Pharmacist Salary Thread

[pharmergirl]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Look to companies such as Slave-on for that. The trade off in hourly rate is more than made up for with more warm bodies to help distribute the work load. Five hundred prescriptions with just a cashier is insane, I don't care how much they pay you.

Five hundred prescriptions with just a cashier? -- Are you serrious? In one day. Then that must be with an AM shift rph and a pm shift rph, right? Do they still staff like that?

 

[baggywrinkle]

Five hundred prescriptions with just a cashier? -- Are you serrious? In one day. Then that must be with an AM shift rph and a pm shift rph, right? Do they still staff like that?

Yes I am serious. The bean counters resent every dollar over minimum wage they have to pay you and they dream of ways to get it back from you. Please don't assume this is unique to retail. Busy hospitals can slam you just as badly. The pressure is just different. In that respect Slaver is correct.
It is entirely up to you to pick your positions carefully. It is also up to you to know when you are on a fools errand and walk out.

Don't get me wrong here, there are personalities out there who thrive in that kind of environment. That would be a young pharmacist with several years experience under his/her belt at the top of their game.

 

[pharmer]

FYI: I make $40/h working retail at Hy-Vee (grocery store chain) in the midwest at a store that fills about 180-225 rx's a day (this is prn work though but I assume those who staff full time there make the same or plus a couple more bucks an hour)

 

[baggywrinkle]

FYI: I make $40/h working retail at Hy-Vee (grocery store chain) in the midwest at a store that fills about 180-225 rx's a day (this is prn work though but I assume those who staff full time there make the same or plus a couple more bucks an hour)

Pharmer;

What is your staffing like on a typical weekday

 

[pharmer]

Pharmer;

What is your staffing like on a typical weekday

Typical weekday 2 pharmacists in the morning 8-11am and then a 3rd pharmacist comes in at 11am so we have 3 pharmacist until 4pm. One RPh leaves at 4pm but then an intern/tech comes in so we have 2 RPh and intern until 6pm when the other RPh leaves. So 6-9pm there is one pharmacist and an intern/tech. The pharmacists usually work 10h days so if I was putting in the full 40 I would have 3 days off/week plus we get 30 minutes for lunch if working the morning shift. Its a great setup.

 

[Sosumi]

Do you have cashiers, or do the pharmacists work the register?

 

[baggywrinkle]

Typical weekday 2 pharmacists in the morning 8-11am and then a 3rd pharmacist comes in at 11am so we have 3 pharmacist until 4pm. One RPh leaves at 4pm but then an intern/tech comes in so we have 2 RPh and intern until 6pm when the other RPh leaves. So 6-9pm there is one pharmacist and an intern/tech. The pharmacists usually work 10h days so if I was putting in the full 40 I would have 3 days off/week plus we get 30 minutes for lunch if working the morning shift. Its a great setup.

Rite Aid with the same volume sticks a pharmacist into a 12 hour shift. There is never any overlap. You can expect one tech till 11, a tech and a cashier till 1:30 then two techs till 5pm. The cashier comes back at 4 and and leaves at 7 leaving the pharmacist and tech till 9pm. Everyone rings the register. With a slower tech doing order entry the pharmacist counts verifies and rings the register. My solution to this fiasco, against company policy is to throttle down the patient access. Drive through and dropoff window get closed forcing everyone to que up to the register. I will tell them without batting an eye that the turn around is 1-2 hours like it or lump it. My minimum wait is twenty minutes on a good day. When the pharmacist is alone and gets slammed my solution is to slow down even more,
forcing a waiter to stand at the counter till he is tagged, bagged, and rung out. The rest of the line can just stuff themselves.

 

[babalaco2]

Sure, the starting salary for pharmacists is great. But what about for people that want to go into industry with their pharmD. I would assume that because the pharmaceutical companies are mutli-billion dollar empires, that there is the oppritunity to make significant money there as well. I was wondering what the highest pharmD salary is realistic (MBA possibly included). Would it be outrageous to hope to make 150K working in the pharm industry after 5-7 years?

 

[DrugMan]

Sure, the starting salary for pharmacists is great. But what about for people that want to go into industry with their pharmD. I would assume that because the pharmaceutical companies are mutli-billion dollar empires, that there is the oppritunity to make significant money there as well. I was wondering what the highest pharmD salary is realistic (MBA possibly included). Would it be outrageous to hope to make 150K working in the pharm industry after 5-7 years?

