Hot Pharmacy States vs Cold Pharmacy States List

[Sparda29]

Want to compile a list of hot pharmacy states (states where a license pretty much guarantees a job) vs cold pharmacy states (you'll be hunting jobs for weeks or would only be able to find lower paying jobs covering shifts at independents).

I will come back and edit this post to add info to the list.

California - cold
Connecticut - Lukewarm (chains always hiring but not too many people)
Illinois - Cold
New York - Cold (NYC metro area), Warm (rural areas)
Pennsylvania - Cold
Wisconsin - warmish

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[Wheresmyaricept]

Are we talking about any type of job or are you looking for just clinical/hospital or community?

I would say Connecticut is lukewarm. The chains are always hiring, but not too many people. No idea about hospital...

 

[Sparda29]

Are we talking about any type of job or are you looking for just clinical/hospital or community?

I would say Connecticut is lukewarm. The chains are always hiring, but not too many people. No idea about hospital...

Well yeah any type. Chain retail, LTC, hospital, clinical.

Are there states where you can get a clinical coordinator job without a residency?

 

[homeslice]

I think the rural vs urban aspect is going to be just as important as the state itself, though I'm assuming you're looking at urban only.

In that case, don't bother with Illinois.

 

[mustang sally]

Wisconsin = warmish. It's definitely not cold (except all winter long, haha) but I don't know that it qualifies as hot, either.

Not sure if one could obtain a clinical coordinator position without residency or not. Probably would just depend on the person's work experience.

 

[Sparda29]

I think the rural vs urban aspect is going to be just as important as the state itself, though I'm assuming you're looking at urban only.

In that case, don't bother with Illinois.

Nah, rural is ok.

 

[npage148]

There's retail jobs in ny. I'd call it mid hot

 

[zelman]

Nah, rural is ok.

Then every state is both hot and cold, depending on where you're looking. I bet I could land a retail job in NY just north of central PA in a week.

 

[PharmtoCS]

California = cold

 

[Sparda29]

Then every state is both hot and cold, depending on where you're looking. I bet I could land a retail job in NY just north of central PA in a week.

I've applied to rural places in NY and didn't get calls back.

 

[njac]

Well yeah any type. Chain retail, LTC, hospital, clinical.

Are there states where you can get a clinical coordinator job without a residency?

I've seen this in NM.

Hell, my boss in CA didn't do a residency and she's a clinical coordinator. But she's been doing this for 25 years.

 

[npage148]

I've applied to rural places in NY and didn't get calls back.

What do you consider rural? Like what counties

 

[bacillus1]

California-cold
Pennsylvania-cold, Philly area=near absolute zero (I couldn't get a job in Philly so I moved to the Bay Area, that should tell you something)

 

[297point1]

California = cold

What are you talking about- California is sizzling hot!! (well, it is if you are a faculty member)

 

[Sparda29]

What do you consider rural? Like what counties

Anywhere outside NYC/Long Island/Westchester/Albany/Buffalo is rural to me. But I've applied at places in the Adirondacks, Rockland County, Orange County, Sullivan County, Saratoga County, Niagara County, and Erie County.

 

[zelman]

I've applied to rural places in NY and didn't get calls back.

Including terrible corporate retail jobs?

 

[Sparda29]

Including terrible corporate retail jobs?

Nah, I'd only move for a hospital staff pharmacist gig. I'd rather stay independent pharmacy in NYC. I just interviewed at a hospital in Suffolk a couple of days ago, perfect gig for me.

Just got a call today for a telephone interview for a hospital in Nassau.

 

[zelman]

Nah, I'd only move for a hospital staff pharmacist gig. I'd rather stay independent pharmacy in NYC. I just interviewed at a hospital in Suffolk a couple of days ago, perfect gig for me.

Just got a call today for a telephone interview for a hospital in Nassau.

Exactly. Big chunks of NY are warm/hot if you're looking for any job you can get.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

My district has had like 8 people leave for new jobs in the last 6 or so months. And a few months ago someone cold called me wondering if I was interested in an IV infusion job. There are jobs in Philly...you just need experience.

 

[Sparda29]

Exactly. Big chunks of NY are warm/hot if you're looking for any job you can get.

