Pharmacist Salary Thread

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diastole said:
I don't think that is right. I seem to remember from my student loan counseling session that the loans go away if you die. They don't transfer to your spouse or children.
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I always thought that if you had debt and died the debt collectors will have the right to seize all your property up to the amount you owe of course...and then your family gets the rest. If you owe 200K in debt and your assets are worth 150K, they will take all 150K and leave your family with nothing...but I could be wrong.
 
SHC1984 said:
I always thought that if you had debt and died the debt collectors will have the right to seize all your property up to the amount you owe of course...and then your family gets the rest. If you owe 200K in debt and your assets are worth 150K, they will take all 150K and leave your family with nothing...but I could be wrong.
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your kind of wrong...there are MANY different types of loans that will simply diminish if you die...there are also loans out there that allow business owners to take out loans and even if they are unable to pay it back the collectors cannot go into their personal sector or get anything that is non business related....many non collateral loans are like this.
 
We will obviously find out within the next couple years.
 

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atpsynthase said:
We will obviously find out within the next couple years.
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I think it'll be a longer term process than that. If they manage to make the changes that Pelosi is gunning for, I'd give it a 10yr time period.
 
There are occasions when you do not have to pay back student loans. If you die and still owe, the amount outstanding is waived. Your family doesn't have to pay it back.
 
Right now I know a pharmacist in Kansas who is getting $67 an hour, is that average?
 
One pharmacist that I know makes a little above $70, but thats the night shift at Kaiser.
 
azwethinkweizm said:
Right now I know a pharmacist in Kansas who is getting $67 an hour, is that average?
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It really depends on many variables, like all salaries. You have to figure in the location (rural/urban), the setting (hospital/community/nuclear/etc.), how much experience you have, and I'm sure there's many more. From what I understand a good place to be at is 100k/year. Fluctuations are prevalent so I would probably attach a +/- $20k to that.
 
azwethinkweizm said:
Right now I know a pharmacist in Kansas who is getting $67 an hour, is that average?
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Why are you asking the average salary of pharmacists to prepharmacy students? You should have peers or people you went to school with.
 
Why does it matter? Generally the only time people ask for wages is when they're getting into the field for the wrong reasons.
 
Passion4Sci said:
Over 9,000!
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over9000impossible.jpg
 
phathead said:
Why does it matter? Generally the only time people ask for wages is when they're getting into the field for the wrong reasons.
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Why? Are the wages not important when considering pharmacy school? How are you going to pay off your student loans for your 6+ years of college and be able to sustain yourself and a potential family if you make 20k/yr? Certainly it's important. No offense against you, but it really turns me off when people say that.
 
roziak said:
Why? Are the wages not important when considering pharmacy school? How are you going to pay off your student loans for your 6+ years of college and be able to sustain yourself and a potential family if you make 20k/yr? Certainly it's important. No offense against you, but it really turns me off when people say that.
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I agree, I doubt many people would be in this field if they were making 20k a year.
 
roziak said:
Why? Are the wages not important when considering pharmacy school? How are you going to pay off your student loans for your 6+ years of college and be able to sustain yourself and a potential family if you make 20k/yr? Certainly it's important. No offense against you, but it really turns me off when people say that.
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A bit of an extreme example there don't you think?

Anyone who chooses pharmacy as a pathway should already know they'll be adequately compensated. The difference between earning $50/h and $70/h shouldn't be a deal breaker if pharmacy is what you truly want to be doing.
 
socalpharm86 said:
A bit of an extreme example there don't you think?

Anyone who chooses pharmacy as a pathway should already know they'll be adequately compensated. The difference between earning $50/h and $70/h shouldn't be a deal breaker if pharmacy is what you truly want to be doing.
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I don't think anyone said it would be a deal breaker. It's human nature to want to know what to expect. Your salary depends on company, line of work, and location. I'll personally look at those variables more than salary when it comes time to find a real job (only five years away baby!).
 
phathead said:
Why does it matter? Generally the only time people ask for wages is when they're getting into the field for the wrong reasons.
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Curiosity? Why do you assume a motive from a simple question?
 
I did it for the money. It's all mine baby. Show ME THE MONEY BIZZARTCH. YEAH. When I graduate I'm gonna get me a swimming pool and fill it with gold coins so I can swim in it and think about how rich I am.
 
I don't know anyone who ever got rich (like millionaire rich) off of a pharmacist's salary, but comfortable yes. I think the only pharmacists I know who pull in massive salaries own their own established business.

I def. don't care about becoming rich. I just want to have a fulfilling job and money to pay my bills and maybe go out to eat and have a vacation every now and then. lol I'm a simple person indeed.
 
Tinkerbell22 said:
I don't know anyone who ever got rich (like millionaire rich) off of a pharmacist's salary, but comfortable yes. I think the only pharmacists I know who pull in massive salaries own their own established business.

I def. don't care about becoming rich. I just want to have a fulfilling job and money to pay my bills and maybe go out to eat and have a vacation every now and then. lol I'm a simple person indeed.
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Someone told me the same thing...but his parents are millionaires so he has nothing to worrry about he will end up with everything they have! The pharmacist salary for him is just "extra" side money. :laugh:
 
SHC1984 said:
Someone told me the same thing...but his parents are millionaires so he has nothing to worrry about he will end up with everything they have! The pharmacist salary for him is just "extra" side money. :laugh:
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lol, if I was that lucky I'd go for something like my TRUE passion
 
I really couldn't think of a better career other than knowing the details of medications we put in our bodies.
 
Undispu7ed said:
lol, if I was that lucky I'd go for something like my TRUE passion
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Thats what I am saying! :laugh: I don't know why he is in the profession. Tinkerbell's parent's own several pharmacies in florida (according to her posts)...(so I think she might be just as lucky as far as inheriting millions) so its always confuses me why people do what they do. LOL..
 
Some people work b/c it makes them happy. Maybe its a guy thing but I cant imagine my life without having a job. I wonder how some of you have grown up - with a silver spoon? I cant imagine the opportunities I would of had as a child if my parents had a pharmacist's salary.
 
SHC1984 said:
Thats what I am saying! :laugh: I don't know why he is in the profession. Tinkerbell's parent's own several pharmacies in florida (according to her posts)...(so I think she might be just as lucky as far as inheriting millions) so its always confuses me why people do what they do. LOL..
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I wish they owned a pharmacy! lol My mom was married to a pharmacist who had his own business, but they never had children all those years, so my mom didn't have me until her second marriage to my dad when she was 30.

I grew up in a small town, so his youngest daughter became one of my best friends and we literally grew up with each other. We would always play around in the store and ride on the sidewalks with the electric wheelchairs. lol

My parent's definitely aren't rich, but I'm an only child and my dad had a good job most of my life (but he left Georgia to take care of his handicapped mother and 102 year old grandmother), so I am fortunate for what I have, but my parents still have to bust a** working. lol

I'm just a really laid back person... I don't plan on having a big family or anything, so I know that I will be able to live in a nice smaller sized home or condo and keep my bills small and try to enjoy my time off by doing stuff with my friends and family. I'd probably spend most of my extra cash on doing things rather than acquiring things. I mean I love clothes and shoes like any other girl, but those things are relatively inexpensive compared to really big homes or really expensive cars. I wouldn't mind driving the same car I have now forever. lol

I'm not the type who would ever date for money either, but my boyfriend owns his own business, so if it ever becomes really successful then that would be two decent incomes. Or if we don't work out there is always the 10 guys that might still be left in pharmacy school by the time I get in. lol Kidding!

I'm not just saying this because I'm super gung-ho or anything, but I would still want to become a pharmacist even if I won the powerball. Maybe I would work part time instead of full time, but I would still want to do it. I love school, and I really hope I get the chance one day to spend four years in pharmacy school and meet people with the same interest, and one day become their co workers. During time periods out of school or working I don't know what to do with myself. I have to have something to get up for everyday... and this is really what I would want to do. I can think of a few other things that I would like to do also, but this is at the top.
 
yappy said:
Some people work b/c it makes them happy. Maybe its a guy thing but I cant imagine my life without having a job. I wonder how some of you have grown up - with a silver spoon? I cant imagine the opportunities I would of had as a child if my parents had a pharmacist's salary.
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I think you're kinda right. A lot of my friends I grew up with are the kind to be like "I'm majoring in finding a rich husband" and that really makes me mad because they could make so much more of themselves than relying on someone else, but I guess that's just how things are historically.

If I EVER have kids (which I don't plan on it but hypothetically if I did) I wouldn't spoil them even if I had the means to do it. Yeah I'd probably get them a car and stuff to make life a little easier, but I would encourage them to do well in school on their own so they could get a scholarship into college and pay for it on their own. If they wanted extra money to live off campus or go eat or hang out with friends they would have to work part time because I don't think some kids have any idea what "real world" life is like, or what kind of career they want, unless they have job experience.
 
roziak said:
Why? Are the wages not important when considering pharmacy school? How are you going to pay off your student loans for your 6+ years of college and be able to sustain yourself and a potential family if you make 20k/yr? Certainly it's important. No offense against you, but it really turns me off when people say that.
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And it turns me off when people say that is a driving force for the choice in pharmacy.

