Reasonable pay rate

[lltpharmd]

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I had this in another forum but thought it'd be more appropriate here. In these times, it's hard to find a job! The market is oversaturated now with the economy making big corporations cut hours and decrease hiring and schools churning out more students than ever.

Question: An independent that I interviewed with was offering $30/hour! Unbelievably low compared to retail chains. Everything about it sounds good; great hours M-F 9-5pm Sat 9-12pm. I'd have off every other Friday/Saturday. It's located in a medical office with peds, dentist and family practice. Avg script count is 120/day. No benefits though except for 1 week paid vacation and increase in vacation pay with tenure. This is in Illinois.

Is this too low, or are a lot of you getting the same type of offers. The owner said that a few years ago he had to decrease pay to this rate because of the economy. He has four other locations, I am assuming the Rph's there also get the same pay.

Please respond and let me know what competition is offering.

 

[gotdrugs]

Something doesn't smell right with your post.

 

[PharmDstudent]

$30/hr is a flashback to the 1990's

 

[rxlea]

Definitely too low. Don't fall for it.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

Terrible compensation package, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot stick. I do not know a single person in my class being paid under 50/hr with full benefit package: this includes mostly chain retail pharms but there are a few LTC, indy, hospital and HMO pharms too.

This employer is trying to take advantage of the current and future pharmacist market. Owner knows the working conditions and patients in an indy environment are often much more desirable.

 

[PharmaTope]

Terrible compensation package, I wouldn't touch it with a ten foot stick. I do not know a single person in my class being paid under 50/hr with full benefit package: this includes mostly chain retail pharms but there are a few LTC, indy, hospital and HMO pharms too.

This employer is trying to take advantage of the current and future pharmacist market. Owner knows the working conditions and patients in an indy environment are often much more desirable.

i know a lot of people being paid under 50 an hour. in fact i know more people making under 50 an hour than making 50 an hour.

 

[njac]

Ive def seen <$50/hr but not <$40. I wouldn't do it.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

If it is cash, it is not unresonable. Is it cash?

 

[jasonkido]

If it is cash, it is not unresonable. Is it cash?

Even then I would not risk being paid under the table unless I have a full time job that is tax recorded and a part time job that is paid under the table. Never risk being paid under the table full-time. If you get caught, you will be in serious trouble.

However, 30$ under the table would not be so bad. If you calculate 30$ times 80 hours =2400 x2=4800 or about 60k a year, thats not bad at all

 

[pharmschooler]

If it is cash, it is not unresonable. Is it cash?

Not so much. Getting paid under the table isn't really a good deal for an employee at all, plus it's risky.

http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-getting-paid-under-the-table/

 

[Cloud 9]

In 1994 the salary of a pharmacist was 47, 500.
Granted gas was like 99 cents a gallon but it would not be so shocking with the ways things are going to see more salaries in the 60k range.

 

[pharmschooler]

In 1994 the salary of a pharmacist was 47, 500.
Granted gas was like 99 cents a gallon but it would not be so shocking with the ways things are going to see more salaries in the 60k range.

Then again, in 1994, a lot of professionals' salaries were in the range of 40 - 60k. At one point, that was a lot of money. Houses were also cheaper.

 

[Cloud 9]

Then again, in 1994, a lot of professionals' salaries were in the range of 40 - 60k. At one point, that was a lot of money. Houses were also cheaper.

I know, obviously salaries have increased in response to inflation but interestingly enough, physician salaries were over 100k in the same year. I don't think it's unreasonable to think that salaries will go down to 60k in response to saturation.

 

[tashka]

No, no, please, don't take this job! This is way too low. Keep looking.

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

i know a lot of people being paid under 50 an hour. in fact i know more people making under 50 an hour than making 50 an hour.

What state/area of the country are you located?

 

[R xxx]

Surprisingly, the independent pharmacies around here pay their pharmacists more. They do way more business than chains around here.

Don't take that job, especially since it doesn't have any benefits. You lose a lot more money in terms of vacation and 401K and health benefits. So you really are only making maybe around $25 an hour instead of $30.