I guess what I mean by hot is, the interview is just there as a formality, you apply you get the job.

 

[njac]

I guess what I mean by hot is, the interview is just there as a formality, you apply you get the job.

I would never want to work at something like that.


Oh, a classmate of mine is now a director of pharmacy in rural SoCal without a residency.

 

[shutterfly]

My district has had like 8 people leave for new jobs in the last 6 or so months. And a few months ago someone cold called me wondering if I was interested in an IV infusion job. There are jobs in Philly...you just need experience.

no philly is a dead zone. like impossible to get a job....been trying for 2 years now.

 

[BenJammin]

California-cold
Pennsylvania-cold, Philly area=near absolute zero (I couldn't get a job in Philly so I moved to the Bay Area, that should tell you something)

Philly? Seriously? Two people from my alma mater got retail jobs straight out of rotations in the Philly area. Maybe you're blacklisted.

 

[shutterfly]

Philly? Seriously? Two people from my alma mater got retail jobs straight out of rotations in the Philly area. Maybe you're blacklisted.

yeah maybe? lol. but it might be cause i didn't want to do retail?

 

[BenJammin]

Fair enough lol

 

[njac]

no philly is a dead zone. like impossible to get a job....been trying for 2 years now.

Disagree.

 

[njac]

yeah maybe? lol. but it might be cause i didn't want to do retail?

Still disagree.

 

[zelman]

I guess what I mean by hot is, the interview is just there as a formality, you apply you get the job.

I don't know that that exists much anymore. I'd say you'll only see it within about 50 miles of international borders. Anywhere else can afford to be picky.

 

[BidingMyTime]

yeah maybe? lol. but it might be cause i didn't want to do retail?

Well, then its not "impossible" to get a job....it's just apparently impossible to get a job that meets your standards. Reality is, nobody wants to hire someone who has been unemployed for 2 years (unless they have a reason--going to college, family responsibilities), because it says that either 1) there is something majorly wrong with them or 2) they are too pick about jobs (which means they would probably be hard to work with.) The smart person gets a job, any reasonable job, and then while employed, works at finding their dream job.

 

[shutterfly]

Well, then its not "impossible" to get a job....it's just apparently impossible to get a job that meets your standards. Reality is, nobody wants to hire someone who has been unemployed for 2 years (unless they have a reason--going to college, family responsibilities), because it says that either 1) there is something majorly wrong with them or 2) they are too pick about jobs (which means they would probably be hard to work with.) The smart person gets a job, any reasonable job, and then while employed, works at finding their dream job.

um who said i was unemployed. obviously i just don't work in that area that is all...and i was just stating how long i have been trying to get a desirable job (for me) in that area. please keep your opinions to yourself especially if you don't know the situation thanks.

i am speaking from my own experiences. the only people I know who got jobs in the area either had connections or worked for the respective retail chain as a intern (and still a lot were placed in central PA- awaiting a transfer back)

 

[297point1]

Is there anywhere left in this country where, as the OP asks, "states where a license pretty much guarantees a job"? The go-go days of 2002-2006 are over.

Pharmacy Manpower is currently showing an ADI of 5 (high demand) for Iowa. Can any Hawkeyes comment on this? (I thought Drake and UI were doing a more than adequate job graduating students.)

I can't imagine anywhere exceeding "warmish"...even Alaska.

 

[DrQuinn11]

Oklahoma is pretty hot, they are closing some Walgreens stores for the day in major metro areas because they don't have pharmacists to cover shifts.

It seems like all of the hospitals are hiring all kinds of positions, from staff pharmacist to clinical specialist to pharmacy managers.

 

[Sparda29]

Jobs are a funny thing, and they are like women. When you have one, you get a bunch of interview offers/date offers. When you don't have one and are desperate, they are nowhere be found.

Back when I left the pediatric hospital, I was desperate and was just picking up shifts at independents as much as possible. (I know Prime Rx software pretty inside and out so that makes me a viable candidate for A LOT of independents in NYC. The only thing that would help out more is if I knew more languages. I barely speak Urdu (my parents language), I don't know Arabic other than how to tell someone to go **** themselves or calling them a son of a bitch/*****, same for Russian. A multilingual pharmacist who knows how to use Prime Rx is pretty much guaranteed a job.

