Who's the Highest Paid Pharmacist?

[Jbuprepharm]

so I just read this for the first time, and I found it amusing on the first page that El Paso was referred to as a small town. undesirable perhaps, but since when is 500,000+ people a small town?

off topic rant over

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[EMSOPAlum10]

I have some friends who own their own stores. For the record, their "pharmacist salary" is usualy 80k. They take the rest of the income as a "business owner" for tax reasons. As for the hours they work, if you actually own the store its alot (possibly 60+ per week). There is always lots of room for possible growth in the industry (you can work your way all the way up to President of Novartis Pharma like David Epstein). Chain retail is a great way to make lots of money fast (55/hr) which can be very tantalizing to fresh graduates, although may not be worth the stress. For the record, I am a medical writer (work for a pharmaceutical agency) and worked in retail for over 6 years.

 

[CLJNM]

I always hear the story my friend makes 100k...... is there anyone here making 100k? please dont be shy

Yes, Here I am. I live in southern New Mexico and make a base of $154,000 plus overtime of approximately $50,000 plus $25,000 annual bonus, plus profit sharing, company paid stock purchase, etc. Current 2011 average wages for staff pharmacists is between $50-$65 per hour. Chief Pharmacists (Pharmacy Managers) make up to $75 per hour in New Mexico, Texas, California, Georgia, Florida...

 

[CLJNM]

so I just read this for the first time, and I found it amusing on the first page that El Paso was referred to as a small town. undesirable perhaps, but since when is 500,000+ people a small town?

off topic rant over

Exuse me, but El Paso, Texas is well over 1 million in 2011. It is a full-fledged City. Nasty place, Ugly, on the border with Juarez, Mexico, currently rated one of the deadliest cities in the world, and El Paso might as well be in Mexico, but back to the point...
It is a city of well over 1 million.

 

[aabdraff57]

Yes, Here I am. I live in southern New Mexico and make a base of $154,000 plus overtime of approximately $50,000 plus $25,000 annual bonus, plus profit sharing, company paid stock purchase, etc. Current 2011 average wages for staff pharmacists is between $50-$65 per hour. Chief Pharmacists (Pharmacy Managers) make up to $75 per hour in New Mexico, Texas, California, Georgia, Florida...

New Mexico eh? I'm moving.

 

[StevePerry]

Exuse me, but El Paso, Texas is well over 1 million in 2011. It is a full-fledged City. Nasty place, Ugly, on the border with Juarez, Mexico, currently rated one of the deadliest cities in the world, and El Paso might as well be in Mexico, but back to the point...
It is a city of well over 1 million.

Wow, dude, it went from ~621,000 in July 2009 to over 1,000,000 in 2011? Are you sure you're not counting the dead bodies floating in from Juarez as population? Thats the only way your statement could make any sense.

 

[SMDoc]

The metro area is around ~2 million including Juarez, and with the NM suburbs (including Las Cruces) the US only metro area should be around ~900,000 to 1,000,000.

On the weekends, there is usually a mass influx of Mexican border-crossers who come to El Paso to shop. If you go early in the morning (~5-6), you will see more Chihuahuan plates than Texan on I-10. This happens for obvious reasons: if you cross the border early in the morning or late at night, you beat the lines.

Interestingly enough (sarcasm intended), the area is probably around 15-20% (nonhispanic) white.

 

[Its Z]

so this pharmacist, 1 year out of residency and highly qualified...I would say over qualified applied for a hybrid clinical/staff position out in Western US....she's from East Coast..

She modestly asked for $45 to $47 per hour. We chuckled.

Offered her $57 per hour. Hope she takes the job.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

Hmmm...I forget what it's like to be paid hourly.

 

[Its Z]

Hmmm...I forget what it's like to be paid hourly.

Stop braggin

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

Stop braggin

I ain't! Just sayin'...I've never been paid hourly since I graduated from Rx school.

 

[Its Z]

I ain't! Just sayin'...I've never been paid hourly since I graduated from Rx school.

You know... you could take your annual salary and divide by 2,080 and you got your hourly rate.. just sayin.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

You know... you could take your annual salary and divide by 2,080 and you got your hourly rate.. just sayin.

