STEM OPT Pharmaceutical Jobs

Pharmaceutical roles in drug development, clinical research, and regulatory affairs qualify for STEM OPT when your degree falls under an eligible CIP code. Your employer must be enrolled in E-Verify, and the 24-month STEM OPT extension gives you up to 36 months total to build your career in pharma.

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Overview

Open Jobs165+
Top Visa TypeF-1 OPT
Work Type84% On-site
Median Salary$112K
Top LocationBoston, MA
Most JobsVanda Pharmaceuticals

Showing 5 of 165+ Pharmaceutical jobs

Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Intern, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Drug Product, PDM
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Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Added 3w ago
Intern, Pharmaceutical Engineering, Drug Product, PDM
Revolution Medicines, Inc.
Redwood City, California
Specialized Engineering
Laboratory Research
Engineering (Non-Software)
Chemical Engineering
$67,000 - $81,000/yr
On-Site
Associate's

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Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
GxP Laboratory Systems Administrator
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Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
Added 1d ago
GxP Laboratory Systems Administrator
Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals
Madison, Wisconsin
IT Support & Systems Administration
Compliance & Legal
Quality Assurance & Testing (QA Testing)
IT Support
Systems Administration
$90,000/yr - $115,000/yr
On-Site
4+ yrs exp.
Bachelor's

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Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Senior Medical Science Liaison
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Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Added 1d ago
Senior Medical Science Liaison
Takeda Pharmaceuticals
California
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Support
$151,100/yr - $237,490/yr
Remote (US)
2+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
10,000+

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Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Medical Science Liaison
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Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Added 1d ago
Medical Science Liaison
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
Seattle, Washington
Healthcare Administration
Clinical Support
$160,000/yr - $240,000/yr
Hybrid
3+ yrs exp.
Doctorate
1,001-5,000

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Teva Pharmaceuticals
Quality Analyst I
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Teva Pharmaceuticals
Added 1d ago
Quality Analyst I
Teva Pharmaceuticals
Cincinnati, Ohio
Quality Control
Compliance & Legal
Compliance & Risk
On-Site
1+ yr exp.
Bachelor's
10,000+

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Tips for Finding STEM OPT Authorization in Pharmaceutical

Verify your CIP code before applying

Check that your degree's CIP code appears on the official STEM OPT designated degree program list. Biochemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, and biomedical engineering typically qualify, but some interdisciplinary programs get miscoded at enrollment and need a DSO correction before you can file the extension.

Confirm E-Verify enrollment before accepting offers

Ask your hiring contact or HR team to share the company's E-Verify employer ID before you sign anything. Pharma contractors and CROs frequently hire through staffing intermediaries, and the E-Verify enrollment must belong to your direct employer of record, not just the end client.

Target pharma employers with active LCA filing history

Use Migrate Mate to filter pharmaceutical employers by verified Labor Condition Application filings, so you're applying to companies that have already navigated STEM OPT and H-1B sponsorship, not ones learning the process on your timeline.

Structure your I-983 around FDA-regulated milestones

Your training plan must show a direct connection between your STEM degree and the role. For pharma positions, list specific learning objectives tied to GMP compliance, IND submissions, or clinical trial phases. Generic job descriptions get kicked back by DSOs and delay your extension approval.

Apply early at companies with H-1B cap-gap history

If your OPT expires before October 1 and your employer files an H-1B petition on your behalf, cap-gap protection extends your work authorization automatically. Prioritize employers whose HR teams already understand this timeline so your project continuity isn't disrupted during the transition window.

Use OFLC Wage Search to benchmark job offers

Look up the prevailing wage for your specific SOC code and metro area before evaluating pharma offers. Your employer must certify prevailing wage compliance on the LCA, so knowing the DOL's wage level for roles like pharmaceutical scientist or clinical research associate helps you spot underpaying offers early.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which STEM degrees qualify for the STEM OPT extension in pharmaceutical roles?

Degrees in pharmaceutical sciences, biochemistry, chemistry, biomedical engineering, and biology typically carry eligible CIP codes for STEM OPT. Your DSO confirms eligibility based on the CIP code assigned to your specific program at enrollment, not the degree title alone. If your program was interdisciplinary or has an unusual classification, ask your DSO to verify the code against the official STEM designated degree program list maintained by DHS before you apply for the extension.

Does my pharma employer need to be enrolled in E-Verify to hire me on STEM OPT?

Yes, E-Verify enrollment is a hard requirement for STEM OPT employers with no exceptions. The company must be enrolled before your extension is approved, and your employer of record must hold the enrollment, not a parent company or staffing agency acting as an intermediary. If you're placed at a pharma client site through a contract research organization, confirm which entity is signing your I-983 and whether that entity specifically holds E-Verify enrollment.

What goes into the I-983 training plan for a pharmaceutical job?

The I-983 requires a detailed explanation of how your daily work relates to your STEM degree, the specific skills and knowledge you'll develop, how your employer will supervise and evaluate your progress, and a reporting schedule. For pharmaceutical roles, learning objectives should reference degree-relevant tasks like analytical method development, regulatory submission drafting, or pharmacokinetic modeling. Vague descriptions linking a chemistry degree to 'general lab work' often result in DSO rejections and extension delays.

How does the cap-gap rule protect me if my OPT ends before my H-1B starts?

If you're working in a pharmaceutical role on STEM OPT and your employer files an H-1B petition before your OPT EAD expires, cap-gap protection automatically extends your work authorization through September 30 of the fiscal year your H-1B was selected for. USCIS issues an updated I-20 reflecting the extension. You stay authorized to work without interruption as long as the petition was filed while your OPT was still valid and your employer maintains E-Verify enrollment throughout.

How do I find pharmaceutical employers who are already set up to sponsor STEM OPT students?

Migrate Mate filters pharmaceutical employers by verified LCA filing history, which shows you which companies have already gone through the DOL certification process for STEM roles. This is more reliable than asking cold in interviews, since LCA filings are public record and reflect actual sponsorship activity rather than stated intentions. Pharmaceutical employers with a track record of LCA filings are also more likely to have HR processes in place for your I-983 reporting and eventual H-1B sponsorship.

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