunities and to make industry contacts.
You can find out more about becoming a pharmacologist through the British Pharmacological Society and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
With experience, you could progress to supervisor or manager. You could also move into medical sales and marketing, drug registration, patent work or information science.
You could work in research and development with a postgraduate degree in pharmacology or a relevant PhD.
You'll need: