Who's the Highest Paid Pharmacist?

[twester]

I made $3,334 last year. When I graduate in 3-1/2 years, I will increase my salary by at least 3000%. I'll take it.

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[KARM12]

were you offered a sign on bonus too?

Nope, no sign on bonus...not for the Chicago area...there are plenty of people willing to work here. If you want the sign on bonus in IL you need to go south.

 

[eddie269]

I think it's obvious in 2006-2007, all retail pharmacists will hiut the $100k/yr mark quite easily. But to answer the OP's questions, I do remember SDN1977 finding a job opening in northern CA for Target that desparately needed a staff pharmacist. If I remembered correctly, it was ~$75/hr with a small bonus plus benefits. That's the highest salary I've seen for a regular staff pharmacist before OT.

But yeah, one day when I'm done with school, I plan to run my own show. If my parents, who came from China with no money can do it, I sure hope I can too.

 

[thaliagoo]

Thank goodness you gave your authoritative statement!!!! My 30 years of being a pharmacist counts for nothing in comparison to what you know - whew! I can't tell what you are....a student, applicant to pharmacy, DO/MD...whatever.

However....I am one of those pharmacists who make good money & altho I have great legs (Zpak knows this!) my butt is very much intact (altho not spread as much as Zpaks because he sits down & I don't!).

But....we do so much thank you for all your knowledge of what my paycheck so clearly shows is a mistake.......I'm sure my colleagues, who have only been out of school for 5 years & make the same money I do agree with you also!

Hi SDN,

What sector of pharmacy do you work in? (Community, hospital, ect)

 

[acetyl]

I ask we close this thread, lock the door, and throw away the key.

Everyone is going to make great money and have a wonderful lifestyle. We all know this, but I thought the primary aim of healthcare was to help sick people?

 

[ZpackSux]

I ask we close this thread, lock the door, and throw away the key.

Everyone is going to make great money and have a wonderful lifestyle. We all know this, but I thought the primary aim of healthcare was to help sick people?

I'm sick right now..can you help me?

 

[Glowwyrm]

I made $3,334 last year. When I graduate in 3-1/2 years, I will increase my salary by at least 3000%. I'll take it.

Yeah people may be laughing now over what you make. In a few years you'll have the last laugh.

 

[acetyl]

I'm sick right now..can you help me?

Drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest. Any more info, will require a bill.

 

[Farmercyst]

I'm sick right now..can you help me?

Stop chasing dung beetles and wash your hands after touching dung balls.

 

[Brixius]

We all know this, but I thought the primary aim of healthcare was to help sick people?

My sickness lies in not owning a Corvette. I'm doing all I can to help this poor, sick person.

 

[ZpackSux]

Drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest. Any more info, will require a bill.

been drinking gallons of whiskey and sleeping 16 hours a day...it's not helping.

 

[ZpackSux]

Stop chasing dung beetles and wash your hands after touching dung balls.

oh..but it's so much fun!

 

[ZpackSux]

My sickness lies in not owning a Corvette. I'm doing all I can to help this poor, sick person.

I test drove a Vette 2 months ago... was disappointed...felt very disconnected from the road and didn't feel tight.

You aint missing nothing..

 

[acetyl]

My sickness lies in not owning a Corvette. I'm doing all I can to help this poor, sick person.

To each his own I suppose.

been drinking gallons of whiskey and sleeping 16 hours a day...it's not helping.

Why are you asking me, aren't you the DOP?

 

[ZpackSux]

Why are you asking me, aren't you the DOP?

DOP don't know chit..

 

[sdn1977]

DOP don't know chit..

OBVIOUSLY!

I'm aware of one....a soon to be "has-been" dop who willingly chases dung beetles for the advancement of a 7yo's education & is also willing to hold on to that memory so he can taunt her during her wedding reception

Good Dads are hard to find - good dops who are also good dads are even rarer....... ! They're going to miss you !

You know you are going to miss all those P&T meetings - all those staff meetings - all those days you have to cover a shift because someone called in "sick" ..........

 

[ZpackSux]

OBVIOUSLY!

I'm aware of one....a soon to be "has-been" dop who willingly chases dung beetles for the advancement of a 7yo's education & is also willing to hold on to that memory so he can taunt her during her wedding reception

Good Dads are hard to find - good dops who are also good dads are even rarer....... ! They're going to miss you !