Pending on your location, and how money driven you are...$150K in pharmacy is very attainable 😎 . In Cali salaries are starting to creep above the $50 per/hr mark and with the $10,000 a year signing bonus and the unlimited over-time you can put in, it's easy to say that you can make at least 150K upon graduating. On the other hand, pharmacist are in such short supply that you can join a Rx relief company and make at least $75-$90 per/hr including travel pay and they'll pay for your hotel if you travel far enough to stay over night. So, the money is in pharmacy, it all depend on if you want to put money before time. The most I've heard a pharmacist make is $250K working for a relief company. I hope this helps 😀 .

Peace,
DrugMan

 

[ultracet]

i have heard of $175K for a pharmacist at wal-mart

that includes bonuses and that is the PIC

make sure you look at the cost of living in the area before thinking its a lot of money..

 

[Sosumi]

Realistically, the highest possible salary I see would be to own your own independent pharmacy. As my professor who used to own his independent says, the reason why chains are so willing to pay pharmacists such good starting salaries is that the licensure allows you to open up a competing business. It's almost like dentists, lawyers, and doctors except that revenue for our profession is mostly product driven right now.

I don't have any solid info about the avg salary of independent pharmacy owners. However, according to the Pfizer Digest, independents do about $2,000,000/yr in prescription revenue. The owner makes about 8-10% of that in take home pay so that's about $160,000 to $200,000/yr. The possibilities are even higher depending on how good a businessperson you are.

 

[ZpackSux]

$140,000 - $150,000 for director of pharmacy positions are out there... I know..I left one recently.

There is a corporate pharmacy director position for $170,000 in my area...

 

[Asor]

Pending on your location, and how money driven you are...$150K in pharmacy is very attainable 😎 . In Cali salaries are starting to creep above the $50 per/hr mark and with the $10,000 a year signing bonus and the unlimited over-time you can put in, it's easy to say that you can make at least 150K upon graduating. On the other hand, pharmacist are in such short supply that you can join a Rx relief company and make at least $75-$90 per/hr including travel pay and they'll pay for your hotel if you travel far enough to stay over night. So, the money is in pharmacy, it all depend on if you want to put money before time. The most I've heard a pharmacist make is $250K working for a relief company. I hope this helps 😀 .

Peace,
DrugMan

Hi DrugMan,

I read your comments and was wondering if you could explain what a Rx relief company is? Thank you 😀

 

[ZpackSux]

Hi DrugMan,

I read your comments and was wondering if you could explain what a Rx relief company is? Thank you 😀

RX Relief companies provide temporary pharmacists.. Asereth is one of those companies.

 

[TrojanAnteater]

My friend's partents were telling me they saw an advertisement for a pharmacist positioin in Needles, CA (in the middle of nowhere) for $1 Million. They would have no reason to lie, they are always interested in what's going on with me concerning my chosen path of pharmacy. But I still don't know if they maybe misread/heard something wrong.

 

[ultracet]

My friend's partents were telling me they saw an advertisement for a pharmacist positioin in Needles, CA (in the middle of nowhere) for $1 Million. They would have no reason to lie, they are always interested in what's going on with me concerning my chosen path of pharmacy. But I still don't know if they maybe misread/heard something wrong.

even for the middle of no where
for a regular pharmacist that seems a little steep to me

 

[kellia]

My friend's partents were telling me they saw an advertisement for a pharmacist positioin in Needles, CA (in the middle of nowhere) for $1 Million. They would have no reason to lie, they are always interested in what's going on with me concerning my chosen path of pharmacy. But I still don't know if they maybe misread/heard something wrong.

more realistic: $1,000,000 - one zero = $100,000

 

[Anotsu Kagehisa]

My friend's partents were telling me they saw an advertisement for a pharmacist positioin in Needles, CA (in the middle of nowhere) for $1 Million. They would have no reason to lie, they are always interested in what's going on with me concerning my chosen path of pharmacy. But I still don't know if they maybe misread/heard something wrong.

Is $1 million for one year? Because thats more than a doctor makes.

 

[28657]

My friend's partents were telling me they saw an advertisement for a pharmacist positioin in Needles, CA (in the middle of nowhere) for $1 Million. They would have no reason to lie, they are always interested in what's going on with me concerning my chosen path of pharmacy. But I still don't know if they maybe misread/heard something wrong.

I've heard of that too. A couple of years ago some pharmacy in CA was signing "Million dollar contracts" for 10 years worth of work......so in all actuality it's 100K/year.

 

[jmhousem]

I've heard of that too. A couple of years ago some pharmacy in CA was signing "Million dollar contracts" for 10 years worth of work......so in all actuality it's 100K/year.

