Posting date:
30/05/2023
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Finding the right job in the pharmaceutical industry means more than just thinking about salary. You also need to decide on the benefits, work-life balance and company culture that work for you.
We’ve used Glassdoor data, where employees share honest reviews about their workplaces, to list the best pharmaceutical companies to work for.
Each company we’ve included has over 3,000 reviews to ensure an accurate representation of what employees think. On Glassdoor, reviewers are asked to rate the pharma companies they work for out of five in the following categories: work-life balance, culture and values, diversity and inclusion, career opportunities, compensation and benefits and senior management. They also rate how likely they are to recommend the company and whether they approve of the CEO.
Top 10 pharma companies to work for
Company | Glassdoor rating | % CEO approval | % employee recommendation |
Novo Nordisk | 4.2 | 94% | 84% |
Roche | 4.2 | 88% | 84% |
Boehringer Ingelheim | 4.1 | 86% | 82% |
Johnson & Johnson | 4.1 | 84% | 82% |
Merck | 4.1 | 84% | 81% |
GSK | 4.0 | 86% | 82% |
Novartis | 4.0 | 87% | 81% |
Eli Lilly and Company | 4.0 | 89% | 79% |
AstraZeneca | 4.0 | 87% | 77% |
Amgen | 4.0 | 86% | 77% |
1. Novo Nordisk
Glassdoor rating: 4.2
CEO approval: 94%
Employee recommendation: 84%
Taking the top spot as the best pharmaceutical company to work for is Novo Nordisk. Headquarted in Denmark, Novo Norisk specialise in diabetes care, obesity care and rare diseases. It has high employee satisfaction, with 84% of employees agreeing they would recommend Novo Nordisk to a friend and 94% approve of CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, who has steered the company since 2017, a strong indicator of trust in leadership.
Employees say Novo Nordisk offers a great work-life balance, good benefits and a friendly and respectful culture. With offices in over 80 countries, the company gives people chances to grow their careers globally. Staff also appreciate working for a company with a clear mission, helping people with chronic disease, which makes their work feel meaningful and rewarding.
Workplace awards
Winner of Best Employee Well-Being Programs Special Award by Best Places to Work in 2024
Named in Vitality’s Britain’s Healthiest Workplace (BHW) 2023
Named in the Top 100 North America Inspiring Workplaces 2025
Winner of the Best Place to Work Award in 2023, 2021, 2019 and 2017
Winner of the Best Place to Work for Women Award in 2022
2. Roche
Glassdoor rating: 4.2
CEO approval: 88%
Employee recommendation: 84%
Just missing out on the top spot, Roche is the runner-up on our list. The pharma company has a global presence in over 100 countries and a mission to evolve the practice of medicine and help patients live longer, better lives. By combining pharmaceuticals and diagnostics under one roof, Roche has become a pioneer in personalised healthcare.
With more than 10,000 employee reviews on Glassdoor, Roche boasts an impressive 88% CEO approval rating for Thomas Schinecker, who has led the company since March 2023. Additionally, 84% of employees would recommend Roche to a friend, citing its meaningful purpose and strong development opportunities.
Workplace awards
Top employer for R&D talent by Science Magazine in 2024
One of LinkedIn’s Top Companies in 2025
One of Glassdoor’s 2025 Best Places to Work list in the US in 2025
One of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for 2025
Placed on Fair360’s 2024 Top 50 Companies list for workplace fairness
3. Boehringer Ingelheim
Glassdoor rating: 4.1
CEO approval: 86%
Employee recommendation: 82%
Boehringer Ingelheim earns its place among the top pharmaceutical companies to work for in 2025. Founded in 1885, the company has a presence across 130 global markets and specialises in human pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, animal health, and chemicals.
Employees frequently highlight the supportive atmosphere, collaborative teams and the sense of pride they feel in contributing to meaningful work. The company’s emphasis on respect and engagement creates a workplace where people feel valued and empowered. Career development is another area where the company shines. Employees note that leadership is open to new ideas and supportive of growth.
Workplace awards
Recognised by the Top Employers Institute as a Global Top Employer for the fifth consecutive year
Listed among the top employers in multiple countries and regions for the past 11 years
Ranked among the top 3 employers in South Korea by the Top Employers Institute
Ranked among the top 20 employers in Germany by the Top Employers Institute
4. Johnson & Johnson
Glassdoor rating: 4.1
CEO approval: 84%
Employee recommendation: 82%
Headquartered in New Jersey, Johnson & Johnson also known as J&J, is one of the world’s largest and most respected healthcare companies, employing over 138,000 people globally. On Glassdoor, J&J receives high marks from employees for its positive working environment and great company benefits.
Employees often praise the supportive nature of their teams and the variety of career opportunities. Flexible work options help maintain a good work-life balance and the pay and benefits are seen as competitive, especially with strong bonuses and career development programmes.