You know you are going to miss all those P&T meetings - all those staff meetings - all those days you have to cover a shift because someone called in "sick" ..........

LOL... my wife may say otherwise about "Good Dad" thing..
For the next 2 weeks, I'm a lame duck DOP.. I still have things I want to accomplish.. but the reaction is.."What do you care, you're leaving us."

I'm actually going to put together the P&T agenda for March..including the annual update on Heparin Protocol with the new aPTT vs Heparin anti-factor X activity curve.. Erythropoeitin dosing guideline etc. Tho..I have a feeling I'll be attending more P&T meetings than ever for my fella DOPs I'll be helping.

Still finishing up the March Pharmacist Schedule.. in which 7 pharmacists requested the spring break off..all at the same time. We're going to make it work..with a skeleton crew.. hopefully the docs will be off too.

I look forward to being the "has been" DOP.. and may do it again in the future...

We haven't actively been trapping Dung Beetles yet... we've had some goofy weather...snowed in Dallas for the past few weeks... it's white outside right now. But I need to run around and buy some parts for my RV.

I'm thinking I'll get a big bucket..fill it with wax... get a mop and splash the wax on... then wax off.. I'm thinking it'll take about 8 hours to wax the sucker. Life is so much fun.. isn't it?

I chuckle at our lovely student contributors on the forum..with their concerns..worries...the unknowns... What can we say ..other than "Relax kids.. y'all will do just fine."

 

[Farmercyst]

LOL... my wife may say otherwise about "Good Dad" thing..
For the next 2 weeks, I'm a lame duck DOP.. I still have things I want to accomplish.. but the reaction is.."What do you care, you're leaving us."

I'm actually going to put together the P&T agenda for March..including the annual update on Heparin Protocol with the new aPTT vs Heparin anti-factor X activity curve.. Erythropoeitin dosing guideline etc. Tho..I have a feeling I'll be attending more P&T meetings than ever for my fella DOPs I'll be helping.

Still finishing up the March Pharmacist Schedule.. in which 7 pharmacists requested the spring break off..all at the same time. We're going to make it work..with a skeleton crew.. hopefully the docs will be off too.

I look forward to being the "has been" DOP.. and may do it again in the future...

We haven't actively been trapping Dung Beetles yet... we've had some goofy weather...snowed in Dallas for the past few weeks... it's white outside right now. But I need to run around and buy some parts for my RV.

I'm thinking I'll get a big bucket..fill it with wax... get a mop and splash the wax on... then wax off.. I'm thinking it'll take about 8 hours to wax the sucker. Life is so much fun.. isn't it?

I chuckle at our lovely student contributors on the forum..with their concerns..worries...the unknowns... What can we say ..other than "Relax kids.. y'all will do just fine."

I was wondering what parts you'd be needing so soon. Hopefully it's just the mop, wax, and bucket. Much more than that and I say take the thing back .

 

[ZpackSux]

I was wondering what parts you'd be needing so soon. Hopefully it's just the mop, wax, and bucket. Much more than that and I say take the thing back .

Well, the generator requires an oil change at 150 hours. I don't have the service record because I bought it used at a dealer...and it was a bank repo.. it has 27,500 miles on it..Diesel. Got the annual oil change for the engine.. but I'm going to change the Tranny Fluid and filter also.. I think it takes about 24 quarts.. I need to buy a creeper and I want to look at it and learn it.

Got some Koni adjustable shocks for the front and had it installed last week.. and swapped out the rear with Monroe Gas shocks. Eventually will swap out the TV and put some LCDs .. need to do an annual reseal of the roof this spring.

Swapped out tires cuz I'm anal about them.. got 6 BF Goodrich 22.5 inch truck tires.. ouch that hurt.

You know the big fad down in Little Rock is the kids displaying the size of their wheels on the car.. like "22" "24".. I'm thinking of getting a big sticker made... "22.5" j/k.

 

[Farmercyst]

Well, the generator requires an oil change at 150 hours. I don't have the service record because I bought it used at a dealer...and it was a bank repo.. it has 27,500 miles on it..Diesel. Got the annual oil change for the engine.. but I'm going to change the Tranny Fluid and filter also.. I think it takes about 24 quarts.. I need to buy a creeper and I want to look at it and learn it.