Look, this is what I want to do with my life. I would do it if they paid $20k a year. If I won the lottery tomorrow do you know what I would do with the rest of my life? I'd still go to pharmacy school.

If you don't pick a job that you are content with, wage or otherwise, you're going to become very disgruntled in a few years. Or maybe apathetic.

The problem with your analogy is that you would not occur the kind of debt you get from pharmacy school if the job only paid $20k a year.

I'd find someway to pay the loans back. I may not have any money, but at least I'd be content with my job.

I would estimate about 25% of the people into, or getting into pharmacy, is due to the fact that you can make six figs right out of school and it can be a 9-5 job. You may think that's a high percentage, but after eight years I'm almost positive this is correct.
 
Tinkerbell22 said:
I wish they owned a pharmacy! lol My mom was married to a pharmacist who had his own business, but they never had children all those years, so my mom didn't have me until her second marriage to my dad when she was 30.

I grew up in a small town, so his youngest daughter became one of my best friends and we literally grew up with each other. We would always play around in the store and ride on the sidewalks with the electric wheelchairs. lol

My parent's definitely aren't rich, but I'm an only child and my dad had a good job most of my life (but he left Georgia to take care of his handicapped mother and 102 year old grandmother), so I am fortunate for what I have, but my parents still have to bust a** working. lol

I'm just a really laid back person... I don't plan on having a big family or anything, so I know that I will be able to live in a nice smaller sized home or condo and keep my bills small and try to enjoy my time off by doing stuff with my friends and family. I'd probably spend most of my extra cash on doing things rather than acquiring things. I mean I love clothes and shoes like any other girl, but those things are relatively inexpensive compared to really big homes or really expensive cars. I wouldn't mind driving the same car I have now forever. lol

I'm not the type who would ever date for money either, but my boyfriend owns his own business, so if it ever becomes really successful then that would be two decent incomes. Or if we don't work out there is always the 10 guys that might still be left in pharmacy school by the time I get in. lol Kidding!

I'm not just saying this because I'm super gung-ho or anything, but I would still want to become a pharmacist even if I won the powerball. Maybe I would work part time instead of full time, but I would still want to do it. I love school, and I really hope I get the chance one day to spend four years in pharmacy school and meet people with the same interest, and one day become their co workers. During time periods out of school or working I don't know what to do with myself. I have to have something to get up for everyday... and this is really what I would want to do. I can think of a few other things that I would like to do also, but this is at the top.
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My fault, I must have misread your previous posts! 😳
I am becoming more laid back myself...the more money you make the more stress you have. Pharmacy provides you with a fairly good salary. You will never be rich, but you will not be poor either...so I guess thats good enough. I think I prefer driving a less expensive car and having less stress in my life than the other way around! :laugh: Yeah, I would love to have every luxury in the world...but I come to realize that not everyone is that lucky in life..we all must just deal.

I hope you get into pharmacy school soon. keep me posted!
 
Thomas Ryan, CEO of CVS, is the highest paid Rph in the world, having earned $17,434,647 in 2008 alone.

He graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.S. in Pharmacy.
 
phathead said:
I would estimate about 25% of the people into, or getting into pharmacy, is due to the fact that you can make six figs right out of school and it can be a 9-5 job. You may think that's a high percentage, but after eight years I'm almost positive this is correct.
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More like 100% if you are doing retail pharmacy (if you don't believe me go to walgreens right now and do a poll...you will get 100% doing it for the money only. LOL..)
and about 85% if you are doing hospital pharmacy.
 
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SHC1984 said:
More like 100% if you are doing retail pharmacy (if you don't believe me go to walgreens right now and do a poll...you will get 100% doing it for the money only. LOL..)
and about 85% if you are doing hospital pharmacy.
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I'm going to be going into retail, and its definitely not for money
 
phathead said:
I would estimate about 25% of the people into, or getting into pharmacy, is due to the fact that you can make six figs right out of school and it can be a 9-5 job.
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Agreed

phathead said:
The problem with your analogy is that you would not occur the kind of debt you get from pharmacy school if the job only paid $20k a year.
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Not necessarily true. The higher the debt you incur* from school doesn't necessarily mean that you are getting paid more. Nursing school at my school and the surrounding universities almost cost as much as pharmacy school. And the average median base salary of a staff RN is a tad over 40k which, compared to a pharmacist's salary, isn't too far off my analogy.
 
