WHY do clinical pharmacists make less than retail pharmacists?

[PreMed Pharmer]

Im looking into pharmacy careers after i graduate and i noticed that clinical pharmacists make substantially less money than a retail pharmacist even though clinical pharmacists have to go through residencies to get that job. Sounds very unfair to me. I'm wondering why that is.

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[Pharmella]

2 reasons:

1) Supply and demand. There are so many retail positions vacant that companies have to offer high pay to fill the jobs. There are more pharmacist that want to be "clinical pharmacists" than there are jobs, so they don't need to offer as high of a salary to fill the job.

2) Cinical pharmacists don't bring in the $$$$ for an organization the way a dispensing pharmacist does. In many cases, clinical pharmacists are a net financial loss for the hospital or ambulatory clinic because we can't bill insurance for all of the services we can offer.

 

[goatmeal]

what is the normal difference in pay ?

 

[BMadjuster]

Im looking into pharmacy careers after i graduate and i noticed that clinical pharmacists make substantially less money than a retail pharmacist even though clinical pharmacists have to go through residencies to get that job. Sounds very unfair to me. I'm wondering why that is.

Unfair....? So much to learn about the world...

 

[crazybob]

what is the normal difference in pay ?

I think the difference ranges from 30K to 70K, with retail pharmacists making more than clinical pharmacists.

 

[Pharmacy Kid]

The problem is that pharmacy is not procedural based. Almost any other health professional that specializes (medicine, dentistry, nurse) has a large increase in salary. That is mainly because when they specialize, they get to perform procedures that bill big to the insurance companies.

What to pharm clin specs do? They prevent drug intxns, optimize therapy, educate, etc. How much money does this bring in or save? It's hard to quantify.

 

[grizzlesgrizzlies]

The problem is that pharmacy is not procedural based. Almost any other health professional that specializes (medicine, dentistry, nurse) has a large increase in salary. That is mainly because when they specialize, they get to perform procedures that bill big to the insurance companies.

What to pharm clin specs do? They prevent drug intxns, optimize therapy, educate, etc. How much money does this bring in or save? It's hard to quantify.

Great answer. Even though staff pharmacists do not do all the "fancy" clinical stuff, the reality is that they generate more income due to the fact that the act of dispensing brings in revenue. Now, that is not to say that a clinical pharmacist isn't valuable, but i feel that the hybrid staffing/clinical pharmacist would make the biggest financial impact in an institution since both duties can be accomplished

 

[confettiflyer]

cuz you're compensated for stress, getting yelled at by an uneducated public, changes in bowel habits due to unofficial "no lunch" policies, and therapy required to correct back/neck injuries from standing/looking down 8hrs a day for 20-30 years.

 

[grizzlesgrizzlies]

cuz you're compensated for stress, getting yelled at by an uneducated public, changes in bowel habits due to unofficial "no lunch" policies, and therapy required to correct back/neck injuries from standing/looking down 8hrs a day for 20-30 years.

its like playing in the NFL lol retail pays big money because its very difficult to work under those conditions for an extended period of time (more than 20-30 years) without the risk of burnout, or having physical (health) problems down the road.

 

[goatmeal]

I think the difference ranges from 30K to 70K, with retail pharmacists making more than clinical pharmacists.

wow that's a lot more than i thought, does anyone know about nuclear pharmacy, (salary )and if the health risks are worth it.

 

[crazybob]

wow that's a lot more than i thought, does anyone know about nuclear pharmacy, (salary )and if the health risks are worth it.

I've heard from a nuclear pharmacist at my school that the average pay is 105K.

The nuclear pharmacists I've talk to say that the health risks are very low if you just follow the standard procedure while working.

If you encounter any dangerous levels of radiation, it would be only if you do something you were not supposed to do.

 

[tungsten87]

I've heard from a nuclear pharmacist at my school that the average pay is 105K.

The nuclear pharmacists I've talk to say that the health risks are very low if you just follow the standard procedure while working.

