According to Forbes, we are underpaid

[PharmtoCS]

I don't understand this line of thinking. Our employers should pay us more because pharmacy school is expensive? You can rack up plenty of debt obtaining a Masters degree in art, history, social science, etc. Should they be paid more too?

You can do either that or you can maximize your salary and minimize your student loan burden by choosing computer science, engineering, accounting, or the trades.

We "should" be paid more than engineers based on the stress level and liability that we take on. Of course, in a supply/demand world, that won't happen due to the saturation going on right now. This is partly fueled by the inflated $120k salaries that many pre-pharms buy into but fail to take into account student loans and taxes.

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[gwarm01]

You would drive me crazy, I could see you putting your two cents into every conversation.

There's a difference between being an excellent tech and doing too much.

Lol i’d be like STFU johnny boy, go grab the labels and Vials from the back.

I recently had a tech who was about a month on the job start questioning me, giving attitude about routine requests because they didn't feel comfortable with it. I had to give the whole "everything you do is under my jurisdiction and I am responsible for literally everything that happens here" speech. It's so funny when a teenager wants to tell a professional how to do their job.

Bonus update: Worked with them again recently and it was night and day. Nothing but a friendly and helpful attitude. They either got yelled at or realized I was one of the better pharmacists to work with.

 

[owlegrad]

I recently had a tech who was about a month on the job start questioning me, giving attitude about routine requests because they didn't feel comfortable with it. I had to give the whole "everything you do is under my jurisdiction and I am responsible for literally everything that happens here" speech. It's so funny when a teenager wants to tell a professional how to do their job.

Bonus update: Worked with them again recently and it was night and day. Nothing but a friendly and helpful attitude. They either got yelled at or realized I was one of the better pharmacists to work with.

So this is painting with a very broad brush but in my experience it’s actually the younger technicians who fall into line easily and seem to understand their role better. It’s the older techs that I’ve always had issues with thinking they can give medical advice and answer questions without “bothering me”.

Of course I’ve had exceptions on both sides but I find this to be the rule rather than the exception. In general if you’re good enough to be a super tech you’re good enough to make a lot better money somewhere else. So good career techs are few and far between.

 

[Deja]

Are you saying that is low or high? That is spot-on from what I've seen.

too much... the only places this would be the case are middle of cali where no one wants to go... please enlighten me which major cities in cali you are seeing new grads getting $68 from the 3 chains

a few years ago walgreens was starting new grads with $58 an hour in LA, I can't imagine it being $68 now

 

[mentos]

Maybe I’m different - I understand that I don’t have the knowledge, experience, and a RPh license on the wall - so I never try to play the part..

Now, when it comes down to the pharmacist asking me to look over a fill in - I don’t see that as over stepping - because the only thing I’m doing is putting one more set of eyes on the Rx before it goes out the door.. as I mentioned earlier - I caught a heparin flush that was miss-filled and signed off on by a fill in pharmacist.. it was suppose to be a normal saline flush for the patients trach.. I’ve caught other mistakes as well - which IMO a technician shouldn’t be asked to double check behind a pharmacist - the filling tech should have double checked their self and these errors should have never made it to the RPh.. (which, IMO the techs that make constant errors don’t deserve $20/hour)

I know that certain disease states call for anti-coagulants with anti-platelets while others call for one or the other..

I’m not claiming to be the smartest or best technician out there - but I take pride in my work and I truly love dealing with my patients.. I am always looking for ways to help the RPh out by trying to do as much as I am legally allowed to do..

At the end of the day, my job boils down to making your job (the RPh) easier..


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Wow that pharmacy has time for techs to double check everything after they verify? How are they profitable? If a tech walked from filling station to verification at a chain, even a couple times per hour, that would be precious time wasted.

 

[mentos]

You can do either that or you can maximize your salary and minimize your student loan burden by choosing computer science, engineering, accounting, or the trades.

We "should" be paid more than engineers based on the stress level and liability that we take on. Of course, in a supply/demand world, that won't happen due to the saturation going on right now. This is partly fueled by the inflated $120k salaries that many pre-pharms buy into but fail to take into account student loans and taxes.

Not sure what this has to do with my response. You said pharmacists should be paid more because of high tuition and lost opportunity cost. I argued that any major can have high tuition and lost opportunity cost.

Also, I disagree with your second paragraph. Engineers create a profitable product, while pharmacists are completely overhead. Engineers earn money for businesses (they bill clients at an hourly rate) while pharmacists do nonbillable work and cost businesses money. Engineers have plenty of liability. Would you be comfortable signing off on a bridge, building, car, airplane, or infant car seat? If a disaster happens due to a design fault, guess who's liable?

 

[gwarm01]

So this is painting with a very broad brush but in my experience it’s actually the younger technicians who fall into line easily and seem to understand their role better. It’s the older techs that I’ve always had issues with thinking they can give medical advice and answer questions without “bothering me”.

Of course I’ve had exceptions on both sides but I find this to be the rule rather than the exception. In general if you’re good enough to be a super tech you’re good enough to make a lot better money somewhere else. So good career techs are few and far between.

That has typically been my experience as well. I think she was just overly cautious because we have another part timer who has a reputation for doing everything wrong and getting people killed.

 

[BidingMyTime]

Wow that pharmacy has time for techs to double check everything after they verify? How are they profitable? If a tech walked from filling station to verification at a chain, even a couple times per hour, that would be precious time wasted.

