What Do Pharmacist Do?
Pharmacist Job Description Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.
Life As a Pharmacist
- Prepare sterile solutions or infusions for use in surgical procedures, emergency rooms, or patients’ homes.
- Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.
- Teach pharmacy students serving as interns in preparation for their graduation or licensure.
- Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.
- Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment, or healthcare supplies.
- Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
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Pharmacist Needed Skills
When polled, Pharmacists say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Types of Pharmacist Jobs
- Pharmacy Informaticist
- Staff Pharmacist
- Pharmacist Apprentice
- Staff Pharmacist, Hospital
- Pharmacy Manager
Is There Going to be Demand for Pharmacists?
There were about 312,500 jobs for Pharmacist in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.6% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 17,400 new jobs for Pharmacist by 2026. There will be an estimated 15,300 positions for Pharmacist per year.
The states with the most job growth for Pharmacist are Utah, Arizona, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Wisconsin, or New Jersey. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Average Pharmacists Salary
The typical yearly salary for Pharmacists is somewhere between $87,790 and $161,250.
Pharmacists who work in Alaska, California, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Pharmacists in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $122,200 |
| Alaska | $139,880 |
| Arizona | $125,210 |
| Arkansas | $118,320 |
| California | $139,690 |
| Colorado | $120,980 |
| Connecticut | $123,950 |
| Delaware | $125,400 |
| District of Columbia | $125,160 |
| Florida | $119,710 |
| Georgia | $118,710 |
| Hawaii | $121,780 |
| Idaho | $121,940 |
| Illinois | $125,360 |
| Indiana | $117,260 |
| Iowa | $116,160 |
| Kansas | $121,790 |
| Kentucky | $122,450 |
| Louisiana | $119,380 |
| Maine | $133,050 |
| Maryland | $121,210 |
| Massachusetts | $116,890 |
| Michigan | $117,680 |
| Minnesota | $129,080 |
| Mississippi | $124,120 |
| Missouri | $128,420 |
| Montana | $112,290 |
| Nebraska | $119,670 |
| Nevada | $124,430 |
| New Hampshire | $127,350 |
| New Jersey | $120,660 |
| New Mexico | $125,450 |
| New York | $121,030 |
| North Carolina | $123,370 |
| North Dakota | $103,250 |
| Ohio | $116,720 |
| Oklahoma | $115,000 |
| Oregon | $130,480 |
| Pennsylvania | $116,200 |
| Rhode Island | $120,890 |
| South Carolina | $122,900 |
| South Dakota | $116,410 |
| Tennessee | $124,310 |
| Texas | $126,800 |
| Utah | $117,570 |
| Vermont | $135,420 |
| Virginia | $123,920 |
| Washington | $127,360 |
| West Virginia | $115,130 |
| Wisconsin | $132,400 |
| Wyoming | $117,700 |
What Tools & Technology do Pharmacists Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Pharmacists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Web browser software
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft SharePoint
- MEDITECH software
- Epic Systems
- Recordkeeping software
- Pyxis MedStation software
- Label-making software
Becoming a Pharmacist
Are there Pharmacists education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Pharmacist?
Who Employs Pharmacists?
Pharmacists work in the following industries:
References:
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More about our data sources and methodologies.
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