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Health Professions · Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences Rank #8 of 13

Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciencesat University of California-Davis

Graduates earn $40,002/yr in their first year — about 25.0% below the national Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences average. Base-case 10-year earnings $839K; scenarios range from $722K to $865K depending on AI disruption.

Davis, CA Public Bachelor's Degree
DegreeOutlook Score
65 SOLID
66
Optimistic
68
Pessimistic
Earnings
$40,002
1-year post-graduation
ROI
12.5x
Earnings : in-state tuition
10-yr Base
$839K
Cumulative base-case earnings
AI Risk
High
52% task exposure
Program Analysis

What this degree looks like at UC Davis

Your path from UC Davis in Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration will likely lead to diverse opportunities, but it’s crucial to understand the nuances behind the initial earnings figures. The "Pharmaceutical Sciences" component often points graduates towards roles in research, development, or quality control within the broader biotech and pharmaceutical industry, which can have more moderate starting salaries compared to direct entry into a pharmacist role. Many students leverage this strong scientific foundation for further graduate studies (including a PharmD), which explains why initial post-baccalaureate salaries might appear lower than the national average for the field's higher-paying specializations.

The program's location in Northern California, while not a direct biotech hub like the Bay Area, provides proximity to leading pharmaceutical companies and research institutions for internships and early-career networking. However, the listed high AI risk reflects the increasing automation in routine dispensing and data analysis within traditional pharmacy roles. To mitigate this, actively pursue roles that emphasize complex problem-solving, patient consultation, or advanced research and development. Focus on internships in specialized industry segments or clinical pharmacy to position yourself for roles less susceptible to automation and with higher growth potential.

AI Outlook Integration

Three scenarios, ten years out

Each scenario is a different assumption about how AI reshapes the career paths this major feeds into. Earnings projections stack the full 10-year cumulative trajectory; scores use the same 0–100 metric as the hero, recomputed under that scenario's assumptions.

Pessimistic
Mass Automation
$722K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score68/100
Earnings Multiple11.8x
Base Case
Moderate Integration
$839K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score65/100
Earnings Multiple13.8x
Optimistic
AI Augmentation
$865K
10-year cumulative earnings
Scenario Score66/100
Earnings Multiple14.2x
Earnings Trajectory

10 year projection

Year-by-year earnings under each scenario. Base case reflects BLS growth patterns applied to UC Davis's starting earnings; optimistic and pessimistic adjust for AI's effect on each career path this major feeds into.

Career Paths

Where Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences graduates typically work

Common career destinations for this program's graduates, weighted by the school's specific occupation mix. Salary is BLS national median; AI risk is per-role task-exposure research.

1
Natural sciences managers
+3.7% 10-yr growth · 8,500 openings/yr
$161,180/yr
High
2
Marketing managers
+6.6% 10-yr growth · 34,300 openings/yr
$161,030/yr
High
3
Sales managers
+4.7% 10-yr growth · 49,000 openings/yr
$138,060/yr
Moderate
4
Pharmacists
+4.6% 10-yr growth · 14,200 openings/yr
$137,480/yr
Moderate
5
Managers, all other
+4.5% 10-yr growth · 106,700 openings/yr
$136,550/yr
Moderate
6
Industrial production managers
+1.9% 10-yr growth · 17,100 openings/yr
$121,440/yr
Moderate
Source: BLS Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics, May 2024. AI exposure from OpenAI GPTs-are-GPTs and Felten AIOE research.
Compare & Explore

Peer schools offering Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

How UC Davis stacks up against other schools offering this major.

Highest earnings
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
OK · Public
78
DW Score
$115K
1-yr earn
33.7x
ROI
Top score
University of Hawaii at Hilo
HI · Public
85
DW Score
$64K
1-yr earn
44.1x
ROI
North Carolina Central University
NC · Public
84
DW Score
$62K
1-yr earn
34.4x
ROI
Saint Joseph's University
PA · Private nonprofit
69
DW Score
$58K
1-yr earn
3.9x
ROI
Purdue University-Main Campus
IN · Public
67
DW Score
$57K
1-yr earn
13.3x
ROI
Also at UC Davis

Other top programs at UC Davis

Other highest-scoring programs offered at UC Davis, ranked by DegreeOutlook Score.

Consider the trade route

Not sure a 4-year degree is the right path? Trade programs in Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences offer shorter timelines, lower debt, and strong AI resilience for hands-on careers.

Compare Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences trade programs on TradeSchoolOutlook →
FAQ

Frequently asked about Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences at UC Davis

What does a 65/100 DegreeOutlook Score mean for Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of California-Davis?

At 65/100, the score looks reasonable — but Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences is a high-scoring field overall. Compared to peers, this program's earnings and ROI fall below the median.

Should I worry about AI if I study Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of California-Davis?

The 46% AI task exposure score is above average. Our model shows this affecting job availability more than salaries — graduates may face stiffer competition for fewer positions.

Is University of California-Davis a good choice for Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences despite lower starting pay?

Starting salary is one data point. If University of California-Davis's tuition is significantly below average, the ROI calculation can still work — lower earnings paired with lower costs can be a reasonable trade.