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

Not so much. Getting paid under the table isn't really a good deal for an employee at all, plus it's risky.

http://www.taxgirl.com/ask-the-taxgirl-getting-paid-under-the-table/

Its a good deal for new graduates without any experience. It is better than having no job. I would rather be paid 30 dollars an hour to fill 120 prescriptions than getting paid 30 after tax filling 400 for CVS. Once you factor in no CSI, no PCQ calls, and readyfill, you probably dont need to see the doctor since your blood pressure wont be through the roof.

Once again, not a bad deal if it is under the books. You can probably file for Medicaid and IBR also since you have no income. For once, you will be gaming the system than paying into it like I am....

 

[pharmschooler]

Its a good deal for new graduates without any experience. It is better than having no job. I would rather be paid 30 dollars an hour to fill 120 prescriptions than getting paid 30 after tax filling 400 for CVS. Once you factor in no CSI, no PCQ calls, and readyfill, you probably dont need to see the doctor since your blood pressure wont be through the roof.

Once again, not a bad deal if it is under the books. You can probably file for Medicaid and IBR also since you have no income. For once, you will be gaming the system than paying into it like I am....

Have you not considered that this is morally and ethically wrong? 😕

There are many flaws in your argument, but that's the big one that really matters to me.

 

[owlegrad]

Have you not considered that this is morally and ethically wrong? 😕

There are many flaws in your argument, but that's the big one that really matters to me.

Oh no, I am sure you won't lose your license for that sort of thing, morality aside. 🙄

 

[StevePerry]

Have you not considered that this is morally and ethically wrong? 😕

There are many flaws in your argument, but that's the big one that really matters to me.

Who says Mother Teresa is dead and gone?

 

[pharmschooler]

Who says Mother Teresa is dead and gone?

You will never get ahead by acting morally bankrupt, at least not for long. If you're a health professional, you should act like a professional.

 

[lltpharmd]

Just an update... I decided to pass on this position and continue looking. To answer one poster's question. This is in southwest burbs of Chicago.

 

[1ive2die]

Sigh...even a few pharmacists taking a salary that low will open the floodgates for employers to continue to slash wages. I know the mantra is "a job is better than no job" but taking that job isn't just bad for the pharmacist concerned, it's bad for the profession.

It will just be a matter of time till pharmacists undercut each other in a race to the bottom.

 

[R xxx]

It takes time to train someone and for them to be good at what they're doing, you have to compensate them fairly with the market value. That employer will find someone to work for him, but that employee won't be there long. He/she will be there while looking for another job. I think it costs more money for that employer to hire someone new, train them, then they leave. He is taking advantage of the market, but he is also being too greedy.

 

[Passion4Sci]

Sigh...even a few pharmacists taking a salary that low will open the floodgates for employers to continue to slash wages. I know the mantra is "a job is better than no job" but taking that job isn't just bad for the pharmacist concerned, it's bad for the profession.

It will just be a matter of time till pharmacists undercut each other in a race to the bottom.

I disagree. Large balances of student loans will likely stop too much racing to the bottom.

 

[moissanite69]

anything is possible in this time...I know some pharmacist got hired at 40 dollars/ hour (hospital setting) in California. At the same time, another dude got hired at 57 dollars/hr (retail). That's a 20 dollars/hour difference!

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

anything is possible in this time...i know some pharmacist got hired at 40 dollars/ hour (hospital setting) in california. At the same time, another dude got hired at 57 dollars/hr (retail). That's a 20 dollars/hour difference!

57 - 40 = 17 😉

 

[Passion4Sci]

anything is possible in this time...I know some pharmacist got hired at 40 dollars/ hour (hospital setting) in California. At the same time, another dude got hired at 57 dollars/hr (retail). That's a 20 dollars/hour difference!

I can deal with $80k/yr. $80k/yr starting, for hospital (better working conditions, better benefits, better hours, almost always) would be just fine for me. I'm talking mostly about people saying crud like $45k-55k a year. Not going to happen.

 

[owlegrad]

I can deal with $80k/yr. $80k/yr starting, for hospital (better working conditions, better benefits, better hours, almost always) would be just fine for me. I'm talking mostly about people saying crud like $45k-55k a year. Not going to happen.

I wouldn't go that far. Too subjective with too much variation from place to place. The rest seem fair enough to me.