If you encounter any dangerous levels of radiation, it would be only if you do something you were not supposed to do.

yes, and in that case you will most likely be terminated. there are very strict policies on the amount of radiation a worker can receive and if exceeded you basically lose your job. i agree, you would have to do something pretty stupid for that to happen.

 

[Style]

wow that's a lot more than i thought, does anyone know about nuclear pharmacy, (salary )and if the health risks are worth it.

I think there is a sticky named "Day in the Life of a Nuclear Pharmacist" that may elaborate more on what is to be expected of the job. Check it out.

 

[p-rog]

cuz you're compensated for stress, getting yelled at by an uneducated public, changes in bowel habits due to unofficial "no lunch" policies, and therapy required to correct back/neck injuries from standing/looking down 8hrs a day for 20-30 years.

This.

 

[lorain]

im not sure about the discrepancy in the above post, i know the clinical guys in the local hospital here make 51.50 per hour

 

[KARM12]

I think the difference ranges from 30K to 70K, with retail pharmacists making more than clinical pharmacists.

Ugh...this is way off...

I would say it is more 10-30K less, but for specialists that have been around for a while, they make more than retail pharmacists in our hospital. You make up for it in lifestyle and vacation...

 

[crazybob]

Ugh...this is way off...

I would say it is more 10-30K less, but for specialists that have been around for a while, they make more than retail pharmacists in our hospital. You make up for it in lifestyle and vacation...

I thought it would depend on the state.

 

[will7678]

The problem is that pharmacy is not procedural based. Almost any other health professional that specializes (medicine, dentistry, nurse) has a large increase in salary. That is mainly because when they specialize, they get to perform procedures that bill big to the insurance companies.

What to pharm clin specs do? They prevent drug intxns, optimize therapy, educate, etc. How much money does this bring in or save? It's hard to quantify.

Not quite true for nursing, they also have a counterintuitive pay scale it seems. Floor nurses with an associates often make more than a nurse practitioner with a masters degree. In this case it is because the NP becomes salary and ends up getting no compensation for the OT they put in. The floor nurse is hourly and gets OT for every minute over 40 hours.

 

[goatmeal]

Ugh...this is way off...

I would say it is more 10-30K less, but for specialists that have been around for a while, they make more than retail pharmacists in our hospital. You make up for it in lifestyle and vacation...

how would one become a specialist, does it entail more school, or could it be done through a residency ? also if you don't mind what are some of the fields?

 

[aussiepharmer]

I thought it would depend on the state.

Obviously it also depends on which country you are talking about, even within other English speaking countries if you were to think about more on a global perspective.

 

[WVUPharm2007]

Hospital pharmacists make less money because the market demands less money. It's worthwhile for them because either they want to have a better work environment (me), despise the corporations that run retail pharmacy in the US (me), or think they have a more prestigious position (hahahaha...though a lot of people do hospital or residency for prestige...hence they can somehow get away with paying them $35k for their first year of training...wave the prospect of getting a few letters after their name coupled with the thought that their peers would be "impressed" and they line up for it...but it's a damned racket, I tells ya...)

If/when I move to Russia (or Canada, whatever), I will consider retail pharmacy because you are treated as less of a ***** in those countries. And the insurances are more streamlined. And people are less pissed off in general because they have rational price controls. It must be like heaven...

 

[PharmaTope]

im not sure about the discrepancy in the above post, i know the clinical guys in the local hospital here make 51.50 per hour

damn! i wish they made around that much here

 

[spacecowgirl]

Depends on where you live. I'm not strictly clinical, I also staff in a hospital, but I make about $1/hr less than my float job in retail. With the money I make for being on call, I more than make up for the small difference.


ETA: I do float work to finance fun stuff, not because we're broke.

 

[rxforlife2004]

Im looking into pharmacy careers after i graduate and i noticed that clinical pharmacists make substantially less money than a retail pharmacist even though clinical pharmacists have to go through residencies to get that job. Sounds very unfair to me. I'm wondering why that is.