I've been working as a SP at an independent lately, and in the last week I've interviewed for a staff pharmacist position at a community hospital in Long Island (3pm-11pm Monday-Friday no weekends, and I have a recommendation coming in from a supervisor at a sister hospital for that place), I have a telephone interview for a part-time position at a small community hospital (part time meaning 4 days a week), and I just got a call for an interview for a clinical pharmacist position at a hospital in NYC.

If I were to get offered each of these, which should I take?

Community Hospital Staff Pharmacist Full-Time: ~97k/year + benefits
Community Hospital Staff Pharmacist Part-Time: ~75k/year + benefits
Teaching Hospital Clinical Pharmacist Full-Time: ~85k/year + benefits

The full-time staff pharmacist job pays the most, but it pretty much eliminates me from picking up shifts at other places during the week, and it's about 40 miles away from me.
The part-time staff pharmacist job pays the least, but it leaves me open to pick up a lot of other shifts. About 20 miles away from me but takes a while since it's all local roads.
Clinical pharmacist position pays the middle amount, but probably more hours to work. 9-5 job which means I gotta leave 2 hours early for it since it's in the city unless I take the LIRR. This job probably gives me the best professional development opportunity. 3-5 years here would probably qualify me for a clinical coordinator position elsewhere.

 

[BMBiology]

^ damn the rate is low!

 

[aznjeff07]

I agree, oklahoma is really warm or hot. I have had 5 job offers in the last year and could easily have had more. This is all in the okc area too.

 

[Sparda29]

Those seem like super Low rates for a big city with high cost of living.

Do you like its hard to get significant pay raises at this point in your career? I've been out 4-5 years and I feel like I'm a couple bucks above the new grads at hospitals always.

Starting rates for staff pharmacists with 2 years of experience rarely exceed $50-55/hr around here unless it's per diem. I get $60/hr at my per diem staff pharmacist position in the Bronx for day shifts and $66/hr for evening shifts.

 

[wagrxm2000]

Jobs are a funny thing, and they are like women. When you have one, you get a bunch of interview offers/date offers. When you don't have one and are desperate, they are nowhere be found.

Back when I left the pediatric hospital, I was desperate and was just picking up shifts at independents as much as possible. (I know Prime Rx software pretty inside and out so that makes me a viable candidate for A LOT of independents in NYC. The only thing that would help out more is if I knew more languages. I barely speak Urdu (my parents language), I don't know Arabic other than how to tell someone to go **** themselves or calling them a son of a bitch/*****, same for Russian. A multilingual pharmacist who knows how to use Prime Rx is pretty much guaranteed a job.

I've been working as a SP at an independent lately, and in the last week I've interviewed for a staff pharmacist position at a community hospital in Long Island (3pm-11pm Monday-Friday no weekends, and I have a recommendation coming in from a supervisor at a sister hospital for that place), I have a telephone interview for a part-time position at a small community hospital (part time meaning 4 days a week), and I just got a call for an interview for a clinical pharmacist position at a hospital in NYC.

If I were to get offered each of these, which should I take?

Community Hospital Staff Pharmacist Full-Time: ~97k/year + benefits
Community Hospital Staff Pharmacist Part-Time: ~75k/year + benefits
Teaching Hospital Clinical Pharmacist Full-Time: ~85k/year + benefits

The full-time staff pharmacist job pays the most, but it pretty much eliminates me from picking up shifts at other places during the week, and it's about 40 miles away from me.
The part-time staff pharmacist job pays the least, but it leaves me open to pick up a lot of other shifts. About 20 miles away from me but takes a while since it's all local roads.
Clinical pharmacist position pays the middle amount, but probably more hours to work. 9-5 job which means I gotta leave 2 hours early for it since it's in the city unless I take the LIRR. This job probably gives me the best professional development opportunity. 3-5 years here would probably qualify me for a clinical coordinator position elsewhere.

I could never travel that far. Id rather live in the middle of no where and travel an hour to the nearest city on weekends.

 

[Sparda29]

I could never travel that far. Id rather live in the middle of no where and travel an hour to the nearest city on weekends.

I just looked it up, it's only 15 miles but that highway that I have to take is usually full of traffic in the morning so I'd probably spend 45 minutes headed there.