Who says I work 2080 hrs/year?

 

[Its Z]

Who says I work 2080 hrs/year?

it don't matter. That's a good starting point of estimating your hourly rate.

 

[thenatti]

so this pharmacist, 1 year out of residency and highly qualified...I would say over qualified applied for a hybrid clinical/staff position out in Western US....she's from East Coast..

She modestly asked for $45 to $47 per hour. We chuckled.

Offered her $57 per hour. Hope she takes the job.

what kind of residency did she complete?

 

[Its Z]

what kind of residency did she complete?

General PGY1. But she's all around overachiever. Numerous offices...super high GPA, many publications & presentations, and sound intern experience.

It's not so much she did a residency...it's what she's accomplished throughout entire pharmacy school career.

 

[xiphoid2010]

She modestly asked for $45 to $47 per hour. We chuckled.

Offered her $57 per hour. Hope she takes the job.

C'mon Z, stop cheating the girl. Everybody knows $57/hr is like minimum wage in Cali.

 

[sA x sKy]

My father makes around $300K without taxes. But then again, he owns three independents in Astoria, Queens. He'll pass down his position to me once I graduate M3 here I come!

But I have family friends who are also pharmacists making well over $500K+ but then again, they're in industry so that's cheating.

 

[Old Timer]

My father makes around $300K without taxes. But then again, he owns three independents in Astoria, Queens. He'll pass down his position to me once I graduate M3 here I come!

But I have family friends who are also pharmacists making well over $500K+ but then again, they're in industry so that's cheating.

Your father DOES NOT make 300k per year because he is a pharmacist any more than Tom Ryan made 25 million because he was a pharmacist. He made 300k because he is a businessman.

 

[SpirivaSunrise]

My father makes around $300K without taxes. But then again, he owns three independents in Astoria, Queens. He'll pass down his position to me once I graduate M3 here I come!

But I have family friends who are also pharmacists making well over $500K+ but then again, they're in industry so that's cheating.

Oooh, boy do you have a lot to learn.

I really do hope your parents have instilled a little more work ethic into you than your few lines indicate.

Because as much as you should appreciate the opportunities their hard work/sacrifices will present to you, life will come around and bite ya if you don't know how to hold your own.

 

[lampshade14]

My father makes around $300K without taxes. But then again, he owns three independents in Astoria, Queens. He'll pass down his position to me once I graduate M3 here I come!

But I have family friends who are also pharmacists making well over $500K+ but then again, they're in industry so that's cheating.

How are they making so much in industry, any details on what they are doing?

 

[xiphoid2010]

How are they making so much in industry, any details on what they are doing?

Well, when I was at Pfizer, my superior was a RPh/Ph.D. Being a senior director, she was easily making >$200K plus bonus and stock options. The patent lawyer is a Pharm.D/JD, he was making >$250K. The pharmacy degree is just what they used to get ahead of everyone else in their fields and land those sweet high paying jobs. At the same time, a plain Pharm.D for clinical trials was still getting a pretty sweet $130K + bonus and options. That was back in 2005-6.

 

[PharmaTope]

How much do you get paid? anyone making below 100k? Please don't be shy.

obviously it's Its Z because he says so on the internet.

/thread

 

[PharmaTope]

what kind of residency did she complete?

PGY-1 in eating corn the long way

 

[pharmschooler]

Oooh, boy do you have a lot to learn.

I really do hope your parents have instilled a little more work ethic into you than your few lines indicate.

Because as much as you should appreciate the opportunities their hard work/sacrifices will present to you, life will come around and bite ya if you don't know how to hold your own.

I think the poster is still a high schooler....which might explain a lot.

 

[Sparda29]

My father makes around $300K without taxes. But then again, he owns three independents in Astoria, Queens. He'll pass down his position to me once I graduate M3 here I come!

But I have family friends who are also pharmacists making well over $500K+ but then again, they're in industry so that's cheating.

Astoria, Queens huh? Any of them on Steinway St?