Got some Koni adjustable shocks for the front and had it installed last week.. and swapped out the rear with Monroe Gas shocks. Eventually will swap out the TV and put some LCDs .. need to do an annual reseal of the roof this spring.

Swapped out tires cuz I'm anal about them.. got 6 BF Goodrich 22.5 inch truck tires.. ouch that hurt.

You know the big fad down in Little Rock is the kids displaying the size of their wheels on the car.. like "22" "24".. I'm thinking of getting a big sticker made... "22.5" j/k.

It sounds like RVs, like boats, follow the 80/20 rule. 80% of your money goes to maintenance 20% for fun.

 

[ZpackSux]

It sounds like RVs, like boats, follow the 80/20 rule. 80% of your money goes to maintenance 20% for fun.

ehhh...at 10mpg which I'm very proud of, it's like 80% maintenance and 90% for fun..

You can't financially justify these kind of toys. You do it for the fun, experience, and the memories it'll build for the family.

 

[sdn1977]

Well, the generator requires an oil change at 150 hours. I don't have the service record because I bought it used at a dealer...and it was a bank repo.. it has 27,500 miles on it..Diesel. Got the annual oil change for the engine.. but I'm going to change the Tranny Fluid and filter also.. I think it takes about 24 quarts.. I need to buy a creeper and I want to look at it and learn it.

Got some Koni adjustable shocks for the front and had it installed last week.. and swapped out the rear with Monroe Gas shocks. Eventually will swap out the TV and put some LCDs .. need to do an annual reseal of the roof this spring.

Swapped out tires cuz I'm anal about them.. got 6 BF Goodrich 22.5 inch truck tires.. ouch that hurt.

You know the big fad down in Little Rock is the kids displaying the size of their wheels on the car.. like "22" "24".. I'm thinking of getting a big sticker made... "22.5" j/k.

I can understand being anal about the tires.

We were driving our trailer going over the Grapvine - just over the Bakersfield side (downhill).....when one of our trailer tires blew. After getting the whole thing under control (thank you Mr sdn ) - there we were - on the shoulder with all those big rigs passing us.

Remember those runaway ramps??? When you're standing near one they look sooooo scary.

Anyway - ever since - good tires are worth the money!!!!!!!

 

[ZpackSux]

I can understand being anal about the tires.

We were driving our trailer going over the Grapvine - just over the Bakersfield side (downhill).....when one of our trailer tires blew. After getting the whole thing under control (thank you Mr sdn ) - there we were - on the shoulder with all those big rigs passing us.

Remember those runaway ramps??? When you're standing near one they look sooooo scary.

Anyway - ever since - good tires are worth the money!!!!!!!

I know that runaway ramp on the I-5 North... never been on it.. and hope I don't ever have to use it..but I'm glad it's there...

RV and trailer tires...must be changed every 5 years regardless of usage..

 

[AnonFaculty]

To answer that question, I would imagine one of the highest paid pharmacists is Bill Evans who CEO of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN

 

[terse]

I test drove a Vette 2 months ago... was disappointed...felt very disconnected from the road and didn't feel tight.

You aint missing nothing..

was it a Z06? if it wasn't, then try that. if it was, then you have some problems.

 

[druglord]

Here it comes from a practicing pharmacist for the past 8 years. My current salary is $122720 + I was given a 30K sign on bonus. Anymore questions, please ask and I will gladly respond.

 

[DooberXL]

How about those who specialize after pharmacy school? Anyone have some numbers on that? Ie. Oncology/Hematology, pediatrics, intensive care, surgery?

 

[feelit83]

Here it comes from a practicing pharmacist for the past 8 years. My current salary is $122720 + I was given a 30K sign on bonus. Anymore questions, please ask and I will gladly respond.

where do you work....are they still hiring...lol

 

[Priapism321]

How about those who specialize after pharmacy school? Anyone have some numbers on that? Ie. Oncology/Hematology, pediatrics, intensive care, surgery?

I would say the range is 90 - 125 depending on the circumstances.

The highest paid pharmacists I have heard of are ones that are heavy into research; I know for a fact a few in my state make well over 200k (it's public record because they are state employees). One of them only has a PharmD, a couple are PharmD/PhD.

This thread is long, and this may have all been mentioned already. Oh well.

 

[sleazye]

There's a clinical pharmacist job advertised right now on craigslist in south texas that pays 130k-160k depending on experience.

