Pharmaceutical production operators can start on about $12.50 an hour and this can rise to over $20 an hour as they gain more experience. Salaries vary between $30,000 and $40,000 a year.

Though pay can differ between companies and individuals it is usual for:

• An apprentice to start on $12.50 an hour.
• After approximately four years in the role to earn over $20 an hour.
• An experienced person with five years in the role to earn up to $27 an hour.

Source: PaMPITO

Pharmaceutical production operators can move into supervisory roles, team leadership on the factory floor or potentially into managerial roles such as production manager. They also often move into quality assurance roles with an allied products manufacturer such as food technology and medical device production