I have no idea what you are talking about, but the clinical pharmacist at my hospital are getting paid at 62 dollars/hr minimum and the highest paid one is around 75/hr, and last time i checked with my friend, he got paid 58/hr at walgreens. I guess, it all depends on what state, which hospital (chains), etc...

 

[confettiflyer]

Depends on where you live. I'm not strictly clinical, I also staff in a hospital, but I make about $1/hr less than my float job in retail. With the money I make for being on call, I more than make up for the small difference.


ETA: I do float work to finance fun stuff, not because we're broke.

yeah that'll hopefully be me....how's your float schedule look and how far in advance do you know? my old district just had a bunch of floating "free agents" on an email list and open spots came out the week before. random "last minute" listings came up and people who took those curried favor from the schedulers and usually got advanced notice of good shifts/good stores.

 

[xiphoid2010]

Im looking into pharmacy careers after i graduate and i noticed that clinical pharmacists make substantially less money than a retail pharmacist even though clinical pharmacists have to go through residencies to get that job. Sounds very unfair to me. I'm wondering why that is.

True but not always true.

Things to consider:
(1) clinical positions has less stressful working conditions.
(2) private, for-profit organizations (retail) will usually pay more than public, not-for-profit organizations (hospital, government) in general
(3) more job openings in retails than in clinical. supply & demand

But clinical don't always make less. Even hospital staff pharmacist don't always make less. You might start less, but there is room to bump your earnings up
(1) shift differential -- my hospital pays new staff RPh $48/hr hiring, but +$7 for evening shift, +$7 more on weekends. So you are getting paid more than retail on some days.
(2) your salary goes up with experience, unlike many retails where an RPh with 10 years experience makes the same as a newly grad
(3) benefits -- hospital jobs tends to have better benefits, especially when it comes to health care.

My preceptor let it slip that she made >$120K last year. Not bad, eh?

 

[AvocadoLover]

I have no idea what you are talking about, but the clinical pharmacist at my hospital are getting paid at 62 dollars/hr minimum and the highest paid one is around 75/hr, and last time i checked with my friend, he got paid 58/hr at walgreens. I guess, it all depends on what state, which hospital (chains), etc...

I completely agree with this. I went to school in NJ and it seemed like the clinical pharmacist there did make < than retail. However, I live in CA now and I know for sure I make more as a clincal Rph than the retail pharmacists in our town. So I really do think it is location dependent.

 

[confettiflyer]

I completely agree with this. I went to school in NJ and it seemed like the clinical pharmacist there did make < than retail. However, I live in CA now and I know for sure I make more as a clincal Rph than the retail pharmacists in our town. So I really do think it is location dependent.

west coast pharmacy ftw

 

[goatmeal]

I have no idea what you are talking about, but the clinical pharmacist at my hospital are getting paid at 62 dollars/hr minimum and the highest paid one is around 75/hr, and last time i checked with my friend, he got paid 58/hr at walgreens. I guess, it all depends on what state, which hospital (chains), etc...

any ideas about chicago hospital pharmacists? (is there a big diff. in pay)

 

[PharmaTope]

I have no idea what you are talking about, but the clinical pharmacist at my hospital are getting paid at 62 dollars/hr minimum and the highest paid one is around 75/hr, and last time i checked with my friend, he got paid 58/hr at walgreens. I guess, it all depends on what state, which hospital (chains), etc...

wow!!!! where are you located?

 

[Sparda29]

Hospital pharmacists make less money because the market demands less money. It's worthwhile for them because either they want to have a better work environment (me), despise the corporations that run retail pharmacy in the US (me), or think they have a more prestigious position (hahahaha...though a lot of people do hospital or residency for prestige...hence they can somehow get away with paying them $35k for their first year of training...wave the prospect of getting a few letters after their name coupled with the thought that their peers would be "impressed" and they line up for it...but it's a damned racket, I tells ya...)