 

[Dred Pirate]

I think the rural vs urban aspect is going to be just as important as the state itself, though I'm assuming you're looking at urban only.

In that case, don't bother with Illinois.

I used to work in Illinois (moved our in 07 - so definitely has changed). I worked downstate and they were offering crazy sign on bonuses - what is it like there now? I might be moving back to Chicago in a year or so which I know is a completely different world.

North Carolina - metro areas - cold, rural areas, warmish

 

[Dred Pirate]

Jobs are a funny thing, and they are like women. When you have one, you get a bunch of interview offers/date offers. When you don't have one and are desperate, they are nowhere be found.

Back when I left the pediatric hospital, I was desperate and was just picking up shifts at independents as much as possible. (I know Prime Rx software pretty inside and out so that makes me a viable candidate for A LOT of independents in NYC. The only thing that would help out more is if I knew more languages. I barely speak Urdu (my parents language), I don't know Arabic other than how to tell someone to go **** themselves or calling them a son of a bitch/*****, same for Russian. A multilingual pharmacist who knows how to use Prime Rx is pretty much guaranteed a job.

I've been working as a SP at an independent lately, and in the last week I've interviewed for a staff pharmacist position at a community hospital in Long Island (3pm-11pm Monday-Friday no weekends, and I have a recommendation coming in from a supervisor at a sister hospital for that place), I have a telephone interview for a part-time position at a small community hospital (part time meaning 4 days a week), and I just got a call for an interview for a clinical pharmacist position at a hospital in NYC.

If I were to get offered each of these, which should I take?

Community Hospital Staff Pharmacist Full-Time: ~97k/year + benefits
Community Hospital Staff Pharmacist Part-Time: ~75k/year + benefits
Teaching Hospital Clinical Pharmacist Full-Time: ~85k/year + benefits

The full-time staff pharmacist job pays the most, but it pretty much eliminates me from picking up shifts at other places during the week, and it's about 40 miles away from me.
The part-time staff pharmacist job pays the least, but it leaves me open to pick up a lot of other shifts. About 20 miles away from me but takes a while since it's all local roads.
Clinical pharmacist position pays the middle amount, but probably more hours to work. 9-5 job which means I gotta leave 2 hours early for it since it's in the city unless I take the LIRR. This job probably gives me the best professional development opportunity. 3-5 years here would probably qualify me for a clinical coordinator position elsewhere.

those salaries scare the hell out of me. I make 125k+ (without overtime) in a role somewhere between a manager and a staff Rph (90% staff, 10% admin). Cost of living down here is sooooooo much less. I have friends in LI (non-pharmacists) who always say I should move there because a "pharmacist makes so much", heck I just read that during the LIRR strike that the average rail road emplyee made 85k, and that is without 8 years of school. depressing

 

[pharmdarling]

Pharmacy Manpower is currently showing an ADI of 5 (high demand) for Iowa. Can any Hawkeyes comment on this? (I thought Drake and UI were doing a more than adequate job graduating students.)

I used to live in Iowa. Des Moines has been "cold," in my opinion, for about five years. I had 4-5 friends that graduated in 2009-2010 that commuted 80 miles each way so that they could stay in the area. Each year for the last few years, there have been a handful of new grads to get jobs in DM and IC, but these are typically graduates who have worked for the company for many years or otherwise have a connection. A local grocery store chain in DM has been closing down stores recently, which has obviously had some negative impacts on pharmacy staff. I have been aware of both hospital and retail openings in rural Iowa recently.

 

[mustang sally]

I used to live in Iowa. Des Moines has been "cold," in my opinion, for about five years. I had 4-5 friends that graduated in 2009-2010 that commuted 80 miles each way so that they could stay in the area. Each year for the last few years, there have been a handful of new grads to get jobs in DM and IC, but these are typically graduates who have worked for the company for many years or otherwise have a connection. A local grocery store chain in DM has been closing down stores recently, which has obviously had some negative impacts on pharmacy staff. I have been aware of both hospital and retail openings in rural Iowa recently.

I thought Iowa was cold too. There's not that many people in that state plus two colleges of pharmacy. I left because it seemed way easier to get jobs in Wisconsin, but maybe that was just my experience.

