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Pharmacists in Pennsylvania

Pharmacists in Pennsylvania

Want to work as a Pharmacists in Pennsylvania? Here’s what you need to know. 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.

What do Pharmacists Make in Pennsylvania?

The pharmacists working in Pennsylvania, the typical annual salary is $135,830 per year (or roughly $65.30/hour).Annual wages span from $104,380 at the 10th percentile to $161,760 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic Annual Hourly
10th percentile $104,380 $50.18
25th percentile $126,620 $60.87
Median (50th) $135,830 $65.30
75th percentile $152,230 $73.19
90th percentile $161,760 $77.77
Salary ranges for Pharmacists in Pennsylvania

The job concentration index in Pennsylvania nationwide is 1.18, meaning that pharmacists are more concentrated here than the national average.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, pharmacists earn a median of $93,686 per year ($45.04/hour), above the Pennsylvania median.

Pharmacists earnings in Pennsylvania vs. the national average

Employment Outlook

National employment for 990,178 pharmacists across the United States. In Pennsylvania alone, about 15,120 people work in this role. That puts the state above the typical state, which employs around 3,870 pharmacists.

Pharmacists in Pennsylvania vs. the average state Forecasted number of jobs for Pharmacists

Top Pennsylvania Metros for Pharmacists

The metro areas below employ the most pharmacists in Pennsylvania.

Metro Area Number Employed Annual Median Salary
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD 7,070 $137,960
Pittsburgh, PA 3,540 $131,950
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ 1,000 $137,600
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA 790 $134,690
Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA 690 $133,420
Lancaster, PA 420 $133,610
York-Hanover, PA 310 $134,510
Reading, PA 280 $137,870
Erie, PA 250 $130,680
State College, PA 140 $133,370
Altoona, PA 130 $131,610
Johnstown, PA 110 $129,850
Chambersburg, PA 100 $142,320
Lebanon, PA 90 $140,530
Williamsport, PA 80 $151,140

Top States for Pharmacists Employment

These states have the highest employment of pharmacists work.

State Number Employed
California 34,490
Texas 22,720
New York 21,330
Florida 20,270
Pennsylvania 15,120
Ohio 13,700
Illinois 12,450
Georgia 11,480
North Carolina 11,440
New Jersey 10,930
Michigan 9,640
Tennessee 8,050
Massachusetts 7,950
Washington 7,940
Virginia 7,700
Arizona 7,690
Missouri 7,070
Indiana 6,200
Minnesota 6,010
South Carolina 5,920

Highest-Paying States for Pharmacists

Where pharmacists earn the most: pharmacists.

State Annual Median Salary
California $165,150
Alaska $163,200
Oregon $163,120
Washington $157,020
Minnesota $154,610
Colorado $151,680
Hawaii $150,710
District of Columbia $141,560
New Hampshire $141,480
Delaware $140,470

Skills

The most important pharmacists skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Active Listening  4.0 / 5
0
5
Reading Comprehension  4.0 / 5
0
5
Speaking  4.0 / 5
0
5
Critical Thinking  3.9 / 5
0
5
Writing  3.9 / 5
0
5
Monitoring  3.9 / 5
0
5

Knowledge Areas

Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Medicine and Dentistry  4.6 / 5
0
5
Mathematics  4.5 / 5
0
5
Customer and Personal Service  4.2 / 5
0
5
English Language  4.2 / 5
0
5
Chemistry  4.1 / 5
0
5
Biology  4.0 / 5
0
5

Abilities

Key abilities for pharmacists, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Oral Expression  4.2 / 5
0
5
Written Comprehension  4.1 / 5
0
5
Oral Comprehension  4.1 / 5
0
5
Near Vision  4.0 / 5
0
5
Problem Sensitivity  4.0 / 5
0
5
Inductive Reasoning  3.9 / 5
0
5

Daily Tasks

Pharmacists typically:

  • Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
  • Assess the identity, strength, or purity of medications.
  • Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage, and proper medication storage.
  • Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
  • Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, or registries of poisons, narcotics, or controlled drugs.
  • 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.
  • Plan, implement, or maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, or labeling pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality, security, and proper disposal.
  • Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, or drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.
  • Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
  • Contact insurance companies to resolve billing issues.
  • Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment, or healthcare supplies.
  • Teach pharmacy students serving as interns in preparation for their graduation or licensure.

Work Activities

  • Documenting/Recording Information
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  • Getting Information
  • Working with Computers
  • Processing Information
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events

Tools & Technology

Technologies frequently used: Hot technologies: eClinicalWorks EHR software, Epic Systems

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

  • Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences
  • Pharmacy Residency/Fellowship Programs

Careers similar to pharmacists include:

Also Known As

Apothecary, Clinical Pharmacist, District Pharmacy Supervisor, Druggist, Float Pharmacist, Hospital Pharmacist, Industrial Pharmacist, Informatics Pharmacist, Outpatient Pharmacist, Pharm D (Pharmacy Doctor), Pharmacist, Pharmacist in Charge (PIC), Pharmacy Consultant, Pharmacy Coordinator, Pharmacy Informaticist.

References

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