Whether a person is attracted by the lucrative pharmacist salary or the gratifying community interactions, pharmacy jobs are waiting for qualified applicants. This overview explains the requirements necessary to become a pharmacist and enjoy a rewarding career.
| Profession | Median Annual Salary |
| Pharmacist | $106,000 |
Nature of the Profession
More than 270,000 pharmacists work in the United States. At the most basic level, these professionals provide prescription medication to patients. They are responsible for monitoring the interaction of all disclosed drugs that a person is taking, including over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies. They must also understand how much of each drug should be distributed and the potential side effects that can occur. Pharmacists are expected to share their professional advice with both patients and doctors to prevent complications, unnecessary risks, and even death. Some pharmacists also help with general wellness activities, such as vaccinations, blood pressure screenings, stop-smoking programs, and other healthy living programs.
Career Outlook
Due to the aging population and increased use of prescriptions to solve various problems, career prospects for pharmacists are excellent. Job openings are expected to grow by 17% between 2008 and 2018, as reported by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over half of all pharmacist jobs will continue to exist with hospitals, drugstores, and other retailers that dispense medication. Another 25% of positions will be filled by mail-order fulfillment companies, outpatient centers, and nursing facilities. Pharmaceutical company jobs make up only a small portion of all pharmacist employment opportunities.
Education and Training
Before starting work as a pharmacist and earning a pharmacist salary, a person must pass one or more examinations for licensure. To qualify for the exams, an applicant must possess a Doctor of Pharmacy, Pharm.D., degree. During this four-year program, students learn about drug interactions, patient communication, public health, biology, chemistry, physiology, and professional standards. Most Pharm.D. programs, whether on-campus or online, require a clinical rotation or practicum. On-the-job training educates new pharmacists about employer-specific policies and procedures.
Pharmacist Salary Levels
Recent pharmacy graduates typically start with the lowest pharmacist salaries, at under $77,000. Salaries can climb quickly, with experienced professionals, supervisors, and administrators earning $130,000 or more. On average pharmacists make $106,000 per year. Annual earnings can vary for pharmacists who specialize in a particular drug therapy field, such as oncology, nuclear pharmacy, geriatrics, psychiatric pharmacy, or intravenous nutrition.
Employment Environments and Opportunities
Pharmacists are fortunate to have a vast array of employers from which to choose. While most individuals tend to think of the pharmacist as being confined to the counter of a walk-up pharmacy, there are many other health care settings in which they can be employed.
A large number of pharmacists are employed within various health care facilities such as hospitals and specialized clinics. These can range from a local community hospital where the role involves dispensing medications and intravenous treatments to patients to specialized facilities such as cancer treatment centers where they may focus on chemotherapy treatment formulations.
There is a growing number of openings in elder care facilities as well. The vast majority of these locations will require a full-time pharmacist on staff to dispense a wide range of medications to residents. Due to the growing elderly population within the United States, these facilities are expected to add a significant percentage of the approximately 50,000 additional pharmacist openings through 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Additionally, a number of practicing pharmacists work in various positions within pharmaceutical companies. There are several roles in which they are employed for these organizations. These roles include research and development of new products and existing lines, as well as various marketing positions and community outreach programs which are managed by pharmaceutical companies.
Summary
No matter where a person works within the pharmacy field, employers are demanding qualified applicants. With a high number of new job openings anticipated over the coming decade as well as job security and attractive salary levels, becoming a pharmacist is a sound consideration for anyone who is committed to obtaining an advanced degree within the health care field. While the training is considered rigorous due to the high level of scientific reasoning skills required, most pharmacists enjoy their work and find the position rewarding. Dispensing prescriptions, helping people live better lives, and earning a solid pharmacist salary start with education, training, and a job search.
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