Pharmacist: Job Profile & Salary

Overview

If you're looking for a relatively well-paying, fast-growing job in the healthcare sector that requires a mix of technical, organizational, and people skills, the pharmacy counter may be the right fit for you. The more than 274,900 pharmacists in the United States dispense medicine and advice in tens of thousands of retail pharmacies and hospitals, as well as in mail-order, clinical, or corporate settings.

Job prospects should be excellent in the field in the years to come, and the earnings potential remains relatively high. While the market has cooled a bit from several years ago, experts say an aging population and increasingly complex medicines will keep industry growth healthy for years to come. A recent focal point in the industry is medication therapy management, or MTM. Pharmacists counsel patients by thoroughly reviewing their medications and finding the best way to reduce drug-related costs, but more importantly, the goal of MTM is to improve the quality of a patient's life.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 25.4 percent employment growth for pharmacists between 2010 and 2020, with the field adding 69,700 new jobs. Solid employment growth and a high median salary help make pharmacists a top healthcare job, as well as the No. 3 career on our list of The Best Jobs of 2012.

Salary

According the Labor Department, the median annual salary for a pharmacist was $111,570 in 2010. The best-paid 10 percent made approximately $138,620 a year, while the lowest-paid made approximately $82,090. The field's best-compensated areas include residential mental health or rehabilitation facilities and consulting services. The highest-paid in the profession work in California near the metropolitan areas of Modesto, Santa Cruz-Watsonville, and Napa.

Training

There's a long learning curve for pharmacists, usually starting with two years of professional study at a college or university before beginning a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) program at a college of pharmacy that generally takes four years to complete. Then, there are several examinations to pass, and often a one-year or two-year postgraduate residency program, or fellowships designed to prepare pharmacists for specialized areas like clinical practices or research labs. Some degree plans also include a master's degree in business administration (MBA) or public health component. All states require a license to practice pharmacy and a specified number of hours worked in a practice setting as well, and some require additional exams covering pharmacy law.

Reviews and Advice

The job hunt should start during school, with internships early in the process. "Exposure to patients and patient care during school will make them more successful," says Papatya Tankut, vice president of pharmacy professional services at CVS Caremark. Also, while technical skills matter, evidence of leadership, communication, and conflict resolution can help set applicants apart from the pack. Business acumen also counts, since pharmacies are often part of larger retail operations. Broadly, pharmacists begin their career dispensing drugs and advice, but can move into supervisory or administrative positions covering multiple pharmacy locations or larger geographic regions. Also, jobs in mail-order or Internet pharmacies or wholesalers are expanding as well. Large pharmacy groups also often maintain administrative, lobbying, marketing, or real estate arms staffed with trained pharmacists. "Today the options have broadened so much," Tankut says.

» Real Advice From Real Pharmacists