What is a Pharmacist?
Position 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?
- 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.
- 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.
- Publish educational information for other pharmacists, doctors, or patients.
- Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
- 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.
What a Pharmacist Should Know
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.
Related Job Titles
- Pharmacy Informaticist
- Pharmacy Services Director
- Outpatient Pharmacy Manager
- Pharmacy Consultant
- Retail Pharmacist
Pharmacist Job Outlook
In the United States, there were 312,500 jobs for Pharmacist in 2016. 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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 15,300 job openings in this field each year.
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?
Pharmacists make between $87,790 and $161,250 a year.
Pharmacists who work in Alaska, California, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
How much do Pharmacists make 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
How to Become a Pharmacist
Learn what Pharmacist education requirements there are.
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where do Pharmacists Work?
Below are examples of industries where Pharmacists work:
References:
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