 

[Argentium]

Well, when I was at Pfizer, my superior was a RPh/Ph.D. Being a senior director, she was easily making >$200K plus bonus and stock options. The patent lawyer is a Pharm.D/JD, he was making >$250K. The pharmacy degree is just what they used to get ahead of everyone else in their fields and land those sweet high paying jobs. At the same time, a plain Pharm.D for clinical trials was still getting a pretty sweet $130K + bonus and options. That was back in 2005-6.

hard to make generalizations based on just title but this is generally correct. an associate director in medical affairs is gonna make more than one in marketing or sales. (by virtue of the fact that he has an MD)

 

[xiphoid2010]

hard to make generalizations based on just title but this is generally correct. an associate director in medical affairs is gonna make more than one in marketing or sales. (by virtue of the fact that he has an MD)

One more thing I learned working for big pharma is: the closer to the money, the more you get paid. So at the same rank and grade, early phase drug discovery (eg. Bench research) don't pay as well as people doing late phase clinical trials. Bean counters that play with finance make more than ph.ds and Nobel laureates.

I worked with the person who invented lipitor. Guess what he got for it at that time? $50k bonus, for a $12 billion a year drug! He did eventually climb up become the vp of chemistry though. He was a great man!

 

[teclhie]

How much do pharmD's make in Regulatory Affairs? Specialist I,II,II,IV? Manager? etc..

 

[North Side]

This is my salary bible. I don't think there can be a more accurate source out there.
http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes291051.htm

 

[ancienbon]

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!!

150 grants gross and 120 grants after taxes, that is inaccurate at best

 

[farmadiazepine]

I work for retail, I get paid ok. I wish I got paid more like my collegues, but they have been with the company much longer. I work like 60-80 hours a week (averaging about 68 hours a week).. Looking to make 190-200 this year. Already 1/4 the way there and March isn't over yet, so I think I can reach my goal. Then once I do, I'm going to work harder, not necessarily more hours though.

 

[JamesL1585]

That's very ambitious of you! Wow.. I'm impressed. Do you work just one job?

I work for retail, I get paid ok. I wish I got paid more like my collegues, but they have been with the company much longer. I work like 60-80 hours a week (averaging about 68 hours a week).. Looking to make 190-200 this year. Already 1/4 the way there and March isn't over yet, so I think I can reach my goal. Then once I do, I'm going to work harder, not necessarily more hours though.

 

[farmadiazepine]

yea, i work for just one company, the company everyone on this board hates..

 

[sA x sKy]

lol just ran into this thread again, blast from the past i guess.

Astoria, Queens huh? Any of them on Steinway St?

Two of the pharmacies are literally parallel with Steinway St, two min walk away. I'm always there goin' to Firdos and to eat in general.

Your father DOES NOT make 300k per year because he is a pharmacist any more than Tom Ryan made 25 million because he was a pharmacist. He made 300k because he is a businessman.

Very true. I realize that now.

Oooh, boy do you have a lot to learn.

I really do hope your parents have instilled a little more work ethic into you than your few lines indicate.

Because as much as you should appreciate the opportunities their hard work/sacrifices will present to you, life will come around and bite ya if you don't know how to hold your own.

Haha let's hope that I end up ironing myself out by the time I graduate..

How are they making so much in industry, any details on what they are doing?

Vitamin factory. Kabco.

I think the poster is still a high schooler....which might explain a lot.

Yes and no..I hadn't started college yet then

 

[jasonkido]

I work for retail, I get paid ok. I wish I got paid more like my collegues, but they have been with the company much longer. I work like 60-80 hours a week (averaging about 68 hours a week).. Looking to make 190-200 this year. Already 1/4 the way there and March isn't over yet, so I think I can reach my goal. Then once I do, I'm going to work harder, not necessarily more hours though.

Wow, why work yourself to the bone? Monster debt??

 

[MountainPharmD]

Yes, Here I am. I live in southern New Mexico and make a base of $154,000 plus overtime of approximately $50,000 plus $25,000 annual bonus, plus profit sharing, company paid stock purchase, etc. Current 2011 average wages for staff pharmacists is between $50-$65 per hour. Chief Pharmacists (Pharmacy Managers) make up to $75 per hour in New Mexico, Texas, California, Georgia, Florida...

What industry? Hospital, long term care what?

