Pharmacists

Summary

Pharmacists answer customers’ questions and explain the safe use of medications.

Quick Facts: Pharmacists
2010 Median Pay	$111,570 per year $53.64 per hour
Entry-Level Education	Doctoral or professional degree
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	None
Number of Jobs, 2010	274,900
Job Outlook, 2010-20	25% (Faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	69,700

What Pharmacists Do

Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer advice on their safe use.

Work Environment

Pharmacists work in pharmacies, including those in grocery and drug stores. They also work in hospitals and clinics.

How to Become a Pharmacist

Pharmacists must have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), a 4-year professional degree. They also must be licensed, which requires passing two exams.

Pay

The median annual wage for pharmacists was $111,570 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of pharmacists is expected to increase by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of pharmacists with similar occupations.

O*NET

O*NET provides comprehensive information on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

Contacts for More Information

Learn more about pharmacists by contacting these additional resources.

What Pharmacists Do About this section

Pharmacists review the accuracy of each filled prescription before it is given to the customer.

Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer advice on their safe use.

Duties

Pharmacists typically do the following:

• Fill prescriptions, verifying instructions from physicians on the proper amounts of medication to give to patients
• Check whether the prescription will interact negatively with other drugs that a patient is taking or conditions the patient has
• Instruct patients on how and when to take a prescribed medicine
• Advise patients on potential side effects they may experience from taking the medicine
• Advise patients about general health topics, such as diet, exercise, and managing stress, and on other issues, such as what equipment or supplies would be best for a health problem
• Complete insurance forms and work with insurance companies to be sure that patients get the medicines they need
• Oversee the work of pharmacy technicians and pharmacists in training (interns)
• Keep records and do other administrative tasks
• Teach other healthcare practitioners about proper medication therapies for patients

Some pharmacists who own their store or manage a chain pharmacy spend more time on business activities, such as inventory management. Pharmacists also take continuing education throughout their career to keep up with the latest advances in pharmacological science.

Pharmacists who work in universities or for pharmaceutical manufacturers are involved in researching and testing new medications.

With most drugs, pharmacists use standard dosages from pharmaceutical companies. However, some pharmacists create customized medications by mixing ingredients themselves, a process known as compounding.

Although most pharmacists work in retail stores, some work in specialized fields. The following are examples of types of pharmacists who work in settings outside of retail:

Clinical pharmacists work in hospitals and other healthcare settings. They spend little time dispensing prescriptions. Instead, they are involved in direct patient care. For example, they may go on rounds with a doctor and recommend medications to give to patients. They also counsel patients on how and when to take medications and monitor patients’ health.

Consultant pharmacists advise healthcare facilities or insurance providers on how to make pharmacy services more efficient. They also may give advice directly to patients, such as helping seniors manage their prescriptions.

Some pharmacists work full time or part time as college professors. For more information, see the profile on postsecondary teachers.

Work Environment About this section

Pharmacists may consult with physicians if they have questions concerning a patient’s prescription.

Pharmacists held about 274,900 jobs in 2010. The following industries employed the largest number of pharmacists in 2010: 

Pharmacists work in pharmacies, including those in grocery and drug stores. They also work in hospitals and clinics. In most settings, they spend much of the workday on their feet.

Work Schedules

Most pharmacists work full time, although about 21 percent worked part time in 2010. Because many pharmacies are open at all hours, some pharmacists work nights and weekends.

How to Become a Pharmacist About this section

Pharmacists must pay attention to detail, ensuring the accuracy of the prescriptions they fill.

Pharmacists must have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree from an accredited school. They also must be licensed, which requires passing two exams.

Education

All Doctor of Pharmacy programs require applicants to have taken postsecondary courses such as chemistry, biology, and anatomy. Applicants need at least 2 to 3 years of undergraduate study; for some programs, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree. For most programs, applicants also must take the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).

Pharm.D. programs usually take 4 years to finish, although some programs offer a 3-year option. A Pharm.D. program includes courses in pharmacology and medical ethics, as well as supervised work experiences in different settings, such as hospitals and retail pharmacies.

Pharmacists seeking an advanced pharmacy position, such as a clinical pharmacy or research job, complete a 1- to 2-year residency following their Pharm. D. Some pharmacists who own their own store may choose to get a master’s degree in business administration (MBA). Others may get a degree in public health.

Licenses

All states license pharmacists. After they finish the Pharm. D., prospective pharmacists must pass two exams to get a license. One of the exams is in pharmacy skills and knowledge. The other is in pharmacy law in the state giving the pharmacy license.

Important Qualities

Analytical skills. Pharmacists must provide safe medications efficiently. To do this, they must be able to evaluate a customer’s needs, evaluate the prescriber’s orders, and have extensive knowledge about the effects and appropriate circumstances for giving out a specific medication.

Communication skills. Pharmacists frequently offer advice to customers. They might need to explain how to take a medicine, for example, and what its side effects are. They also need to offer clear direction to pharmacy technicians and interns.

Detail oriented. Pharmacists are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of the prescriptions they fill, because improper use of medication can pose serious health risks.

Managerial skills. Pharmacists—particularly those who run a retail pharmacy— must have good managerial skills, including managing inventory and overseeing a staff.

Pay About this section

The median wage of pharmacists was $111,570 in May 2010. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $82,090, and the top 10 percent earned more than $138,620.

Most pharmacists work full time, although about 21 percent worked part time in 2010. Because pharmacies are often open at all hours, some pharmacists work nights and weekends.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of pharmacists is expected to increase by 25 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. Several factors are likely to contribute to this increase. Scientific advances will lead to new drug products. More people may get insurance coverage for medications. The number of older people is growing, and older people use more prescription medicines than younger people. As healthcare continues to become more complex and as more people take multiple medications, more pharmacists will be needed to counsel patients on how to use their medications safely.

Demand is also likely to increase for pharmacists in physicians' offices, outpatient care centers, and nursing homes.

Job Prospects

Because a significant number of pharmacists are expected to retire in the coming decade, new pharmacists should expect good job prospects.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about pharmacists, visit

American Society of Health-System Pharmacists

National Association of Chain Drug Stores

American Pharmacists Association

For information on pharmacy as a career, preprofessional and professional requirements, programs offered by colleges of pharmacy, and student financial aid, visit

American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy