How Many People Work at Pfizer? Headcount and Employee Trends

Pfizer employs more than 41,000 people worldwide, spanning research, manufacturing, commercial operations, and corporate functions. Recent workforce data show 1,188 new hires and 2,479 departures, resulting in a net contraction of roughly 3 percent. The figures highlight how the global pharmaceutical company continually calibrates staffing levels to align with pipeline priorities and market conditions.

Engineering is Pfizer’s largest team with about 10,050 employees, accounting for roughly a quarter of the global workforce. Business Management (6,622) and Sales & Support (5,162) follow, together representing another 28 percent of headcount. Operations (4,386), Healthcare specialists (3,717), and Marketing & Product roles (3,165) form significant talent pools, while Finance & Administration (2,698) and Risk, Safety & Compliance (1,080) support governance and regulatory needs. Quality assurance and other specialized functions round out the organization, illustrating a balanced mix of scientific, commercial, and operational expertise.

Pfizer’s talent footprint is highly distributed, with more than three-quarters of employees based outside its top reported hubs. New York hosts the largest single-city presence at 3,336 employees, followed by Boston, Groton, and Kalamazoo, each supporting key R&D and manufacturing activities. Mid-sized concentrations in Seattle, Raleigh, San Diego, Philadelphia, and Collegeville reflect the company’s network of research centers and production sites across the United States. The remaining 31,700-plus employees work in other domestic and international locations, underscoring Pfizer’s global operating model.