If/when I move to Russia (or Canada, whatever), I will consider retail pharmacy because you are treated as less of a ***** in those countries. And the insurances are more streamlined. And people are less pissed off in general because they have rational price controls. It must be like heaven...

I guess you'll move if some sort of "Red Dawn" scenario happens.

 

[twinspharm]

Hospital pharmacists make less money because the market demands less money. It's worthwhile for them because either they want to have a better work environment (me), despise the corporations that run retail pharmacy in the US (me), or think they have a more prestigious position (hahahaha...though a lot of people do hospital or residency for prestige...hence they can somehow get away with paying them $35k for their first year of training...wave the prospect of getting a few letters after their name coupled with the thought that their peers would be "impressed" and they line up for it...but it's a damned racket, I tells ya...)

If/when I move to Russia (or Canada, whatever), I will consider retail pharmacy because you are treated as less of a ***** in those countries. And the insurances are more streamlined. And people are less pissed off in general because they have rational price controls. It must be like heaven...

May I ask why u want to move to Russia or Canada?

I mean I'm no expert but from what i know i don't think i would leave the US for Russia anyday soon. Russia isn't even a democracy, u have no rights in russia. If u get picked up by the cops u could be thrown in jail for weeks w no lawyer. If the police want info from u they will beat it out of u. My family left Russia a while back bc it sucks.

I don't know much about canada but if i get sick i don't need my healthcare rationed or have the gov't tell me if how much money my life is worth.

The US isn't perfect but i think its pretty danm good

 

[Marcus X]

May I ask why u want to move to Russia or Canada?

I mean I'm no expert but from what i know i don't think i would leave the US for Russia anyday soon. Russia isn't even a democracy, u have no rights in russia. If u get picked up by the cops u could be thrown in jail for weeks w no lawyer. If the police want info from u they will beat it out of u. My family left Russia a while back bc it sucks.

I don't know much about canada but if i get sick i don't need my healthcare rationed or have the gov't tell me if how much money my life is worth.

The US isn't perfect but i think its pretty danm good

Good thing there's no healthcare rationing here, and no one tries to tell you how much your life is worth! How horrible would THAT be?!

 

[WVUPharm2007]

May I ask why u want to move to Russia or Canada?

I mean I'm no expert but from what i know i don't think i would leave the US for Russia anyday soon. Russia isn't even a democracy, u have no rights in russia. If u get picked up by the cops u could be thrown in jail for weeks w no lawyer. If the police want info from u they will beat it out of u. My family left Russia a while back bc it sucks.

I don't know much about canada but if i get sick i don't need my healthcare rationed or have the gov't tell me if how much money my life is worth.

The US isn't perfect but i think its pretty danm good

The Russia thing is a joke. The Canada thing isn't.

And their system is so superior to ours in so many ways, frankly, it sickens me. And you're worried about the gov't telling you how much your life is worth? What the **** do you think the CEOs, adjusters, and actuaries of all of these insurance companies are doing? Fixing the world with some bizarre, bull**** objectivist philosophy on preventing death?

Don't even step up to the discussion with the same tired ass liberal and/or conservative buzzwords like "rationing"...**** both major political influences. Listening to their backroom handshaking asses is what got us to the point where healthcare will be 25% of GDP in 10 years in the first place. You think either of them are going to fix this **** ever? And do you think its ever going to get to a point where either one of them isn't in power so that **** gets fixed? Hell no. The Dems will protect their pharma and law lobbies...the GOP will protect their insurance and medical lobbies. And being as though all of them are pretty much opposed to **** that will actually reform how much all of them are reaming the US public...there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Man, this profession is headed down a path of implosion in this country. And healthcare in general.

But what the hell do I know...

...honestly, Toronto is just my favorite town in North America. I just wanna live there...

 

[nikkai]

Some points of clarification

True but not always true.

Things to consider:
(1) clinical positions has less stressful working conditions.

Uh, are you kidding me - We're hybrid at our med center and there are days where I long for my clinical duty to end so I can do my 8 hour staffing responsibility?

