Non Trads, what careers/salaries did you give up for Pharmacy?

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Piano sales...about $40k and musician ~$6k so $46k/yr. I was also interviewing for a pharm sales rep position for $55k first year and >$100k after 4 years. Funny how four years seemed so far away back then...
 
Last year at this time I was making about 70K/year as a chemist. Today I'm 60K in the hole after my first year in Pharm School. You've got to love the student life.
 
I was working as a Financial Analyst with Paramount Pictures in their music publishing division. I was making decent money, but with some more years of experience, I could've been making serious $. Lotta money to be made in finance. I hate the corporate ass kissing too much though. 😛
 
I'm about to quit my job as a Business Analyst...I can't wait🙂 It's really boring work (to me at least), although the $50k salary plus $10-20k in bonuses each year will be missed in the next four years.
 
Odd jobs, construction, cable tv installer, private contractor... making less than 30k a year. (with a wife and 2 kids) what the?!?! why did i wait so long? if i would've done this to start with, i could have graduated 4 years ago, probably have most of my loans paid off..... and be making over 100k....🙄
 
Self-employed computer programmer. I still have a couple of accounts that bring in $900 per month, but I couldn't handle any more than that and still go to school. My salary was variable. Mainly, I got to write off lots of stuff and still do.
 
General manager of a Domino's pizza, that was only for about 6 months, though. Most of the time I was in business school and was only an assistant manager. Moral of the story, be nice to your pizza boys.
 
acetyl said:
General manager of a Domino's pizza, that was only for about 6 months, though. Most of the time I was in business school and was only an assistant manager. Moral of the story, be nice to your pizza boys.
Click to expand...

Ewwwww. I don't want to know. Domino's sucks anyways. 😀

Was a licensed banker at Wells Fargo. With bonuses, roughly $45k/yr. Was going to get promoted to a senior banker which make $55-60k/yr. Corporate America sucks so bad. All they care about are profits and not a bit about ethics and customer service.

Next time you sign up for a bank account, you'll see why they try and get you to do a checking, savings, ATM card, c/c, online, etc. Don't be surprised if you are mysteriously approved for a random c/c out of no where.
 
For those of you complaining about the corporate America, Pharmacy is just as entrenched in the corporate America as others are.
 
ZpackSux said:
For those of you complaining about the corporate America, Pharmacy is just as entrenched in the corporate America as others are.
Click to expand...

Zpack, I'd be interested in what you have to say about this topic. Currently I'm deciding between a business (accounting/finance) vs. pharmacy career.
 
Softpinkrose said:
Zpack, I'd be interested in what you have to say about this topic. Currently I'm deciding between a business (accounting/finance) vs. pharmacy career.
Click to expand...

That's a hard call. You have to do what's right for you. The purpose of a business/corporation is to make a profit. As an employee, it doesn't matter if you're an accountant or a pharmacist. You're employed to make a profit for the company. The corporation has no loyalty to you and will not hesitate to rid of you if you're not producing or if you're a liability.

I'm not the one to speak on the job market situation of accounting/finance. But it's very easy to find a pharmacist job pretty much everywhere in the US.

If you have an accounting degree and a pharmacy degree, you'll certainly find a niche in pharmacy management.

My wife is an accountant.
 
About 70K as a district manager for Pizza Hut. But I worked all the time and my job consisted of babysitting 400 minimum wage kids spread across three counties. My headaches had headaches. So far, retail pharmacy is a lot less intense.
 
kkelloww said:
About 70K as a district manager for Pizza Hut. But I worked all the time and my job consisted of babysitting 400 minimum wage kids spread across three counties. My headaches had headaches. So far, retail pharmacy is a lot less intense.
Click to expand...

WOW, quite a few Pizza career changers 👍 This interesting, how about everyone else, what were you doing and making before going to Pharm School?
 
Not in pharm school yet but before I went back to university to do my prereqs I was a carpenter/laborer, janitor, migrant worker, butcher, assembly line in a factory. Never made over 20k per year.
 
Giving up patent examining and a salary of 106k a year. Cant take it anymore.
 
I gave up a 12 yr career in welding (60K) to go back to school. While I was doing pre-pharm, I found employment at a medical R&D house (20K) and have worked my way up to the same level as an engineer (45K). It's hard to believe I won't be "working" for the next four years.
 
