Find Grad Schools

Study Area & Zipcode

Pharmacist

Find Schools Near

Life As a Pharmacist

Occupation 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

  • Publish educational information for other pharmacists, doctors, or patients.
  • Plan, implement, or maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, or labeling pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality, security, and proper disposal.
  • Manage pharmacy operations, hiring or supervising staff, performing administrative duties, or buying or selling non-pharmaceutical merchandise.
  • Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.
  • Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, or evaluate the quality or effectiveness of drugs or drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications or characteristics.
  • Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.

Skills Needed to be a Pharmacist

Pharmacists state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.

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.

Instructing: Teaching others how to do something.

Writing: Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Other Pharmacist Job Titles

  • Doctor of Pharmacy
  • Pharmacy Informaticist
  • Hospital Pharmacist
  • Registered Pharmacist
  • Prescriptionist

Is There Going to be Demand for Pharmacists?

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 312,500 jobs in the United States for Pharmacist. 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. The BLS estimates 15,300 yearly job openings in this field.

undefined

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.

How Much Does a Pharmacist Make?

The typical yearly salary for Pharmacists is somewhere between $87,790 and $161,250.

undefined

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?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Pharmacists:

  • 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

What kind of Pharmacist requirements are there?

undefined

How Long Does it Take to Become a Pharmacist?

undefined

Where Pharmacists Are Employed

undefined

Pharmacists work in the following industries:

undefined

References:

Image Credit: {} via public domain (CC0)

More about our data sources and methodologies.

Featured Schools

Find Graduate Schools Near You

Our free school finder matches students with accredited graduate schools across the U.S.