 

[Passion4Sci]

I wouldn't go that far. Too subjective with too much variation from place to place. The rest seem fair enough to me.

Well, I mean, it's all subjective.

Even better benefits can be subjective. Perhaps someone prefers vision to dental or 401k matching to something else. *shrug*

Fair enough.

 

[1ive2die]

I disagree. Large balances of student loans will likely stop too much racing to the bottom.

I disagree. With a large student loan and interest piling up you don't exactly have the luxury to be choosy. You'll probably take any job you can get to avoid defaulting.

 

[type b pharmD]

I disagree. With a large student loan and interest piling up you don't exactly have the luxury to be choosy. You'll probably take any job you can get to avoid defaulting.

with IBR you can avoid defaulting as long as you can scrounge up like $50/month, regardless of the loan's value.

 

[metformin87]

i used to read these forums and get freaked out about the job market.. 🙄


there's plenty of jobs out there.. especially in retail.. i've been contacted by every major retail chain and all i did was apply.. 4 different offers in big markets like atlanta, orlando, houston, dallas.. so to those reading this.. dont freakout just get your CV together and apply

 

[xiphoid2010]

I can deal with $80k/yr. $80k/yr starting, for hospital (better working conditions, better benefits, better hours, almost always) would be just fine for me. I'm talking mostly about people saying crud like $45k-55k a year. Not going to happen.

Don't forget the shift differential. Working 2nd shift or weekends you could easily match retail and not worry about burnout.

 

[PharmDstudent]

Don't forget the shift differential. Working 2nd shift or weekends you could easily match retail and not worry about burnout.

Definitely subjective. I'm already burnt out on making TPNs. I could work the rest of my career without having to make another TPN in a glove box...

 

[R xxx]

Why do you have to make TPNs. Don't you have an IV tech for that?

 

[PharmDstudent]

Why do you have to make TPNs. Don't you have an IV tech for that?

No. I work part-time/PRN at a tiny hospital. My tech does cartfill, Pyxis, snap-ons, and the order.

 

[xiphoid2010]

No. I work part-time/PRN at a tiny hospital. My tech does cartfill, Pyxis, snap-ons, and the order.

Lol, techs here doesn't even "really" make TPNs. They just hook the bag to the robotic pump, put it on a scale, select the ingredients, hit start, bam, everything is done. Easiest $13/hr ever.

 

[Praziquantel86]

Why do you have to make TPNs. Don't you have an IV tech for that?

My old hospital didn't have an additive pump, so the pharmacist would do all the additives by hand. Pain in the neck, but I wouldn't trust a tech to do it properly.

 

[PharmDstudent]

Lol, techs here doesn't even "really" make TPNs. They just hook the bag to the robotic pump, put it on a scale, select the ingredients, hit start, bam, everything is done. Easiest $13/hr ever.

That's not how Clinimix works... Remember the amino acid shortage?

 

[xiphoid2010]

That's not how Clinimix works... Remember the amino acid shortage?

I didn't hear anything about an aa shortage. Then again, the nutritionists are the ones putting in the consult notes for which mix to use, my job is to adjusting the lytes, the staff pharmacists are the ones dealing with the techs and final verifications.

 

[xiphoid2010]

My old hospital didn't have an additive pump, so the pharmacist would do all the additives by hand. Pain in the neck, but I wouldn't trust a tech to do it properly.

Lol, sticking a bag 20 times must be fun, not to not the most accurate or steril way of making it. candida parapsilosis grows out much? 😛

 

[PharmDstudent]

I didn't hear anything about an aa shortage. Then again, the nutritionists are the ones putting in the consult notes for which mix to use, my job is to adjusting the lytes, the staff pharmacists are the ones dealing with the techs and final verifications.

It's the ninth one down 😉

 

[Sparda29]

Its a good deal for new graduates without any experience. It is better than having no job. I would rather be paid 30 dollars an hour to fill 120 prescriptions than getting paid 30 after tax filling 400 for CVS. Once you factor in no CSI, no PCQ calls, and readyfill, you probably dont need to see the doctor since your blood pressure wont be through the roof.

Once again, not a bad deal if it is under the books. You can probably file for Medicaid and IBR also since you have no income. For once, you will be gaming the system than paying into it like I am....

I like the way this man thinks.