(2) private, for-profit organizations (retail) will usually pay more than public, not-for-profit organizations (hospital, government) in general

(3) more job openings in retails than in clinical. supply & demand

There are at least 1.678 trillion threads on this subject - so the generalization isn't too valid if you look at geography and metropolitan area job openings

(2) your salary goes up with experience, unlike many retails where an RPh with 10 years experience makes the same as a newly grad

Nope - you get raises, and you then start to qualify for profit sharing, stock options depending on if you decide to go corporate and other perks

(3) benefits -- hospital jobs tends to have better benefits, especially when it comes to health care.

Again, nope - it depends on the hospital that you are in - if you are in large system (e.g. Advocate) then the system has buying power to push insurance - but if you are in a small community hospital (which most of America consists of), then your insurance will definitely not compare to working at WAGS for example

 

[MountainPharmD]

...And you're worried about the gov't telling you how much your life is worth? What the **** do you think the CEOs, adjusters, and actuaries of all of these insurance companies are doing?

This is my favorite bull**** argument against healthcare reform. The "I do not want the government rationing my healthcare" line of BS. Right....having a greedy for profit private insurance company rationing your healtcare is soooo much better.

 

[xiphoid2010]

Some points of clarification

I'm making some generalized statements, and those are generally true. There will always be exceptions.

When I was referring to less stressful work, it's comparing retail to clinical. I hate my retail internship, it suck balls! My internship with my ED pharmacist rocks!

 

[spacecowgirl]

This is my favorite bull**** argument against healthcare reform. The "I do not want the government rationing my healthcare" line of BS. Right....having a greedy for profit private insurance company rationing your healtcare is soooo much better.

Word. It's just old-fashioned fear mongering. I cannot understand why people don't get this. *headslap*

 

[rx2010]

Does anyone know the average clinical pharmacists make in TX or LA? I'm assuming the poster who stated some of the clinical pharmacists where he/she works makes up to $75/hr lives in CA?

 

[The Sonoran]

Im looking into pharmacy careers after i graduate and i noticed that clinical pharmacists make substantially less money than a retail pharmacist even though clinical pharmacists have to go through residencies to get that job. Sounds very unfair to me. I'm wondering why that is.

The clinical pharmacists working for the VA healthcare system make pretty good money, and their rates increase with time in service.

 

[Pharmavixen]

I don't know much about canada but if i get sick i don't need my healthcare rationed or have the gov't tell me if how much money my life is worth.

I never heard of health care rationing until Americans told me that's what we had.

 

[EddieL]

I never heard of health care rationing until Americans told me that's what we had.

This made my day (night)

 

[p-rog]

I've seen Kaye/Bassman offers in CA for $75+/hr w/ bonuses and loan repayment (up to like ~40K) but they do sound a little too good to be true.

http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSee...&APath=2.21.0.0.0&job_did=J8G54Z66SW8DGW0GP7G

Regardless, even that job says $60/hr starting and goes up w/ experience. Clinical pharmacists definitely don't have to make less than retail

 

[PharMed2016]

The Russia thing is a joke. The Canada thing isn't.

And their system is so superior to ours in so many ways, frankly, it sickens me. And you're worried about the gov't telling you how much your life is worth? What the **** do you think the CEOs, adjusters, and actuaries of all of these insurance companies are doing? Fixing the world with some bizarre, bull**** objectivist philosophy on preventing death?

Don't even step up to the discussion with the same tired ass liberal and/or conservative buzzwords like "rationing"...**** both major political influences. Listening to their backroom handshaking asses is what got us to the point where healthcare will be 25% of GDP in 10 years in the first place. You think either of them are going to fix this **** ever? And do you think its ever going to get to a point where either one of them isn't in power so that **** gets fixed? Hell no. The Dems will protect their pharma and law lobbies...the GOP will protect their insurance and medical lobbies. And being as though all of them are pretty much opposed to **** that will actually reform how much all of them are reaming the US public...there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Man, this profession is headed down a path of implosion in this country. And healthcare in general.

