Are you considering a career in pharmaceutical sales? If so, you should know about the biggest pharmaceutical companies in the industry. Together, these giants produce the majority prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications on the market today. One of the businesses on this list could be your future employer. And even if you don’t end up working for a top company, it’s smart to know about the competition. Read over the list of pharmaceutical companies below to learn all about the world’s drug giants.

1.) Pfizer

The world’s largest pharmaceutical company, Pfizer, employs more than 135,000 people and makes about $70 million in annual revenue. The New York City-based enterprise also ranks number one in worldwide sales. Pfizer recently bought Wyeth, another of the largest pharmaceutical companies; the merger propelled Pfizer far above the competition in terms of revenue and employees. Some of Pfizer’s best-performing drugs are Celebrex, Lipitor, Viagra, and Lyrica.

2.) Johnson & Johnson

Another U.S.-based company, Johnson & Johnson, takes the number two spot on the list of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies. The company makes not only pharmaceuticals, but also medical devices and consumer packaged goods. Based in New Jersey, Johnson & Johnson employs nearly 120,000 people worldwide. Some of the company’s most known pharmaceutical brands include Tylenol, Sudafed, Zyrtec, Motrin, and Benadryl.

3.) GlaxoSmithKline

This U.K. pharmaceutical giant is the largest drug company based outside of the United States. With headquarters in London, GlaxoSmithKline employs more than 100,000 people through its offices worldwide. GSK is one of the top pharmaceutical companies for prescription drugs, producing Advair, Boniva, Paxil, Valtrex, Wellbutrin, and many more recognizable brands.

4.) Hoffman-La Roche

This Swiss company isn’t as large as the three giant pharmaceutical companies listed above, but it’s still impressive. With more than 75,000 employees and $40 million in annual revenue, Hoffman-La Roche is continental Europe’s largest pharmaceutical enterprise. The company produces drugs like Tamiflu, Xenical, Valium, and Roaccutane.

5.) Sanofi-Aventis

This French pharmaceutical company is the world’s fifth largest in revenue but fourth largest in prescription drug sales. The multinational company is based in Paris, but it employs about 100,000 people in countries throughout the world. Sanofi-Aventis makes Plavix, Allegra, Actonel, Ambien, and Lovenox, a drug for thrombosis that is its best seller.

6.) Novartis

Novartis is one of the largest healthcare companies is the world. The Swiss giant raked in more than $36 billion in sales in 2008. It employs more than 100,000 people at its headquarters in Basel and at subsidiary offices worldwide. Novartis produces a variety of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, as well as a line of animal pharmaceuticals. Some of its most recognizable products are Diovan, Femara, Ritalin, Excedrin, and Lamisil.

7.) AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a European company with two home bases: one in London and a second in Sweden. The company employs about 65,000 people worldwide. Although smaller than many of the other pharmaceutical companies on this list, AstraZeneca is one of the world’s most recognizable enterprises. The company produces drugs for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, respiratory, and anesthetic needs, including the well-known products Symbicort, Prilosec, Nexium, Crestor, and Seloken.