pharmacist salaries

[mcatsucksss]

so i was talking to my friend who just got into pharm school and he was telling me how pharmacist salaries can reach 140-150k when they are a retail store manager... I think thats an insane amount of pay for the amount of schooling and the work that they actually do. That means they make almost as much as the average family practitioner even though they go through only a total of 6 years post high school education and count pills 40h/week. what are your guys thoughts about this?

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[Bacchus]

That's high and not the majority of staff, retail salaries. A good ballpark coming out of PharmD school is probably 105k to 115k. Retail pays more than clinical pharmacy jobs, for the most part.

I think a lot of people within the medical profession underestimate the pharmacist, especially those that are on the clinical rounding teams in the hospital. Like with physicians, some are great, some are good, and some are bad. I have several friends who are doing pharmacy residencies. One is a PGY2 at Hopkins training in oncologic pharmacy. I'd defer all questions to him regarding the subject because I trust, and know, his knowledge base.

Unfortunately, clinical pharmacists take a pay cut and I've heard 80-90k to not be uncommon for them. At that point, 6 years of schooling and 2 years of residency, they deserve more.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Computer programmers can make that much and they don't even a graduate degree. An electrician can earn that much if he's good and well-connected even though all he needs is a 2 year trade apprenticeship.

Schooling does not predict salary all that well.

 

[Erek94]

My sister in law is a manager at a retail pharmacy in Chicago. She is about 7yearsout of graduation and making about 120k.

 

[projectlogic]

The job market for pharmacy is becoming increasingly saturated, especially in the major metropolitan areas. I have friends who just recently graduated from pharmacy school and are having trouble finding jobs. It's mainly due to an increase in the number of pharmacy schools opening up, older pharmacists not retiring, and many retail chains not hiring as much anymore.

While the salary has been good in the past, I'm not sure how good it will remain in the future if there are more pharmacists than jobs available.

 

[maldini99]

Salaries also depend where you live. retail pharmacies typically get paid more on the coasts (130-140k), compared to midwest (115-120k), for instance. but when you adjust for cost of living, it is more or less the same.

I do agree that retail pharmacists are grossly overpaid, though

 

[tima]

I looked at some job listings at Indeed.com, and it seems the average starting salary is 90-115k. You can make more with overtime or working part time at another pharmacy.

 

[Shnurek]

Salaries also depend where you live. retail pharmacies typically get paid more on the coasts (130-140k), compared to midwest (115-120k), for instance. but when you adjust for cost of living, it is more or less the same.

I do agree that retail pharmacists are grossly overpaid, though

Your figures are inflated and not true. Most health professionals actually get paid less on the coasts because of saturation. In the midwest you get paid more usually. And retail pharmacists average around 105k all together. Clinical pharmacists make like 85-90k.

I don't know if they are overpaid or not but I know their job SUCKS. People constantly go up to you and ask you where they can find diapers at and you hear the bleep bleep bleep of cash registers all day. In a lot of places they pressure you so much you do not have time to use the bathroom and you are on your feet all day so even guys start using compression stockings so they don't get varicose veins.

 

[SpecterGT260]

I am curious how far downward that figure would swing if we included all of the salaries of PharmDs currently of working age 😉
The market is saturated and just because walgreens has job listings for 80k which do not screen out for years experience doesnt mean that every pharm grad has an 80k salary job waiting for them at the end of the tunnel.

for some reason people don't like this site but.... IMO it is using real world data
http://www1.salary.com/Pharmacist-Salary.html

the major complaints I hear about it are usually that it doesnt reflect the pre-conceived notions that the person holds and it is rationalized away because "well I could just do x, y, and z and then I will make 100 billion dollars!" but the simple truth of the matter is that not everyone can be at the 90th percentile. Not sure how credible this source is, but the numbers seem legit http://www.ehow.com/info_7800361_salary-firstyear-pharmacist.html It is also important to remember that 60k isnt really all that much money anymore. Its a healthy living but you arent making bank. I worked for a bit after UG and made just shy of 40k with a bachelors and no prior experience. If you are a retail pharmacist and making 110k+ I would say you are doing things right

 

[Phlame217]

I was in pharmacy school for a year before switching to a medical school. The class I was in just graduated and after talking to them, the "shortage" isn't driving pay like it used to. 6 years ago you could get a 50 k bonus plus 100k salary starting in oklahoma. My friends I've been speaking to are lucky to get 80-85k in an urban area and any kind of bonus is non existent.

 

[popopopop]

I have several friends that graduated pharmacy school this year. Two are working at Kroger for 120k, one in a central pharmacy at a big hospital starting at $96k. Both places are as urban as it can get.

