is this true?

[BestDoctorEver]

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I have heard stories of people coming out of pharmacy school with a PharmD degree getting 100+k salary + 10-15k sign on bonus with retail chains such as Walgreens, CVS etc.. Are these stories true? or Are they just hyperbole? If you know someone that has such offer, share it here so I can confirm that these stories are true.

 

[weetzie00]

I have heard stories of people coming out of pharmacy school with a PharmD degree getting 100+k salary + 10-15k sign on bonus with retail chains such as Walgreens, CVS etc.. Are these stories true? or Are they just hyperbole? If you know someone that has such offer, share it here so I can confirm that these stories are true.

They are definitely true.. but were so a few years ago when pharmacists were in very high demand. The demand has shrunk dramatically, these types of incentives aren't needed anymore.

 

[phathead]

I have heard stories of people coming out of pharmacy school with a PharmD degree getting 100+k salary + 10-15k sign on bonus with retail chains such as Walgreens, CVS etc.. Are these stories true? or Are they just hyperbole? If you know someone that has such offer, share it here so I can confirm that these stories are true.

Just a FYI, don't focus on the money aspect too much, you'll be a happier individual.

That was typical for a new grad a few years ago, but it's not as common now. Doesn't mean it does not happen

 

[nicolemsm]

is it true SDN has a search function?!?

ZOMG.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Bonuses not so much, and salaries seem to be anecdotally being offered to new, non-PGY1 grads at about $85,000-$95,000 in the central valley.

Prn firms are still really strong, and if you don't mind working for 2 or 3 such companies then you can build a very, very good living.

 

[Dezixn]

I heard a story from someone my father knows that her son is going to be the pharmacy manager at some pharmacy basically in the middle of nowhere.
She said he is getting something like a 50k sign on bonus and like 150 or 180 a year... Not to mention profit sharing.

Seems like a lot even for such a remote area, but that's just what the lady said...

That's some awesome money, but what would you do with it in the middle of no where lol? You'd have to UPS all your fun in.

 

[phathead]

I heard a story from someone my father knows that her son is going to be the pharmacy manager at some pharmacy basically in the middle of nowhere.
She said he is getting something like a 50k sign on bonus and like 150 or 180 a year... Not to mention profit sharing.

Seems like a lot even for such a remote area, but that's just what the lady said...

That's some awesome money, but what would you do with it in the middle of no where lol? You'd have to UPS all your fun in.

A lot of places will do that in a rural area simply because they can't get anyone out there. Typically there will be a clause that you have to work there x number of months before you get that bonus though.

Never heard of anyone getting paid 150-180k a year though unless they were working some serious OT

 

[eekOMG]

One of my interviewers was a District Manager for Walgreens, he said they do not do that any more because there are enough Pharm.D that they can always get somebody.

 

[elevenphoenix]

It doesn't seem like those incentive offers are readily available nowadays, but again, no one can truly predict what the field is going to look like a few years down the road. I think that those bonuses probably still exist to some extent, but the likelihood of landing one is slim.

Just my speculation.

 

[Sparda29]

 

[Nupe954]

Like someone said location is key for these lucrative offers, I was poking around looking at job postings one day and came across one in Alaska with a 15k sign on and like 250k per year for a minumum of 3 years...The contract guarantees that you will stay out in the middle of nowhere for at least 3 years...hey at least you will have made 0.75 mil in 3 years

 

[elevenphoenix]

I would totally move to Alaska...

 

[MiataMike]

Like someone said location is key for these lucrative offers, I was poking around looking at job postings one day and came across one in Alaska with a 15k sign on and like 250k per year for a minumum of 3 years...The contract guarantees that you will stay out in the middle of nowhere for at least 3 years...hey at least you will have made 0.75 mil in 3 years

Yeah, I heard something about that at work, too. I think Walgreens offered it. Personally, I'd do it. That's serious change and in 3 years, I'd move to Florida.

 

[thedave]

Like someone said location is key for these lucrative offers...

Yeah, I keep being surprised about these types of question because what I've been told here in NorCal is that these offers are still available and that headhunters are big, even going after recently retired PharmD's. But then again, these might be the conditions currently but you never know what it will be like in a few years. Kinda like the stock market and the housing market. I wouldn't worry about it, tho.😎

 

[Nupe954]

Yeah, I keep being surprised about these types of question because what I've been told here in NorCal is that these offers are still available and that headhunters are big, even going after recently retired PharmD's. But then again, these might be the conditions currently but you never know what it will be like in a few years. Kinda like the stock market and the housing market. I wouldn't worry about it, tho.😎

Definitely, I dont worry or listen to people who say things like "there will be no pharm jobs soon" Or "robots will control everything"...The offers are still going to be there and its up to each person to differentiate themselves during or after pharm school in order to be attractive to companies.

 

[rxlea]

The money is in rural pharmacy. I don't mind rural work 🙂

 

[Praziquantel86]

Like someone said location is key for these lucrative offers, I was poking around looking at job postings one day and came across one in Alaska with a 15k sign on and like 250k per year for a minumum of 3 years...The contract guarantees that you will stay out in the middle of nowhere for at least 3 years...hey at least you will have made 0.75 mil in 3 years

Yeah, that's a myth. My friends are moving to Alaska (to work for Walgreens, in the middle of nowhere, no less) for 3 years...relocation bonus and a salary of ~$125,000 per year. The easy millionaire in Alaska dream has been perpetuated for years, I think mainly due to this site.

The real perk of moving to Alaska is that there are no state income taxes and an oil pipeline subsidy for each permanent resident. That's where the real money comes in, even after you take into account the higher-than-Continental cost of living.

 

[Nupe954]

Yeah, that's a myth. My friends are moving to Alaska (to work for Walgreens, in the middle of nowhere, no less) for 3 years...relocation bonus and a salary of ~$125,000 per year. The easy millionaire in Alaska dream has been perpetuated for years, I think mainly due to this site.

The real perk of moving to Alaska is that there are no state income taxes and an oil pipeline subsidy for each permanent resident. That's where the real money comes in, even after you take into account the higher-than-Continental cost of living.

Well I dont remember what company it was but I clearly saw the compensation package as the position was posted on indeed.com pack in early 09.

 

[owlegrad]

Like someone said location is key for these lucrative offers, I was poking around looking at job postings one day and came across one in Alaska with a 15k sign on and like 250k per year for a minumum of 3 years...The contract guarantees that you will stay out in the middle of nowhere for at least 3 years...hey at least you will have made 0.75 mil in 3 years

From the Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://data.bls.gov:8080/oes/search.jsp?data_tool=OES):

Occupation: Pharmacists (SOC code 291051)
Period: May 2008
Area name: Alaska
Employment: 390
Annual 90th percentile wage: 133660


I am not saying that the offer you are refering to is not legit. I am only pointing out the myth that Alaskan pharmacist make some kind of astronomical wage is false (or at least it was in May 2008).

 

[type b pharmD]

true

two of my friends from the hospital graduated recently, one last year, one this year, they took offers from major retail chains for 110-120k and 15-20k sign on bonus, no lie!! 😎