But what the hell do I know...

...honestly, Toronto is just my favorite town in North America. I just wanna live there...

I so agree with this.

 

[PharMed2016]

Im looking into pharmacy careers after i graduate and i noticed that clinical pharmacists make substantially less money than a retail pharmacist even though clinical pharmacists have to go through residencies to get that job. Sounds very unfair to me. I'm wondering why that is.

From my own interactions with hospital pharmacists around my hometown, hospital pharmacist (staff) make approximately 100k as oppose to 105-115k for retail. However, if your clinical... you can make upwards of 135k from what I understand from the former preceptor (clinical) and other clinical pharmacists.

Last summer, I worked at the VA doing research at the pharmacy... and I know one of the residents got hired on as a new clinical pharmacist for 105k starting which I guess is a little lower than retail but from what I understand... she can look forward to raises with experience and better benefits with the gov't.

 

[jinga]

A clinical pharmacist at the hospital I work at makes $120K. The staff pharmacists make about $100K starting (according to what I was told). No, I didn't ask! I think it all depends on their respective position and the amount of responsibility they have. Staff pharmacists bound to "central" might make less...

If I made anywhere around $100K I would fall over dead...

Lol I'd be elated with $80K.

I live in the Midwest. No one wants to live here ha.

 

[Saydali]

The Russia thing is a joke. The Canada thing isn't.

And their system is so superior to ours in so many ways, frankly, it sickens me. And you're worried about the gov't telling you how much your life is worth? What the **** do you think the CEOs, adjusters, and actuaries of all of these insurance companies are doing? Fixing the world with some bizarre, bull**** objectivist philosophy on preventing death?

Don't even step up to the discussion with the same tired ass liberal and/or conservative buzzwords like "rationing"...**** both major political influences. Listening to their backroom handshaking asses is what got us to the point where healthcare will be 25% of GDP in 10 years in the first place. You think either of them are going to fix this **** ever? And do you think its ever going to get to a point where either one of them isn't in power so that **** gets fixed? Hell no. The Dems will protect their pharma and law lobbies...the GOP will protect their insurance and medical lobbies. And being as though all of them are pretty much opposed to **** that will actually reform how much all of them are reaming the US public...there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Man, this profession is headed down a path of implosion in this country. And healthcare in general.

But what the hell do I know...

...honestly, Toronto is just my favorite town in North America. I just wanna live there...

Well said !! Same here.. I am licensed in Cali, work in a for profit hospital, but I am looking to move to Canada. I just can't digest the idea that I have to start by taking the Evaluating Exam of the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (PEBC) before I could move on to the next 2 exams, then do an internship, while my knowledge and experience allows to start working there tomorrow !! Crazy !! what do you think ?

 

[Tinkerbell22]

cuz you're compensated for stress, getting yelled at by an uneducated public, changes in bowel habits due to unofficial "no lunch" policies, and therapy required to correct back/neck injuries from standing/looking down 8hrs a day for 20-30 years.

lol Or working 12-14 hour shifts while speaking to customers with a mouth full of convenience store food you're trying to inhale for lunch since you can't leave the pharmacy. I actually don't mind retail (yet, I'm just a tech) but I'm used to pretty crappy working conditions anyway so pharmacy is somewhat of a vacation to me.

 

[xraided81]

it depends where you are at i live in southern california, make $67/hr for my hospital job which is 75% staffing duties/ 25% clinical, and i make $58 hr for a retail chain, which i work part time for.

 

[bigpharmD]

Great answer. Even though staff pharmacists do not do all the "fancy" clinical stuff, the reality is that they generate more income due to the fact that the act of dispensing brings in revenue. Now, that is not to say that a clinical pharmacist isn't valuable, but i feel that the hybrid staffing/clinical pharmacist would make the biggest financial impact in an institution since both duties can be accomplished

I stopped a dose of IVIG from being given the other day - 60,000 dollars - how many staffers have done that?