The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries offer some of the most rewarding career opportunities in the US. Find out the top pharma and biotech companies to work for in the US in 2025.
Whether you’re a scientist developing life-saving treatments, a regulatory expert ensuring drug safety or a business professional driving strategic growth, the right workplace makes a difference.
Each year, Forbes releases its America’s Best Large and Midsize Employers list. This list recognizes companies that excel in employee satisfaction, workplace culture, professional development, benefits and more.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the list. Forbes partnered with global research and data firm Statista to survey more than 217,000 employees at US companies with over 1,000 employees.
The survey assessed various factors, including salary, work environment, training programs and opportunities for advancement. Participants were also asked if they would recommend their current employer to others.
This year, Forbes had 1,199 companies on the list, with 701 large and 498 midsize employers.
In 2025, several leading pharmaceutical and biotech companies made the list, standing out for their commitment to innovation, inclusivity and work-life balance.
If you’re looking to join a company that values its employees as much as its mission, here are the top pharma and biotech companies to work for in the US in 2025, according to Forbes, that you may want to consider.
1. Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Ranked 4th on Forbes’ list, Vertex has consistently ranked as a top employer in the biotech industry for several years.
According to Great Place to Work, a significant 88% of Vertex employees reported that the company is a great place to work, a figure notably higher than the 57% average for typical US-based companies.
Employee reviews highlight its supportive culture, scientific excellence, excellent benefits and professional growth opportunities. The large-sized pharma has 4,462 US-based employees.
After Vertex’s hepatitis C drug Incivek (telaprevir) hit $1.56 billion in first-year sales in 2011 — only to be outpaced by a competitor two years later — the company pivoted to cystic fibrosis. It developed Trikafta (elexacaftor/ivacaftor/tezacaftor), a breakthrough therapy used in the treatment of about 90% of patients, scoring a major success in the indication. Vertex continues to lead in treatments for sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia and diabetes.
Vertex has been off to a great start in 2025, receiving approval for Journavx (suzetrigine), a non-opioid painkiller and the first new class of pain medication in over two decades.
The biotech company reported robust financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2024. The company achieved a 12% increase in full-year product revenue compared to 2023, totaling $11.02 billion. The growth reflects the strong performance of its cystic fibrosis treatments and the successful launch of new therapies.
2. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals earned the 73rd spot on Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Best Large Employers. Regeneron says its dedication to employee satisfaction, professional growth and a collaborative culture makes it a top biotech employer.
According to a Great Place to Work survey, 89% of Regeneron employees say it’s a great place to work.
Regeneron invests in employee development through various training programs and advancement pathways. Its comprehensive benefits and supportive culture further reinforce its top status in the biotech industry.
In 2024, Regeneron reported a 10% increase in fourth-quarter revenues, reaching $3.79 billion, and an 8% rise in full-year revenues, totaling $14.20 billion.
The company’s flagship eye drug, Eylea (aflibercept), saw a 2% increase in US net sales in the fourth quarter of 2024, amounting to $1.50 billion, with the Eylea HD formulation contributing $305 million. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory drug Dupixent (dupilumab) experienced a 15% rise in global net sales, reaching $3.70 billion in the same period.
In September 2024, the FDA approved Dupixent as an add-on treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This marked Dupixent as the first biologic therapy approved for the condition in the US.
In January 2025, Regeneron, along with Illumina and 17 US health systems, invested $320 million in Truveta, aiming to create the world’s largest genetic database. Regeneron’s contribution was $119.5 million.
3. Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk secured the 80th position on the Forbes list this year. The company has also been featured multiple times on Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For list. Notably, in 2024, Novo Nordisk celebrated its 12th consecutive year on this list.
Great Place to Work certified Novo Nordisk as a strong employer in several regions. In the US, 82% of employees reported that Novo is a great place to work. Globally, 93% of employees affirmed that the company is a great place to work, reflecting a strong, positive workplace culture.
Novo is dedicated to employee satisfaction, professional development and fostering a supportive work culture. The company is praised for its inclusive culture and opportunities for career advancement.
In 2024, Novo reported a 26% increase in sales at constant exchange rates, reaching DKK 290.4 billion (approximately $42.1 billion). This robust growth was driven by strong performances across its product portfolio, namely its GLP-1 semaglutide diabetes and weight loss blockbusters Ozempic and Wegovy.
Novo’s operating profit rose by 26% at constant exchange rates, totaling DKK 128.3 billion (approximately $18.6 billion). This underscores effective cost management and operational efficiency, according to the company.