ForcedEntry said:
I gave up a 12 yr career in welding (60K) to go back to school. While I was doing pre-pharm, I found employment at a medical R&D house (20K) and have worked my way up to the same level as an engineer (45K). It's hard to believe I won't be "working" for the next four years.
Click to expand...

Dream on... you'll be "Working."
 
Was working as a FoxPro database programmer. Making about $45-$55K/year. After 9/11 my company lost some major contracts and was laid off. As you may or may not recall, early 2000's were just ROTTEN 🙁 for the IT job market. So, it gave me time to think about the kind of lifestyle I was leading. I did not like the long hours and the extra hours on my own time to bone up on some new software they are trying to implement. Given the high demand for pharmacists, I wanted some flexibility in my new career. So, I applied to P-school.

I have even considered going the IT pharmacist route but once again that hectic IT lifestyle comes into play again. If the pharmacy system craps out guess who they are calling at all hours of the night? 👎
 
ZpackSux said:
For those of you complaining about the corporate America, Pharmacy is just as entrenched in the corporate America as others are.
Click to expand...

My version of Corporate America (or at least what I was referring to) screws customers over in order to make a quick buck. At least in pharmacy, we actually aim to help our patients. It's all about ethics.

I mean, you'll never have to upsell or trick a patient into thinking they need extra pills or medication. Whereas unethical and greedy Corporate America will sell Vicodin to a drug abuser in a second if they could.

I'm sure everyone else meant Corp. America as greedy businesses who only see you as a statistic (which is obvious). Either way, I come from a business background and I hope to run my independent speciality pharmacy someday. EFF Corporate America and Yay for the American Dream. 🙂
 
eddie269 said:
I mean, you'll never have to upsell or trick a patient into thinking they need extra pills or medication. Whereas unethical and greedy Corporate America will sell Vicodin to a drug abuser in a second if they could.
Click to expand...


Management at a retail will tell you to refill that vicodin rx early regardless of the law in a second
 
npage148 said:
Management at a retail will tell you to refill that vicodin rx early regardless of the law in a second
Click to expand...

Forgot to add...without a prescription...referring to upselling the med.

i.e. I see you're getting a lot of pills today. Vicodin would work better over the OTC tylenols. They cost more and you need a script for it but for you, I'll sell it for half price. Best I can do.
 
I taught high school math for 3 years after graduating from college before I resigned to take the remaining pre-requisites I needed to apply for pharmacy school. I made between 32 and 34K per year as a full-time teacher, but I didn't make the career change for the money. Yes, the salary of a pharmacist will be nice, but I am going into it because it's the career that I want. I couldn't take teaching the high-schoolers anymore. After quitting full-time teaching, I taught part-time as a GED teacher. It wasn't nearly as stressful teaching adults. I am looking forward to being a student again for the next 4 years.
 
I worked in a large commercial real estate company while attending school at nights and on weekends. Started off as an administrative assistant, kept on getting promoted until I became a Property Manager, with bonuses made ~$55k. Took a step down from that position so I could concentrate on school. Am now working as an accountant until school starts in August. Learned alot about corporate world.... most importantly, learned that I didn't want to kiss butt just to get promoted. Atleast in the Pharmacy field there will be less of that corporate bs:laugh:
 
The best job EVER in the entire world and I will continue with it!!! Full time mom and wife. I have 3 great kids 13, 11, 6 and a husband who works himself silly for us. But he has health problems so I am going to school to be his "sugar momma". Pay: teenager fits and fights, preteen female hormones, and hugs and kisses from my kindergartener!! Can't get better than that. I love them all!!😍😍
 
Medical Technologist at the VA. $50-55,000/yr. Hopefully working here now guarantees me an in later for a "clinical spot." Intern as well as post graduation.
 
Medical Technologist at the VA. $50-55,000/yr. Hopefully working here now guarantees me an in later for a "clinical spot." Intern as well as post graduation.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
Career Change to Pharmacy
Replies
9
Views
2K
lord999
lord999
Mr.Smile12
AJPE: Insights And Questions For Success In A Pharmacy Academic Career
Replies
1
Views
797
lord999
lord999
E
The Big Question: Pharmacy School or Career?
Replies
3
Views
1K
steveysmith54
S
C
Good Certificates or Education for inpatient Pharmacy
Replies
5
Views
1K
clarkbar
C
S
What do you consider a fair wage for a pharmacist compared to other health care professionals?
Replies
43
Views
8K
wazoodog
W
Top