 

[azPharmD2B]

I work with many dozens of pharmacists and not a single one makes less than $50/hr regardless of which degree or how many years experience they have.

 

[gotdrugs]

How about those who specialize after pharmacy school? Anyone have some numbers on that? Ie. Oncology/Hematology, pediatrics, intensive care, surgery?

I'm a Critical Care specialist who makes 100K+ (barely over) a year currently.

This is with a pharm practice, critical care residency and being in my job for 3 years. The pay scale for my position goes up to ~120K currently I believe.

 

[gotdrugs]

There's a clinical pharmacist job advertised right now on craigslist in south texas that pays 130k-160k depending on experience.

If this is in response to the previous post asking what pharmacists who specialize make, I would like to warn all current and future job seekers.

Please be VERY careful and cautious when applying for any "clinical pharmacist" position (if clinical work is what you truly want to do). Many people (HR, DOPs, Headhunters) know that being a "clinical pharmacist" is what many of us want to be right now, but what these positions are are the traditional staff pharmacist position that they give the title of a clinical pharmacist to in order to try to bring in more candidates.

My advice, these positions, ask a LOT of questions of the responsibilities and roles are, typical day, etc.

 

[Epic]

If this is in response to the previous post asking what pharmacists who specialize make, I would like to warn all current and future job seekers.

Please be VERY careful and cautious when applying for any "clinical pharmacist" position (if clinical work is what you truly want to do). Many people (HR, DOPs, Headhunters) know that being a "clinical pharmacist" is what many of us want to be right now, but what these positions are are the traditional staff pharmacist position that they give the title of a clinical pharmacist to in order to try to bring in more candidates.

My advice, these positions, ask a LOT of questions of the responsibilities and roles are, typical day, etc.

All pharmacists are clinical. And I don't like to separate staff vs clinical pharmacists. There should be a clinical coordinator/manager.....but even then, I would like to see my clinical manager pull staff duties to integrate clinical pharmacy practice with distribution. Clinical pharmacist with no clue in regard to ditributory/staff pharmacist role is useless.

 

[Old Timer]

In answer to the OP, This Guy has to be up there at 18.2 million per year. Not bad for a guy with a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island

 

[gotdrugs]

All pharmacists are clinical. And I don't like to separate staff vs clinical pharmacists. There should be a clinical coordinator/manager.....but even then, I would like to see my clinical manager pull staff duties to integrate clinical pharmacy practice with distribution. Clinical pharmacist with no clue in regard to ditributory/staff pharmacist role is useless.

Actually.......not to split hairs and while that wasn't the intent of my post is that all pharmacists aren't what most other health care providers consider as clinical.

In terms of health care as a whole you are considered clinical if you are providing direct care to the patient which in SOME traditional "staff" (hope that five letter word i'm using isn't offending you) roles you are not doing that.

What I'm trying to do is to help many of these students/early graduates is that the ones who are going for the "clinical" (again just using a nomenclature, don't get your panties in a twist) positions that they hear about from their professors, is that many positions are described as "clinical"
(i.e. more patient-care oriented) are a strapped to the computer, order entry, distribution job which for some of these people on this board they will have went to 1 maybe 2 residencies so they could get a "clinical" position. If they did not want to do things outside the traditional order-filling only positions, why go thru the residency process to begin with?

I do agree I wish there wasn't a division, and I wasn't trying to create one. I have just had friends who got into a position that wasn't what he/she wanted and they were very unhappy. And I don't recall stating in my post to only look for jobs that had zero distribution responsibilities. In fact your last couple of sentences were more deragatory than anything I said. No one that I have met in a hospital is useless. That statement makes it seem that you don't respect non-distribution pharmacists at all.

And before you try your holier-than-thou crap with me, I worked for 6 years as the traditional staff pharmacist before I went back for my residencies, I did it because I wasn't able to get out of distribution jobs and I wanted a "clinical" job. ANd in my job today I still help out when I can, but believe it or not, us "useless" pharmacists are quite busy, or at least I am. So don't try to act like I'm a "useless" pharmacist in your opinion.

 

[Epic]

Actually, I am holier than you... and heard it from every useless clinical managers say "I'm so busy..but I have no clue how to show what I'm worth.."

U-huh...

 

[Epic]

In answer to the OP, This Guy has to be up there at 18.2 million per year. Not bad for a guy with a BS in Pharmacy from the University of Rhode Island

Actually... most of the best clincians I work with are BS pharmacists... aint nothing wrong with that!