Workplace awards
Certified by the Top Employer Institute as a Top Employer 2024 in Switzerland for the 5th consecutive year
Named a Global Standout in the 2025 Handshake Early Talent Awards
5. Merck
Glassdoor rating: 4.1
CEO approval: 84%
Employee recommendation: 81%
With over 7,000 ratings and an overall rating of 4.1 out of 5, Merck comes in at number 5 on our list of the top pharma companies to work for.
In their Glassdoor ratings, the company also scored well for equality, diversity and inclusion as well as compensation and benefits, with both having an average score of 4.1 out of 5.
Employees frequently highlight Merck’s friendly and supportive culture, diverse teams and flexible work options. The company supports career growth through mentoring, training and development programmes.
Workplace awards
Named the 2024 AON Best ESG Employer and recipient of the Best DEI Practice Award
Received the Global Phenom 2024 Top Talent Experience Award
Named one of China’s Best Employers in the 2024 HRA Human Resources Value Award
6. GSK
Glassdoor rating: 4.0
CEO approval: 86%
Employee recommendation: 82%
Headquartered in London, GSK has over 14,000 reviews on Glassdoor with an average overall score of 4.0. People rate the company for its great working environment and good benefit packages.
GSK is one of the only leading pharmaceutical companies with a female leader and 86% of reviewers said they approved of CEO Emma Walmsley.
Employees also valued the company’s outlook on diversity and inclusion with a score of 4.1 out of 5. This commitment to diversity is supported by CEO Emma Walmsley, who says: “Helping everyone to thrive individually, in all their diversity is what will help us get Ahead Together. I have never believed more that our success depends on our people and everyone having the chance to truly thrive at GSK.”
Workplace awards
Listed as one of the Best Places to Work 2025 in the Glassdoor Awards
GSK US was named as a Disability:IN Best Place to Work in 2023
One of Science Magazine’s Science 2023 Top Employers
7. Novartis
Glassdoor rating: 4.0
CEO approval: 87%
Employee recommendation: 81%
With an overall score of 4 out of 5, Novartis has almost 12,000 reviews, and people rate the company for its flexible working arrangements, friendly work environment and understanding leadership.
Over 8,000 people said they would recommend the company to a friend and 83% approve of how CEO Vas Narasimhan is running the company. A standout feature is its equality, diversity and inclusion, rated 4.2 out of 5, the highest among all internal metrics.
Most employees report flexible schedules and a good work-life balance. Career development, leadership programmes and learning opportunities also make it a place where many people grow professionally.
Workplace awards
Achieved Double A List status in CDP 2024 (Climate Change and Water Security)
Included in the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index
Recognized as Stonewall Top Global Employer 2022 and 2025 with the Silver award
8. Eli Lilly and Company
Glassdoor rating: 4.0
CEO approval: 89%
Employee recommendation: 79%
With an overall Glassdoor rating of 4 out of 5 and 88% of employees approving of the CEO David A. Ricks, the company is praised for its collaborative environment, strong leadership and employee-centric values.
Eli Lilly is also recognised for its commitment to diversity, equality and inclusion. Another standout strength is its culture and values. Employees consistently highlight the team-oriented atmosphere, respectful management and focus on wellbeing.
Workplace awards
Named in the World's Most Ethical Companies, awarded by Ethisphere
Recognised by Forbes as one of America's Best Employers for New Grads
Ranked by Glassdoor as one of the Best Places to Work
Selected by LinkedIn as one of the 50 Best Workplaces to Grow a Career
9. AstraZeneca
Glassdoor rating: 4.0
CEO approval: 87%
Employee recommendation: 77%
A global pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca’s purpose is to push the boundaries of science to deliver life-changing medicines. To do this, they hire "diverse minds" and "bold disruptors" who want to make a meaningful impact.
On Glassdoor, AstraZeneca has an overall rating of 4 out of 5. Employees value the company’s stance towards equality, diversity and inclusion. The company has received several prestigious accolades for its DEI initiatives.
Workplace awards
Winner of a HBA ACE Award for Workforce Innovation and Global Impact in 2025
Named as one of the Best Places to Work across multiple countries in 2023 and 2024
Gained the Learning & Development Award for Larger Employers at the Personnel Today Awards 2023
10. Amgen
Glassdoor rating: 4.0
CEO approval: 86%
Employee recommendation: 77%
Coming in tenth place is Amgen, a pioneer in biotechnology. Amgen prides itself on being a values-based company, with a focus on transforming new ideas and discoveries into medicines for patients with serious illnesses.
As an employer, reviewers on Glassdoor rated the company as 4 out of 5, with 86% approving of the CEO and 77% saying they would recommend the company to a friend. In reviews, people rated the company for its work-life balance, culture and great benefits.
Workplace awards
Named on Newsweek’s 2025 list of the World’s Greenest Companies
Recognised on Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Best Large Employers
Included in Fortune's list of the World’s Most Admired Companies
Interested in working for one of the leading pharmaceutical companies?
At Proclinical, we source exceptional professionals for the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies. Our expert teams recruit across the full drug development lifecycle, from preclinical and clinical research to regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance and post-marketing activities.
If you’re looking for a new job, simply send us your CV or use our job search tool to find the right role for you.
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