CVS Pharmacist Offer

[winterlily05]

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So I just received an offer from CVS, and I'm not sure if the salary they quoted me was fair. To those who are recent graduates and are currently working for CVS, what do you think is a fair offer for a new graduate?

 

[moolman]

Don't be an a-hole, it's proper etiquette to tell your salary first before you ask others. Post your offer.

 

[winterlily05]

No need to be a douche, I'm not asking for a specific amount that people are getting paid. Something along the lines of "anything under 120K is sh*tty" would have sufficed.

 

[BeLikeBueller]

I don't have specific experience with this yet, since I haven't graduated just yet, but from a lot of the posts around here, it sounds like starting salaries have gone down somewhat in recent years due to the market saturation. That being said, I have also heard a lot of people make counter offers. You just have to be careful doing this, because if you don't have any other job prospects, you're in a very poor position to aggressively negotiate.

 

[farmadiazepine]

Started at $108k per year. If you are working for CVS you should at least be making $100k. Do not counter. The ball is absolutely not in your court. You counter, they say no, and then they say good bye.

 

[ancienbon]

So I just received an offer from CVS, and I'm not sure if the salary they quoted me was fair. To those who are recent graduates and are currently working for CVS, what do you think is a fair offer for a new graduate?

how low is low? low 50s. or mid 50

 

[zelman]

It also depends on location. NYC offers are higher than Nebraska offers because cost of living is higher and El Paso TX offers are higher because nobody wants to go there.

 

[sosoo]

i started in 2011 at 53, months later 55, and now 56. waiting for it to go higher and higher. ^_^,,

 

[moolman]

No need to be a douche, I'm not asking for a specific amount that people are getting paid. Something along the lines of "anything under 120K is sh*tty" would have sufficed.

It's because just as predicted you got no valuable information. The easy way that most people could help you out is for you to write something like, hey I got 60 a hour in SoCal from CVS, that included price and location. More people willing to help.

 

[R xxx]

When I started the offer was $53 for all 3 states that I looked into with a small bonus for full-time, but I ended up not taking any of them. Then I transferred to the 4th state working part-time. I just assumed it would still be $53. But it was increased to $56.5 and nobody told me. I didn't even notice it till months later. Now it's a little bit over $60. I never went to any of the annual reviews with the supervisor. But I still get a raise every year even though it was very very small this past year.

 

[1800callsaul]

May 2013 graduate here.

Another chain started me at 56.50 an hour as a floater. Raise to $58.50/hr when I was promoted to staff RPh. I work 77 hours per week and pick up extra shifts here and there so it's gonna be tough to predict yearly salary.

I'm in the middle of nowhere, rural America. A lot of my friends who stayed in the city are making in the 40's/hour range.

Hope this helps.

 

[ChalupaBatman86]

Around 105 in the northeast. New grads and currently unemployed pharmacists start lowest. Transfers from WAGs start much higher.

 

[winterlily05]

Thanks all for the valuable info. They're starting me at ~$123K for staff pharmacist position in the South in an area that is relatively still in demand for pharmacists. I have an interview with another chain in a few weeks so I guess I will go from there and see.

 

[apteryx]

Thanks all for the valuable info. They're starting me at ~$123K for staff pharmacist position in the South in an area that is relatively still in demand for pharmacists. I have an interview with another chain in a few weeks so I guess I will go from there and see.

I was offered ~118k in the northeast. Based on 40 hour work weeks. So that works out to $56-57/hr for me. Of course, I'd love to counter higher, but I don't think I have any real leverage being a new grad, other than that they really need people in that area. I have some other interviews as well, so can I work them in as leverage one way or the other? Or do I just take the best offer I get with no countering?

 

[ColossusFan77]

How many work hours a year are you going off of? I tried calculating using your $56-57 an hour and got a yearly salary of around 109k.....

Anyone know why the offer letters dont state the hourly wage, but an yearly salary instead?

 

[apteryx]

118000 / 52 weeks = 2269.23 per week

2269.23 / 40 hrs = $56.73 / hr

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

I was offered ~118k in the northeast. Based on 40 hour work weeks. So that works out to $56-57/hr for me. Of course, I'd love to counter higher, but I don't think I have any real leverage being a new grad, other than that they really need people in that area. I have some other interviews as well, so can I work them in as leverage one way or the other? Or do I just take the best offer I get with no countering?

Sounds about right...., 57 is on the higher end for NE. It was what I started with when I graduated in 09. Making close to 70 now.

There is also no COLA. It is all about the market. NYC starts lower than LI or Conn Market.

 

[TonyRx]

Thanks all for the valuable info. They're starting me at ~$123K for staff pharmacist position in the South in an area that is relatively still in demand for pharmacists. I have an interview with another chain in a few weeks so I guess I will go from there and see.

