The faculty member who teaches pharmacology in a medical, pharmacy, or health science school — covering drug action, clinical pharmacology, and the pharmacological reasoning that prescribing requires. Half scientist, half educator preparing students for clinical work.
Most days tend to involve a blend of classroom and small-group teaching, scholarly work, and program participation — leading didactic sessions, leading case-based discussions, and supervising graduate students or contributing to research. You'll often spend part of the time on assessment and curriculum work.
The harder part is often bridging the depth of pharmacology science with the clinical relevance students need. You'll typically work across cohorts with varied science preparation, while keeping content current with evolving pharmacology and the rapid pace of new therapeutic introductions.
People who tend to thrive here are scientifically deep, patient teachers, and skilled at translating complex pharmacology into clinically usable knowledge. The trade-off is the academic salary reality and the cumulative work of teaching, scholarship, and service. If you find satisfaction in building the foundation students will draw on every time they prescribe or evaluate medication, the role can be quietly consequential.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
The faculty member who teaches pharmacology in a medical, pharmacy, or health science school — covering drug action, clinical pharmacology, and the pharmacological reasoning that prescribing requires. Half scientist, half educator preparing students for clinical work.
Median pay for a Pharmacology Professor is about $106K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $52K to $208K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Reading Comprehension, Instructing, Speaking, Learning Strategies, and Critical Thinking.
Most people in this role hold a master's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 17.3% through 2034, with roughly 229,720 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Health Teacher, First Aid Teacher, and Clinical Instructor.
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