What You Need to Know About Pharmacists
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: What Do They Do?
- Teach pharmacy students serving as interns in preparation for their graduation or licensure.
- Refer patients to other health professionals or agencies when appropriate.
- Work in hospitals or clinics or for Health Management Organizations (HMOs), dispensing prescriptions, serving as a medical team consultant, or specializing in specific drug therapy areas, such as oncology or nuclear pharmacotherapy.
- 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.
- Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
- Publish educational information for other pharmacists, doctors, or patients.
Pharmacist Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Pharmacists say are important on the job.
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.
Types of Pharmacist Jobs
- Pharmacist
- Outpatient Pharmacy Manager
- Apothecary
- Staff Pharmacist
- Retail Pharmacist
What Kind of Pharmacist Job Opportunities Are There?
There were about 312,500 jobs for Pharmacists in 2016 (in the United States).
New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.6% which is lower than average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 17,400 new jobs for Pharmacists by 2026. There will be an estimated 15,300 positions for Pharmacist per year.
The states with the most job growth for Pharmacists are Texas, Florida, and California.
Watch out if you plan on working in Maine, Vermont, or Delaware. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Pharmacist Average Salary
The average yearly salary of a Pharmacist ranges between $87,790 and $161,250. The median salary is $126,120.
How much do Pharmacists make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
|
Alaska |
$139,880 |
|
California |
$139,690 |
|
Vermont |
$135,420 |
|
Maine |
$133,050 |
|
Wisconsin |
$132,400 |
|
Oregon |
$130,480 |
|
Minnesota |
$129,080 |
|
Missouri |
$128,420 |
|
Washington |
$127,360 |
|
New Hampshire |
$127,350 |
|
Texas |
$126,800 |
|
New Mexico |
$125,450 |
|
Delaware |
$125,400 |
|
Illinois |
$125,360 |
|
Arizona |
$125,210 |
|
District of Columbia |
$125,160 |
|
Nevada |
$124,430 |
|
Tennessee |
$124,310 |
|
Mississippi |
$124,120 |
|
Connecticut |
$123,950 |
|
Virginia |
$123,920 |
|
North Carolina |
$123,370 |
|
South Carolina |
$122,900 |
|
Kentucky |
$122,450 |
|
Alabama |
$122,200 |
|
Idaho |
$121,940 |
|
Kansas |
$121,790 |
|
Hawaii |
$121,780 |
|
Maryland |
$121,210 |
|
New York |
$121,030 |
|
Colorado |
$120,980 |
|
Rhode Island |
$120,890 |
|
New Jersey |
$120,660 |
|
Florida |
$119,710 |
|
Nebraska |
$119,670 |
|
Louisiana |
$119,380 |
|
Georgia |
$118,710 |
|
Arkansas |
$118,320 |
|
Wyoming |
$117,700 |
|
Michigan |
$117,680 |
|
Utah |
$117,570 |
|
Indiana |
$117,260 |
|
Massachusetts |
$116,890 |
|
Ohio |
$116,720 |
|
South Dakota |
$116,410 |
|
Pennsylvania |
$116,200 |
|
Iowa |
$116,160 |
|
West Virginia |
$115,130 |
|
Oklahoma |
$115,000 |
|
Montana |
$112,290 |
|
North Dakota |
$103,250 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Pharmacists
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Pharmacists may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Excel
- MEDITECH software
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft SharePoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Epic Systems
Becoming a Pharmacist
Individuals working as Pharmacists have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become Pharmacist?
Where Pharmacists Are Employed
References
Image Credit: Via Wikimedia Commons
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