That sounds pretty darn fair to me. Here in West Palm Beach, FL...$54.50/hr is the going rate for CVS and for Wag it's $54.75/hr. We are pretty saturated here and that's about as good as it gets in South Florida. Heard Wal-Mart may still be offering little more though, but not sure on specifics.

 

[apteryx]

I've heard another person tell me walmart offered them around 125k, but that's starting part time and moving to full time...as if I believe that. I think 118k is perfectly fair, but that's not to say that I wouldn't want to maximize as much as I can. Hitting 70 in a few years sounds good, too.

 

[WhiteSnows]

I make $70/hr as new graduate but not at CVS though.

 

[winterlily05]

I was offered ~118k in the northeast. Based on 40 hour work weeks. So that works out to $56-57/hr for me. Of course, I'd love to counter higher, but I don't think I have any real leverage being a new grad, other than that they really need people in that area. I have some other interviews as well, so can I work them in as leverage one way or the other? Or do I just take the best offer I get with no countering?

I don't know how to approach this negotiating game either. The best thing that I can think of is to say to each company, "I really like working for your company, but "X" company has offered me a higher wage and that really makes a big difference for me, so would there be any chance that you can go higher since I really like this company?"

A pharmacist that I used to rotate with told me to "lie, lie, lie" because that's what the companies do to you.

 

[confettiflyer]

2nd hand knowledge: $63/hr for SF Bay Area ($131k/yr)

 

[xiphoid2010]

Wow, some of these numbers are lower than I expected. For example CVS and walgreens in Ohio cities were starting new grads at $58 back in 2010. Wonder what is is the going rate now.

 

[zelman]

Wow, some of these numbers are lower than I expected. For example CVS and walgreens in Ohio cities were starting new grads at $58 back in 2010. Wonder what is is the going rate now.

The job market has gotten worse. I started with CVS at $62.xx in 2010 (but had to agree to do overnights for a year).

 

[BMBiology]

When I graduated from pharmacy school, new grads were making $60 an hour. That is $65 in today's money.

It would not surprise me at all if the starting salary is in the $40s within the next few years if you want to work in the city. These new grads are saddled with $200-300 k in student loan debt. They don't have many options. They are not even promised a 40 hour week schedule. Many are just getting 30 hours a week.

Don't forget salary only jumped in the late 90s.

 

[BMBiology]

2nd hand knowledge: $63/hr for SF Bay Area ($131k/yr)

Considering the high living cost in SF, $63 is pretty low.

 

[SpartanLaser]

$62.90/hr Full Time Staff Pharmacist in Southern Cali 50 miles from Los Angles.

 

[confettiflyer]

Considering the high living cost in SF, $63 is pretty low.

The quote was for the east bay, much lower COL.

It would not surprise me at all if the starting salary is in the $40s within the next few years if you want to work in the city.

Already done. Someone in my class got an offer in the 40's in New Jersey. I think...this is third hand knowledge, so source is not as accurate.

 

[StellargalS]

Copy past of the position listing rate for a per diem inpatient pharmacist at a well established hospital in southern CA.
(rates are disclosed in the position description for internal candidates.)

$54.02 - $85.39
:cry:

 

[confettiflyer]

Copy past of the position listing rate for a per diem inpatient pharmacist at a well established hospital in southern CA.
(rates are disclosed in the position description for internal candidates.)

$54.02 - $85.39
:cry:

$54 is stupid low for per-diem hospital....you should be getting at least $75.

 

[xiphoid2010]

Per diem rates are usually higher than full time since there is no benefits cost and called in to cover gaps as needed. Rates i've seen are $62-80/hr in various parts of Texas, this direct or reliable source.

 

[StellargalS]

$54 is stupid low for per-diem hospital....you should be getting at least $75.

Unfortunately it is saturated low. The hospital also employs ego dictated ass backwards Six Sigma strategies supported by the preferential hiring of the most credentialed (and youngest/impressionable) pharmacist. For what it is worth they do pay x % (unremembered) above baseline for per Diem workers.

 

[type b pharmD]

Its not too bad out there in this neck of the woods. Rural southwest/west .. my lowest retail offer was $60/hr and that was grocery store. Chain was $63

Looks like location disparities are widening

Edit:

Classmates Ive talked to (handful) report $50-55 for retail in metro areas closest to me .. phoenix I hear has higher offers though in general (60+) .. but who wants to live there?

What's fair is to compare to your market, skill level, and practice type. In my situation, i would consider 120k to be an acceptable salary "floor".. but if I was looking at academia in a city or managed care obviously 85k/year is not a "bad" offer either. Which is what I was offered verbally (only) for an office type job in metro area.

 

[FarmD711]

Boston Area
This is last year, but 52.50 Staff