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SHC1984 said:
More like 100% if you are doing retail pharmacy (if you don't believe me go to walgreens right now and do a poll...you will get 100% doing it for the money only. LOL..)
and about 85% if you are doing hospital pharmacy.
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Not really
 
roziak said:
Agreed



Not necessarily true. The higher the debt you incur* from school doesn't necessarily mean that you are getting paid more. Nursing school at my school and the surrounding universities almost cost as much as pharmacy school. And the average median base salary of a staff RN is a tad over 40k which, compared to a pharmacist's salary, isn't too far off my analogy.
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Perhaps, but that's just starting out as a basic RN. You at least have opportunities to climb up the ladder or continue on in school to get a masters or something.

That and pharmacy school is still more expensive. I'm looking at maybe $200k in debt when I'm done if I have to go out of state when everything's combined.
 
I have been told that if your debt is more than your first year's salary then it will NOT be worth it. For example, if you make 80K a year than your student debt shouldn't be more than 80K..if it is than you will be losing money. A pharmacists make 100K a year on average....so 100K is the max amount of debt...unless you want to PAY to work.
 
SHC1984 said:
I have been told that if your debt is more than your first year's salary then it will NOT be worth it. For example, if you make 80K a year than your student debt shouldn't be more than 80K..if it is than you will be losing money. A pharmacists make 100K a year on average....so 100K is the max amount of debt...unless you want to PAY to work.
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That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

By the logic, no one should buy a house over their wage because then they would be paying to work as well.
 
No worries! I really hope I get in to the school I'm applying too but if not I'm going to apply to a lot of out of states next year just in case. I have Mercer and California in mind because I think I'd feel most at home in those places 🙂. Not to mention they're great schools
 
Tinkerbell22 said:
No worries! I really hope I get in to the school I'm applying too but if not I'm going to apply to a lot of out of states next year just in case. I have Mercer and California in mind because I think I'd feel most at home in those places 🙂. Not to mention they're great schools
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UF would be a great school for you since you are a FL resident.
 
phathead said:
That doesn't make any sense whatsoever.

By the logic, no one should buy a house over their wage because then they would be paying to work as well.
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LOL...I ask the question to a business major,"is professional school worth taking out all those loans?" and I got the response of "if the debt doesn't exceed your first year salary you will be fine" as an answer. Made sense to me at the time.

House is different. It's a need and it's a nice purchase, like shoes and clothes. Pharmacy school tuition is like a BILL, not so nice to purchase. 🙁
 
I disagree too. Like a home, pharmacy school can be viewed as an investment. Your statement just doesnt make sense... Is it because your first year you wont have paid off your debt? Look past the first year and into a 30 year career.

On the flip side what if I take loans of 40k to make 45k a year... will I be better off?
 
SHC1984 said:
LOL...I ask the question to a business major,"is professional school worth taking out all those loans?" and I got the response of "if the debt doesn't exceed your first year salary you will be fine" as an answer. Made sense to me at the time.

House is different. It's a need and it's a nice purchase, like shoes and clothes. Pharmacy school tuition is like a BILL, not so nice to purchase. 🙁
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...

A house is nothing like shoes and clothes. A house is an investment because real estate typically appreciates in value. Shoes and clothes and cars, on the other hand, will depreciate in value the second you drive it or put it on. If anything a degree is more like a house because at the very least you get something out of it.
 
SHC1984 said:
LOL...I ask the question to a business major,"is professional school worth taking out all those loans?" and I got the response of "if the debt doesn't exceed your first year salary you will be fine" as an answer. Made sense to me at the time.

House is different. It's a need and it's a nice purchase, like shoes and clothes. Pharmacy school tuition is like a BILL, not so nice to purchase. 🙁
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I'm a business major, and that still doesn't make any sense to me lol
 
Passion4Sci said:
Even if your monthly payment for the loans is $2,000 and you make 80 grand, even after taxes you'll have plenty of disposable income.
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My wife will finish her masters about the same time I grad from pharm school. We figure we'll be making around $180k combined per year when we're done, so we're not going to change our lifestyle for about 3 years and use the saves cash to pay off loans. Thinkin we could do it in almost 3 years if we play our cards right.
 
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