That seems much more reasonable to me. I think salaries for your typical pharmacist usually top out somewhere around there (i.e. in the $100k-$110k range), with most in the $80k-$95k area. Managerial positions can increase the salary significantly, as earlier posters have suggested. Still, $170,000? Wow. What does that job entail, and how much of your actual pharmacy degree are you using (as opposed to MBA-related skills)?

 

[jdpharmd?]

I've heard of that too. A couple of years ago some pharmacy in CA was signing "Million dollar contracts" for 10 years worth of work......so in all actuality it's 100K/year.

I believe that was walgreens who offered the "million dollar contract", and I wonder who fell for it? Wags now (3 years later?) pays their managers $51/hr around here, which, even with no bonus is $106,000/year.

Factor in something like 2% inflation per year, and the fact that pharmacist's annual salaries (in this area) have gone up 8,000-10,000 over the last 3 or 4 years, and you're left getting paid maybe 50% of what other people will be making in 2012 (when the "million dollar contract" is up). Any thoughts to the salary of a pharmacist in 5 years? 140k, 160k, 180k?

 

[jdpharmd?]

I would look to hospital pharmacy directors, and PBM or wholesaler administrative types for the truly high numbers. I'm sure there are R.Phs at McKesson, Caremark, or Cardinal pulling in 500k/yr.

I used to have a website bookmarked that allowed anyone to view the tax forms for the 5 or 10 highest salaried employees for certain companies (including some universities and hospitals). Since some hospitals do not "employ" doctors directly, I had seen "Pharmacy Director" listed on a few big hospitals as one of the highest paid (in the dept?) at 160k+.

Anyone know that website address offhand? It was neat...

 

[TrojanAnteater]

I've heard of that too. A couple of years ago some pharmacy in CA was signing "Million dollar contracts" for 10 years worth of work......so in all actuality it's 100K/year.

Perhaps thats what they meant and didn't tell about the 10 year part. Unfortunately that was a pretty big part! lol

 

[goheel]

Anybody think the salary of a pharmacist will break 300k and surpass that of a brain surgeon? With the demand increasing, its seems probable.

^^You must be on crack.

 

[kellia]

^^You must be on crack.

agreed. is this person for real????? 👎

 

[Anotsu Kagehisa]

I think the salary rise about $10,000 every year for the past few years, if this trend continues it could eventually reach it.

 

[Asor]

RX Relief companies provide temporary pharmacists.. Asereth is one of those companies.

Thanks, ZpackSux--I'd never heard of these companies before.

 

[ZpackSux]

The million dollar contract was for 6 years I believe...which I don't think is too much...if it's in Needles..

 

[Anotsu Kagehisa]

RX Relief companies provide temporary pharmacists.. Asereth is one of those companies.

What exactly is a relief company? Do they provide temporary pharmacist to retail if they need more people??

 

[ZpackSux]

What exactly is a relief company? Do they provide temporary pharmacist to retail if they need more people??

No, relief company provides relief from gas pains and/or explosive diarrhea through meditation and swordsmenship.

 

[goheel]

No, relief company provides relief from gas pains and/or explosive diarrhea through meditation and swordsmenship.

LOL

 

[ZpackSux]

Is $1 million for one year? Because thats more than a doctor makes.

 

[pharmadocious]

No, relief company provides relief from gas pains and/or explosive diarrhea through meditation and swordsmenship.

 

[atlanta_pharm]

My friend's partents were telling me they saw an advertisement for a pharmacist positioin in Needles, CA (in the middle of nowhere) for $1 Million. They would have no reason to lie, they are always interested in what's going on with me concerning my chosen path of pharmacy. But I still don't know if they maybe misread/heard something wrong.

A million eh? Perhaps a million after some level of contractual committment. Like winning the Superbowl lol..That does seem high even for the Westside

 

[yatzek]

back to the serious subject... i dont think the "trend" is going to continue, lets be realistic, there isn't going to be a shortage of pharmacists forever.

I am interested in where you can go with a pharmD. and how much you can develop your career, hospital pharmacy director sounds good, these relief pharmacist jobs are probably the highest paying now but there is no way they will stick around.
corporate jobs prolly have nothing to do with pharm care, its just businessmen- i wouldn't call a businessman a pharmacist (although i'm sure a lot of you are in this for the money)
what i am interested in is how much can a pharmacist make doing pharmacy type work (with drug services, dur, therapy mgmnt etc) ?