Novo announced plans to invest approximately $9 billion in 2025 to enhance its manufacturing capabilities across the supply chain. This investment aims to meet the growing global demand for its products and ensure a reliable supply chain.
4. Johnson & Johnson
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) secured the 90th position on Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Best Large Employers.
In 2024, the company was recognized as a Fortune World’s Most Admired Company for the 22nd consecutive year, ranking 2nd in the Pharmaceutical Industry and 27th overall. Additionally, J&J was named among Forbes’ Best Employers for Tech Workers in 2024.
According to Great Place to Work, 92% of J&J employees reported it as a great place to work, significantly higher than the 57% average for US-based companies.
In 2024, J&J reported a 4.3% increase in full-year sales, reaching $88.8 billion, up from $85.2 billion in 2023. The company’s fourth-quarter sales also saw growth, with a 5.3% increase to $22.5 billion compared to the same period in the previous year.
The transition of Stelara (ustekinumab) away from exclusivity due to biosimilar competition was a major focus last year. J&J plans to make strategic moves this year and the coming years to maintain its immunology leadership.
5. AbbVie
AbbVie was ranked 215th on Forbes’ 2025 list of America’s Best Large Employers.
According to Great Place to Work, 86% of AbbVie employees reported it as a great place to work.
In 2024, AbbVie reported full-year net revenues of $56.33 billion, marking a 3.7% increase from the previous year. In the fourth quarter of 2024, AbbVie’s immunology portfolio generated global net revenues of $7.29 billion, marking a 4.9% increase compared to the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by strong performances from (risankizumab‐rzaa) and Rinvoq (upadacitinib). On the other hand, Humira (adalimumab) continued to face revenue declines due to biosimilar competition.
Skyrizi, AbbVie’s blockbuster immunology drug, achieved global net revenues of $3.78 billion, reflecting a remarkable 57.7% increase. Similarly, Rinvoq, another key player in the company’s immunology portfolio, saw its revenues rise by 46.2%, reaching $1.83 billion. These two drugs continue to gain market share, helping offset Humira’s declining sales.
Meanwhile, Humira, which has long been a cornerstone of AbbVie’s immunology business, experienced a 49.1% drop in global net revenues, totaling $1.682 billion. The decline was largely attributed to increasing competition from biosimilar alternatives, as the drug lost exclusivity in key markets.
6. Merck & Co.
In 2025, Merck & Co. was ranked 97th on Forbes’ America’s Best Large Employers list.
Merck also earned the top spot on Newsweek’s 2025 list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for the second year in a row. For the rankings, Newsweek collaborated with Statista to evaluate 2,000 of the largest US public companies by revenue. The top 600 companies were ranked based on their corporate responsibility, which included environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors. The assessment used 30 key performance indicators, such as energy consumption and charitable contributions, alongside insights from a reputation survey of over 26,000 US consumers.
In 2024, Merck’s pharmaceutical division experienced a 7% growth, reaching $57.4 billion in sales. Excluding the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange, this growth was 10%.
This surge was primarily driven by increased sales of oncology products, notably Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Welireg (belzutifan), as well as higher alliance revenue from anemia med (associated with myelodysplastic syndromes) Reblozyl (luspatercept-aamt) and cancer drug Lynparza (olaparib).
Additionally, the successful launch of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) treatment Winrevair (sotatercept-csrk) and increased sales of hospital acute care products, particularly the antiviral Prevymis (letermovir), contributed to this growth.
In 2024, Merck expanded its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, including EyeBio in ophthalmology and Curon in immunology. This added promising biologic candidates to its pipeline.
7. Pfizer
Pfizer came in at the 408th spot on Forbes’ list.
However, in 2024, Pfizer was in the top 25% of Forbes’ inaugural America’s Best Employers for Tech Workers list, ranking among just four companies recognized in the drug and biotechnology category.
Pfizer reported full-year revenues of $63.6 billion in 2024, marking a 7% operational growth compared to the previous year.
Pfizer’s COVID-19 oral treatment Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) generated revenues of $727 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, reflecting a significant operational increase compared to the prior-year quarter.
The company’s COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty recorded revenues of $3.4 billion in the fourth quarter, a 38% operational decrease. This was primarily due to reduced global demand and lower contracted doses.
Revenues excluding contributions from Paxlovid and Comirnaty grew 12% operationally, indicating strong performance across Pfizer’s other product lines.
Pfizer is advancing its experimental oral obesity drug, danuglipron, with plans to initiate a late-stage study in the second half of 2025. The oral treatment aims to provide a convenient alternative to existing injectable therapies.
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