He said he worked for an independent. Who knows, maybe he works at the one where Sparda watches Netflix all day?

 

[Amphetamine Salts]

Lol i’d be like STFU johnny boy, go grab the labels and Vials from the back.

LOL

but on a serious note, i don't believe techs such as the one in this thread should be giving unsolicited advice to pharmacists. you don't want to be overly pushy, the rph is the reason you're allowed to be in that pharmacy anyway. therefore, give your take, but don't try to take control, or you will get burned

 

[KennethCool]

please enlighten me which major cities in cali you are seeing new grads getting $68 from the 3 chains

Most of Northern CA, including San Francisco and Sacramento.

 

[Momus]

My area is actually no longer hard to staff, its areas about an hour or so away on the way to SF or LA that are now hard to staff. Theres no right or wrong, everyone tries so hard to be right on this forum all the time it’s pretty sad lol From your post your ok making less and thats cool, your into stocks really cool. Lets be real most new grad RPH’s are not. Why the hell would you want no OT, less pay and live on a huge budget in those expensive cities (directed at new grads not you, just making it clear because anything anyone says gets to you really hard). I visit those cities often, don’t really live on a budget and send well over 5k a month to loans. I have a 4 car garage, 6 bedroom house with a movie theater in it lol I don’t complain about my pay because I make real good money. You’re good in your area thats awesome, i’m happy making the money I make and visiting those areas often. I don’t want to pay 5k a month for a 1 bedroom condo. I like my house and as soon as my loan is paid I will like my 6 figure car. It’s just preference. I go on vacation out of the country 3x a year Hawaii, Caribbeans and Cancun. I wouldn’t be able to afford that if I lived in those cities with less pay and no OT. Am I right? No, are you? No, it’s preference.

I like to call BS when I see it, I see a lot of people having a problem with that when I bust their balls. I said it again and again budgeting sucks. I have no budget. Conscious spending is the name of the game, not budgeting. You'd be a fool to pay 5k for a 1 BR in the city. We need someone like you to boost the economy. I am glad someone is happy to take on that job for an extra $5/hr in the middle of nowhere and buying a 6 BR house there. Once you have a mortgage, CVS is like "He isn't going anywhere now 😛". It's also very good for stocks. You can ask 100 rphs, maybe, 2-3 wants to work extra shifts every week, It's called having a life. Quality health care, public schools, restaurants, mild weather for outdoor activities, and dating scene are important for me. I am not gonna fight for an extra $5/hr + more work where the right career woman as your SO can bring $50+/hr. You are right, it's my preference not to live in the middle of nowhere for these reasons. To hell with BFE areas.

If it's NHM I would steer clear even as a manager. Or you could take it knowing there's probably a time limit on your WM career. Check this post in 10 years and see if any NHM still exist with pharmacy inside.

He is in the big store, not neighborhood market.

And they have the best fast food workers anywhere. Everything is their pleasure. it's actually kind of creepy.

And we get what we pay for. The reason there are so many crappy techs is because we are competing with Chik Fil A for employees.

It is sort of creepy to see how chick fill a employee is always happy all the time. I actually like to go there just be cause they are so nice. Don't forget In & Out stealing your tech also.

You can do either that or you can maximize your salary and minimize your student loan burden by choosing computer science, engineering, accounting, or the trades.

We "should" be paid more than engineers based on the stress level and liability that we take on. Of course, in a supply/demand world, that won't happen due to the saturation going on right now. This is partly fueled by the inflated $120k salaries that many pre-pharms buy into but fail to take into account student loans and taxes.

Don't worry they will float forever as part timer.

 

[Sine Cura]

I've seen starting rate at 63/hr in 2015 but that doesn't include the $25/day pre-tax meal premium (so effectively another $3.125/hr for WM at 2080 hours). It's been a while since I've actually encountered a new grad

 

[wagrxm2000]

I have no budget.

When you don't spend anything of course you don't have a budget.

 

[Ra1nMak3r]

In-N-Out Managers in San Francisco makes over 160k

In-N-Out Managers Now Earn More Than the Average for Architects & Pharmacists

 

[Momus]

When you don't spend on anything stupid of course you don't have a budget.

Fixed.

 

[wagrxm2000]

Fixed.

Life is too short to be buried with money so I agree somewhat.

 

[BidingMyTime]

Momus, are you still living in your van? I think most pharmacists would rather have a house, or even an apartment, in BFE, then live in a van. I would also think that hurts your dating prospects. Maybe it's an old fashioned thing, but back in my dating days, I would run as fast as I could from any potential partner who was living in their vehicle.

 

[owlegrad]

Maybe it's an old fashioned thing, but back in my dating days, I would run as fast as I could from any potential partner who was living in their vehicle.

What, who wouldn't love having a partner that can pick them up in their house? Also just imagine being treated like a line item on an expense report. It's every girl's dream, I assume.

 

[Momus]

Momus, are you still living in your van? I think most pharmacists would rather have a house, or even an apartment, in BFE, then live in a van. I would also think that hurts your dating prospects. Maybe it's an old fashioned thing, but back in my dating days, I would run as fast as I could from any potential partner who was living in their vehicle.

Wrong dude.

Zillow tells me my house worth 850k :0 which is pretty avg in SD.

 

[wagrxm2000]

Wrong dude.

Zillow tells me my house worth 850k :0 which is pretty avg in SD.

I'm proud of you.