 

[chocoholic]

I would look to hospital pharmacy directors, and PBM or wholesaler administrative types for the truly high numbers. I'm sure there are R.Phs at McKesson, Caremark, or Cardinal pulling in 500k/yr.

I used to have a website bookmarked that allowed anyone to view the tax forms for the 5 or 10 highest salaried employees for certain companies (including some universities and hospitals). Since some hospitals do not "employ" doctors directly, I had seen "Pharmacy Director" listed on a few big hospitals as one of the highest paid (in the dept?) at 160k+.

Anyone know that website address offhand? It was neat...

What are R.Phs?

 

[babalaco2]

The million dollar contract was for 6 years I believe...which I don't think is too much...if it's in Needles..

Thats like 160K+ a year....not to shabby

 

[Glycerin]

What are R.Phs?

Registered pharmacists.

 

[OSURxgirl]

There's an alum from my college who only has a BS in Pharmacy and is now a VP in the Target Pharmacy division. I heard she makes something insane like 2 million per year.

 

[chocoholic]

There's an alum from my college who only has a BS in Pharmacy and is now a VP in the Target Pharmacy division. I heard she makes something insane like 2 million per year.

From that one job alone? or does that take into account all other investments or a second job?

 

[Vandykitten]

There's an alum from my college who only has a BS in Pharmacy and is now a VP in the Target Pharmacy division. I heard she makes something insane like 2 million per year.

Wow...that's pretty awesome 🙂 I could live with that...but did she also have to get an MBA? I am considering the PharmD/MBA pathway.

On a side note, the pharmacist I work for makes around 200,000 a year...he's a bit older and is the head pharmacist and pharmacy manager at the pharmacy I work for! (Chain) He does not have a PharmD. I think your salary depends on how much you want to work (if working retail)! He goes on vacations once every few months and works a few full shifts every week with two days off. 👍

 

[npp71681]

I am considering the PharmD/MBA pathway.

I am not planning to get combine PharmD/MBA(5-years), but I may start my MBA in my 3rd year of PharmD program and can finish in my 4th year. So, basically I will both PharmD and MBA in 4 years once I get accepted.

I recently heard of some Business schools offering EMBA(Executive MBA) program, does anyone knows which one ways higher(MBA or EMBA)?

 

[microbe hunter]

Pending on your location, and how money driven you are...$150K in pharmacy is very attainable 😎 . In Cali salaries are starting to creep above the $50 per/hr mark and with the $10,000 a year signing bonus and the unlimited over-time you can put in, it's easy to say that you can make at least 150K upon graduating. On the other hand, pharmacist are in such short supply that you can join a Rx relief company and make at least $75-$90 per/hr including travel pay and they'll pay for your hotel if you travel far enough to stay over night. So, the money is in pharmacy, it all depend on if you want to put money before time. The most I've heard a pharmacist make is $250K working for a relief company. I hope this helps 😀 .

Peace,
DrugMan

I think you also need to take into account the cost of living in different areas. California has a high cost of living, for instance. So although you may be paid more in, say, San Diego, you are also paying more to live there. It surely evens out... It's not just about the amount of money that is made. High numbers always sound great, but remember, it's how much you net in the end, that counts.

 

[koercive]

extremely low base =??

 

[jdpharmd?]

Who are you talking to? Staff at Safeway are getting $44/hour to start.

Just an update $47/hr staff, $50/hr manager. It came true, what do you know...

 

[ForgetMeNot]

Just an update $47/hr staff, $50/hr manager. It came true, what do you know...

Yeah, I think it was May 15 that Safeway instituted the new pay rates to play catch-up with the other chains.

 

[Mena3]

This may be a bad question, but what is the average salary a pharmacist makes working in say, a CVS. Also, how much money can a pharmacist make if he/she owned a pharmacy?

Thanks

 

[Glycerin]

This may be a bad question, but what is the average salary a pharmacist makes working in say, a CVS. Also, how much money can a pharmacist make if he/she owned a pharmacy?

Thanks

From our FAQ: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=1700936&postcount=6

This has been asked in several other threads as well. Doing a search of the forum can be very useful, and old threads can be bumped to the top of the forum if needed.

 

[ODhopeful]

Hi fellow pharmacists and future pharmacists, I am just curious how much money a pharmacist make in a year. Just a rough figure...

 

[ForgetMeNot]

Hi fellow pharmacists and future pharmacists, I am just curious how much money a pharmacist make in a year. Just a rough figure...

So I suggest reading the FAQ, specifically this thread.

Oh, and using the search function.