Predictors of annual base salary for health economics, outcomes research, and market access professionals in the biopharmaceutical industry

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Analysis of salary data for health economics, outcomes research, and market access professionals in biopharmaceutical space plays an important role in hiring talent, benchmarking remuneration, and evaluating income discrepancies. OBJECTIVES: To (a) identify predictors of annual base salary (ABS) for health economics, outcomes research, and market access professionals who participated in the 2017 Global Salary Survey by HealthEconomics.Com and (b) evaluate salary-related gender disparity among survey respondents. METHODS: 501 professionals from the HealthEconomics.Com global subscriber list participated in a survey that assessed salary, bonus, benefits, and job satisfaction in June 2017. Two multivariable regression models identified significant predictors of ABS for U.S. and non-U.S. regions separately. Analysis of variance determined interaction effects between gender, organizational size, job title, and people management responsibilities separately. RESULTS: Of the 501 respondents, 385 were included in the analysis because they reported ABS. Median ABS for male (n = 117) and female (n = 111) U.S.-based respondents was $172,500 and $162,500, respectively. For male (n = 75) and female (n = 65) non-U.S.-based respondents, the median was identical at $92,500. Mean (SD) ABS between male ($180,534 [$77,755]) and female ($165,113 [$64,604]; t [226] = 1.62; P = 0.106) U.S. respondents was not significantly different. Mean (SD) ABS for male ($110,900 [$65,898]) and female ($98,039 [$48,639]; t [138] = 1.30; P = 0.196) non-U.S. respondents was not significantly different, as well. Multivariable regression models for U.S. and non-U.S. respondents accounted for 62.7% and 63.9% of variance in ABS (P < 0.001), respectively. In both models, significantly higher salaries were associated with professionals aged > 40 years; biopharmaceutical employment; having a PhD, PharmD, or MD; and having a job title of president or director (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: After controlling for covariates, gender was not statistically significantly associated with ABS. Age, organization type, terminal degree, and job title were significant predictors of higher salaries inside and outside of the United States. Additional research should be conducted to increase generalizability of results, which were based on a convenience sample.