 

[SpecterGT260]

I dont understand the point of that post... nobody has said it isnt possible..... it was said that it isnt probable. The very fact that these jobs are listed means SOMEONE is getting them. But also the fact that there arent an equal number of these jobs as there are graduates each year means that not EVERYONE is getting them... savvy?

 

[maldini99]

Your figures are inflated and not true. Most health professionals actually get paid less on the coasts because of saturation. In the midwest you get paid more usually. And retail pharmacists average around 105k all together. Clinical pharmacists make like 85-90k.

I don't know if they are overpaid or not but I know their job SUCKS. People constantly go up to you and ask you where they can find diapers at and you hear the bleep bleep bleep of cash registers all day. In a lot of places they pressure you so much you do not have time to use the bathroom and you are on your feet all day so even guys start using compression stockings so they don't get varicose veins.

I am a clinical pharmacist and after graduation i got an offer from CVS for 140k to work in california. In midwest, average offer for an entry retail job my classmates were getting was around $58-$60/hr, which is roughly around 120k, when you include benefits. Currently I make ~100k as a clinical pharmacist in a 300 bed hospital. I believe these are averages, but salaries are even higher if you have residency training.

So, what I said is true up to a certain degree, as it is from my own experience. I am not sure where your sources are from

 

[notafraid87]

I am a clinical pharmacist and after graduation i got an offer from CVS for 140k to work in california. In midwest, average offer for an entry retail job my classmates were getting was around $58-$60/hr, which is roughly around 120k, when you include benefits. Currently I make ~100k as a clinical pharmacist in a 300 bed hospital. I believe these are averages, but salaries are even higher if you have residency training.

So, what I said is true up to a certain degree, as it is from my own experience. I am not sure where your sources are from

You're a medical student? PharmD to MD? That's insane, but good luck to you.

Your figures are inflated and not true. Most health professionals actually get paid less on the coasts because of saturation. In the midwest you get paid more usually. And retail pharmacists average around 105k all together. Clinical pharmacists make like 85-90k.

I don't know if they are overpaid or not but I know their job SUCKS. People constantly go up to you and ask you where they can find diapers at and you hear the bleep bleep bleep of cash registers all day. In a lot of places they pressure you so much you do not have time to use the bathroom and you are on your feet all day so even guys start using compression stockings so they don't get varicose veins.

Actually, I kind of agree with Maldini regarding on salaries. Believe it or not, I know several people in NYC making 135k starting salaries at retail pharmacies. Clinical pharmacists make much less than that, however.

Now being a retail pharmacist does suck, but it's a heck of a lot better than any other jobs that I know. 40-50 hour work week/100k + salary/benefits during this economic crisis? What a deal.

 

[Dr Wario]

I currently earn 150k/yr in annual compensation as a staff pharmacist at CVS in the NE region. I generally work 44 hours per week at approx 60/hr. The remainder of my pay comes from annual bonus of 7-9k, holidays, and 1wk unused vacation time. I do not believe I am overpaid, however I feel that GPs along with peds are underpaid in relation to their value and education.

 

[Rx MPLS]

Pay is typically a product of supply versus demand, not the uninformed opinion of the medical community...

 

[Drakulie]

How much does clinical pharmacist in Inpatient setting in hospital in Chicago make ? per year or per hour ? Thank you

 

[Southplains]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/pharmacist-salaries.926741/

Refer to this thread for a discussion on pharmacist salaries.

 

[BestDoctorEver]

so i was talking to my friend who just got into pharm school and he was telling me how pharmacist salaries can reach 140-150k when they are a retail store manager... I think thats an insane amount of pay for the amount of schooling and the work that they actually do. That means they make almost as much as the average family practitioner even though they go through only a total of 6 years post high school education and count pills 40h/week. what are your guys thoughts about this?

Not enough money IMO for the amount of BS these retail pharmacists have to deal with (rude customers, corporate metrics, standing on their feet for 12+ hours, no breaks etc...). In addition, pharmacy school is as expensive as med school...

 

[ChasingMyDreams]

I'm a retail pharmacy manager in Texas. Graduated in 2013. My base is 132K bonus last year was about 5K. After picking up extra shifts I'll probably hit 170K this year.

I wish all I did was count pills, that's about 1% of what I actually do lol


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[Funke]

I'm a retail pharmacy manager in Texas. Graduated in 2013. My base is 132K bonus last year was about 5K. After picking up extra shifts I'll probably hit 170K this year.

I wish all I did was count pills, that's about 1% of what I actually do lol


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Can you fill us in on what retail pharmacists really do? I know it's a misconception that they just count pills, but I really don't know anything else.