 

[Dred Pirate]

I used to live in Iowa. Des Moines has been "cold," in my opinion, for about five years. I had 4-5 friends that graduated in 2009-2010 that commuted 80 miles each way so that they could stay in the area. Each year for the last few years, there have been a handful of new grads to get jobs in DM and IC, but these are typically graduates who have worked for the company for many years or otherwise have a connection. A local grocery store chain in DM has been closing down stores recently, which has obviously had some negative impacts on pharmacy staff. I have been aware of both hospital and retail openings in rural Iowa recently.

Des Moines was cold back when I graduated in 04 - Osco closed up shot in 03 and layed off 45 Rph's and the only people in my class that were able to stay in DSM where those that already were working with a company that needed a pharmacist.

 

[BMBiology]

I guess the pharmacy manpower project got it wrong again. This "study" has been used repeatedly as the reason why there needs to be more pharmacy schools.

 

[OmiPharmD]

I used to work in Illinois (moved our in 07 - so definitely has changed). I worked downstate and they were offering crazy sign on bonuses - what is it like there now? I might be moving back to Chicago in a year or so which I know is a completely different world.

North Carolina - metro areas - cold, rural areas, warmish

It was like this until about 3 years ago. Now we have no need to offer sign on bonuses because we have plenty of applicants - hospital, hybrid clinical/staffing position.

There are more schools in the Chicago area (UIC, Midwestern, Chicago state, Rosalind Franklin, Roosevelt) and SIUE to the south. Pay has been fairly stagnant too.

There are more opportunities if you have experience of course. It's the new grads who have a rough time especially if they don't have a residency. Unless they want to work retail. It seems like the chains around here are always hiring. Always hiring but guaranteeing less than 40 hours. Then if the kids want more hours they get to float to bfe to pick them up.

 

[pharmdarling]

Des Moines was cold back when I graduated in 04 - Osco closed up shot in 03 and layed off 45 Rph's and the only people in my class that were able to stay in DSM where those that already were working with a company that needed a pharmacist.

And now...they have CVS, which I believe has been hiring recently, although mostly part-time.

 

[Dred Pirate]

It was like this until about 3 years ago. Now we have no need to offer sign on bonuses because we have plenty of applicants - hospital, hybrid clinical/staffing position.

There are more schools in the Chicago area (UIC, Midwestern, Chicago state, Rosalind Franklin, Roosevelt) and SIUE to the south. Pay has been fairly stagnant too.

There are more opportunities if you have experience of course. It's the new grads who have a rough time especially if they don't have a residency. Unless they want to work retail. It seems like the chains around here are always hiring. Always hiring but guaranteeing less than 40 hours. Then if the kids want more hours they get to float to bfe to pick them up.

well considering I have 10 years experience in hospital, I think I will be competitive, albiet far from guaranteed any job. Likely moving to the northern or NW suburbs (of course the "nice" places" There are really five school in Chicago now? IIRC there were only 2 10 years ago. When I was there I worked in BFE (decatur area)

 

[njac]

well considering I have 10 years experience in hospital, I think I will be competitive, albiet far from guaranteed any job. Likely moving to the northern or NW suburbs (of course the "nice" places" There are really five school in Chicago now? IIRC there were only 2 10 years ago. When I was there I worked in BFE (decatur area)

Yup. Five.

And very prolific residency programs putting out many clinicians who will accept low pay to stay in the city they love.

 

[OmiPharmD]

well considering I have 10 years experience in hospital, I think I will be competitive, albiet far from guaranteed any job. Likely moving to the northern or NW suburbs (of course the "nice" places" There are really five school in Chicago now? IIRC there were only 2 10 years ago. When I was there I worked in BFE (decatur area)

It's crazy but yes. There are 5 schools and UIC has a Rockford campus which I think has another 50 students/year.

 

[bacillus1]

My district has had like 8 people leave for new jobs in the last 6 or so months. And a few months ago someone cold called me wondering if I was interested in an IV infusion job. There are jobs in Philly...you just need experience.

OK, get me an inpatient clinical pharmacist position in Philly, and I'll be back as soon as I can drive my car across the country. West Chester and Newark, DE don't count as Philly. I need places where I can actually live in/near Center city without sitting in traffic for hours.