 

[MountainPharmD]

Stop braggin

Nothing to brag about. I miss the days where I was paid hourly.

 

[jasonkido]

Nothing to brag about. I miss the days where I was paid hourly.

When you think about it all you hear about are the good outliers not the bad ones. No one says they make under 100k or earns 40$ an hour......

 

[Rx MPLS]

When you think about it all you hear about are the good outliers not the bad ones. No one says they make under 100k or earns 40$ an hour......

Perhaps we should start a thread for the lowest paid Rph on an hourly basis. That would actually be interesting. I'd like to see the lowest offers out there...

 

[xiphoid2010]

When you think about it all you hear about are the good outliers not the bad ones. No one says they make under 100k or earns 40$ an hour......

Yeah, they are called residents.

 

[Ackj]

Yeah, they are called residents.

$40/hr for a resident? Sign me up!

 

[farmadiazepine]

Wow, why work yourself to the bone? Monster debt??

No, I don't work myself to the bone because of monster debt. In fact, I actually have zero debt and zero expenses lol. I always had the mentality of working hard, especially in school I worked hard to get straight A's (and of course there was nothing else to do really than get drunk and go out).. Now I work monster hours to get paid nice, make that 190-200k, so I can buy a house my 1st year out of school, and the goal is to own 3 or 4 properties and retire at the age of 50 (or work part time after that)..

I see so many old people still working hard to survive when they shouldn't be. I want to be done early thats it. Make a lot of money now, invest it (for me, not in stocks), and relax later

Plus when else are you going to have the energy to work monster hours of like 70-80 hours a week except when your young?

 

[nealtealf]

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!!

Wait, how do these contracts work? Are you being paid for your 4 years that you agree to work for them after graduation? So they pay for some of your tuition and then the regular salary when you start work with them? Or are those 4 years to pay off your debt to them at a discounted salary?

 

[Parklife]

Dang.. Albert Wertheimer for the win..

Now that's what I call doing your damnedest!

 

[RickRossPharmD]

I am a freshly minted PharmD, graduated from the class of 2012. Been with my company for 4 years since the start of school, as soon as my license was posted I was promoted to Pharmacist. Floated for 3 weeks and got promoted to Pharmacy Manager. My salary is 120k, plus all the great benefits of being a salaried employee (401k, insurance, pretax HSA contributions, etc)

I've no regrets about going to Pharmacy school but while I was a student, I did. I think you have to be a strong positive person to love this profession. You see the worst problems of society on a daily basis.

 

[hereticmnk]

One more thing I learned working for big pharma is: the closer to the money, the more you get paid. So at the same rank and grade, early phase drug discovery (eg. Bench research) don't pay as well as people doing late phase clinical trials. Bean counters that play with finance make more than ph.ds and Nobel laureates.

I worked with the person who invented lipitor. Guess what he got for it at that time? $50k bonus, for a $12 billion a year drug! He did eventually climb up become the vp of chemistry though. He was a great man!

I don't know how many people claim to be the inventor of Lipitor. But the actual inventor of Lipitor makes way more than 50k and bought a $1mil+ house in Boston recently.

 

[hereticmnk]

Also some of the numbers being discussed for industry seem a little high. I have been looking through job postings for a while and they are not even close to numbers being discussed. 500k+ idk Senior VP's make that around 600k+ so to make 500k+ you would have to be pretty high up there.Most global director positions I have seen make around 250-300k+ or so and that is with lots of working experience Some positions required 8+ yrs of working in industry + PhD so idk.. .

 

[RxRunner]

My base salary as a full-time 9-month pharmacist faculty member at a community college is around $54,000. I've never been happier making half of what I did in retail. I'm challenged, mostly autonomous and the harder I work, the more my students learn.

 

[hereticmnk]

My base salary as a full-time 9-month pharmacist faculty member at a community college is around $54,000. I've never been happier making half of what I did in retail. I'm challenged, mostly autonomous and the harder I work, the more my students learn.

Why are those two words in the same sentence
I don't like pharmacy tech programs because they are rip-offs. I knew a bunch of poor guys who went to tech schools to find you don't need that to work at a pharmacy.