 

[Epic]

I do agree I wish there wasn't a division, and I wasn't trying to create one. I have just had friends who got into a position that wasn't what he/she wanted and they were very unhappy. And I don't recall stating in my post to only look for jobs that had zero distribution responsibilities. In fact your last couple of sentences were more deragatory than anything I said. No one that I have met in a hospital is useless. That statement makes it seem that you don't respect non-distribution pharmacists at all.

Obviously you haven't traveled enough or worked in enough hospitals to come across useless clipboard pharmacists. For every 1 clinical manager with clue, there are 20 who are clueless... residency or not. Dont feel bad.. I haven't come across any DOP with any clue either.

 

[gotdrugs]

Obviously you haven't traveled enough or worked in enough hospitals to come across useless clipboard pharmacists. For every 1 clinical manager with clue, there are 20 who are clueless... residency or not. Dont feel bad.. I haven't come across any DOP with any clue either.

i dont feel bad. just got a little overdramatic because i felt you took my words out of context. i wasnt trying to but anyone down like you are.
good luck in finding competent DOP and clinical managers like i have found.

 

[Epic]

i dont feel bad. just got a little overdramatic because i felt you took my words out of context. i wasnt trying to but anyone down like you are.
good luck in finding competent DOP and clinical managers like i have found.

Great! Maybe I can recruit them!

 

[RXlecom07]

I work retail in Nashville and started at just under 110k

 

[Hibiclens]

Would anyone out there have any idea what "the tipping point" is for pharmacist salarys. I can see that this question is a multi-edged sword...but what if due to demand companies were required to pay every pharmacist at least 150k a year. Would that be sustainable or the end of things as we know it.

Also...with all the discussion with retail trying to use automating and central processing...doesn't that just give insurance companies more room to play hardball...which would negate the profit due to decreased pharmacist salaries...the chains would cave easier to lowballed reimbursement rates...that would be the sum effect if you ask me.

Just thinking aloud.

 

[thefrontrow]

Why are so many regional pharmacy manager jobs open? What kind of salary are they offering compared to a pharmacist?

 

[loo]

Please close this useless thread.

Sounds like the classic, yet boring "Whose Genitalia Is The Biggest" bragfest...

Whatever. It's good to have a steady job and a home not in foreclosure.

Count your blessings.

 

[Scikotic]

-

 

[Scikotic]

I work at Walgreen's near Daytona Beach Florida in a fairly small town, I am a pre-pharm student working as a technician and I often ask the pharmacist's what they are making salary-wise, the pharmacist gave me a copy of her paycheck stub and she grossed ~$150K before taxes; after taxes, medical, dental, etc. her net pay (which is in her pocket) was ~$120K. She works 3-4 days a week with occational overtime and she has only been a pharmacist for about 3 - 4 years. Thats not bad at all!! Plus she gets 2 weeks paid vacation.

I talked to another pharmacist in the area who works for CVS and she told me Walgreen's offered her a $25K sign-on bonus if she switched to Walgreen's.

Publix and Walgreen's will help pay for your schooling with a 4-year contract, Publix pays about $25K for pharm school and $2500 for pre-pharm classes and books. Walgreen's also does this, but pays less, $20K for pharm school and $1500 for pre-pharm and books. (personally I don't like the idea of a 4-year contract but thats just me) Just visit their websites and it will explain in more detail. Hope this helps someone!! Good Luck!!

 

[PumpkinSmasher]

I work at Walgreen's near Daytona Beach Florida in a fairly small town, I am a pre-pharm student working as a technician and I often ask the pharmacist's what they are making salary-wise, the pharmacist gave me a copy of her paycheck stub and she grossed ~$150K before taxes; after taxes, medical, dental, etc. her net pay (which is in her pocket) was ~$120K. She works 3-4 days a week with occational overtime and she has only been a pharmacist for about 3 - 4 years. Thats not bad at all!! Plus she gets 2 weeks paid vacation.

That is not correct, she is in the 28% federal income tax bracket but you have her only paying 20% to the feds....

 

[jpharmfarm]

^ depends on how many deductions you take on your w-4.

 

[Wan2BPharmD]

I heard about this one guy making well over 400K....

Well, he doesn't quite have a "license" to sell drugs, but I mean, who really looks for those anymore these days? lol =P