Would you still be a pharmacist.
Started by legaia
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legaia said:
Yes.
How many of us could afford to be pharmacists if the salaries were only $45k per year? Most new grads coming from out of state or private schools owe $100k or more in loans....
Looking back, I got into pharmacy to help people, but I soon realized that most of the people I dealt with in retail had little interest in helping themselves.
Looking back, I got into pharmacy to help people, but I soon realized that most of the people I dealt with in retail had little interest in helping themselves.
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No, I don't think I would still want to be a pharmacist if they only made 40-45k/ year. Yes, I think I will enjoy the job and I'm looking forward to helping people and I feel like this was the job I was intended to do. But I'm not willing to sacrifice the quality of my life and the quality of my family's life, to serve that cause. I believe in helping your fellow man, but I am not a missionary, and I have needs that have to be met as well. Plus, I consider being a pharmacist to be too big of a responsibility not to be paid well for it.
Honestly? No.
Part of the allure of pharmacy to me is to be able to work part time and still be able to raise my family comfortably no matter what happens to my man (divorce/death/disability/etc.).
Part of the allure of pharmacy to me is to be able to work part time and still be able to raise my family comfortably no matter what happens to my man (divorce/death/disability/etc.).
Honestly, no. I wouldn't be near healthcare if it didn't pay 6 figures. It just happened to be one of many things I'm interested in that actually pays well.
Probably not. I made close to that in my former career - so I wouldn't disrupt my family and go into debt just to be making about the same amount of money when I got done with school.
nope... sorry, not saying i don't enjoy learning about drugs but im in it for the money just as much...
now if i was to have a choice to do business for example and earn the same amount then i would pick pharmacy hands down.
i just feel there is easier ways of making 50+ g's in my shoes, and if i have the money i have more potential to "help people" anyway
now if i was to have a choice to do business for example and earn the same amount then i would pick pharmacy hands down.
i just feel there is easier ways of making 50+ g's in my shoes, and if i have the money i have more potential to "help people" anyway
OSURxgirl said:
AMEN!!
That, and the job itself is pretty demanding...not usually your normal 9-5 type of thing.
I plan on having a family someday, and with the way things are going with my current significant other's career plans, I'd probably be the primary breadwinner. It'd be nice to not to have to live paycheck to paycheck, although I'm sure there are people who make 40-45k/year and do fine.
I think, back in my naive days, I would say yes! I like studying and learning about drugs. And don't forget about helping people. Of course I'd love to increase my knowledge and help people and make $45k.
But I know better now (and you will too). Along with the above, pharmacy comes with a lot of responsibilites and crap. "Helping people" isn't so starightforward. You gotta pay me for that.
But I know better now (and you will too). Along with the above, pharmacy comes with a lot of responsibilites and crap. "Helping people" isn't so starightforward. You gotta pay me for that.
AngryRPh said:
You can help people by being a garbage man, or a plumber, or a janitor, or a teacher. I think helping people is such a copout. You can help people in many professions and fields. The q the OP asked is a very valid one. Would pharmacy be really a competitive field if salaries were smaller? Yea people would still go sure, but I think you would have less people wanting to be pharmacists. The proof also lies in the fact, that when majority people come out they don't pursue residencies or further advancement where they take a paycut. But rather work as hired guns for the highest bidder, at Rite Aid, CVS and so forth. So I think money does play a big part, in picking a profession, whether we like it or not. Just my two cents.
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WVUPharm2007 said:
An honest answer. But what is so funny and ridiculous, that you would never admit that to others and admissions committee when applying. But once you are in, the truth comes out. I read a survey of medical students that were interviewed prior to medical school and not one said that they were going into medicine for money. When matriculates were interviewed in 3rd and 4th year of medical school, the responses were overwhelming that money or prestige or social status were the main reasons for entering the profession. But I guess that's the game that is commonly played. A duplicity of sorts. Just my two cents.
b*rizzle said:
The funny thing is that a lot of people get out of professional school and get massively in debt with the purchasing of expensive cars and big homes, vacations, hot tub, etc. and end up living paycheck to paycheck anyway with all the bills and school debt.
AngryRPh said:
Yeah, but you could have the same amount of debt and be coming out of school with an Art History degree, or American Culture, etc. I know a film student who is massively in debt with loans for graduate school. None of those people are going to be guaranteed a good salary when they graduate.
I think pharmacy is a smart choice. But you have to have the cognitive abilities to do it and that's the difference between a pharmacist and an elementary teacher or a trash man. Yes, we are all helping people but since I have the gift of being able to understand technical information and convey it to others so that they can understand, I am going to use my skills to their fullest extent. That is the way to best use my skills to help others and I think I should be paid appropriately.
You have to like your job to some point. If you went into pharmacy for the money only and don't like the work... eventually it will catch up to you. Yeah you will enjoy the paycheck... but if you wake up day in and day out dreading to go to work every day... your going to end up really hating your job. You may be able to handle it for a while but eventually you will be a bear to work with. Eventually you will hate your job so much you will begin to not care and possibly make mistakes.
I know because it happened to me. I was getting paid a lot but my job was just like that on Office Space. I am glad that I had the oppurtunity to make a change in my life. I actually like pharmacy and don't mind going to work... I actually liked working in a busy store instead of the 80 scripts a day store I work at now. I don't love pharmacy but at least I don't dread it... There are a lot of jobs that pay more than pharmacy but I wouldn't want them. I wish there was a job where I get paid 30K a year to watch TV and sleep... I would do that in a sec.
I know because it happened to me. I was getting paid a lot but my job was just like that on Office Space. I am glad that I had the oppurtunity to make a change in my life. I actually like pharmacy and don't mind going to work... I actually liked working in a busy store instead of the 80 scripts a day store I work at now. I don't love pharmacy but at least I don't dread it... There are a lot of jobs that pay more than pharmacy but I wouldn't want them. I wish there was a job where I get paid 30K a year to watch TV and sleep... I would do that in a sec.
museabuse said:
Nope. I also had a former career where I made fairly decent money. I went back to school for 2 reasons 1) I wanted a better-paying career 2) I truly love pharmacy But I probably wouldn't have sacrificed everything I had to fulfill #2 if #1 wasn't also in place. For the amount of loans I have taken out, the 9 years of school that will ultimately lead to my PharmD and the sacrifices I've made, I agree - I want to be compensated accordingly.
I would not care for the high salary if the system was similar to achieving a PhD. If I can get a small stipend for some clinical research and have my courses compensated by the principal investigator, then six-figures isn't necessary. I am interested in helping people, however, the clinical enrichment is also a big plus for me. If PhD programs didn't corral you in such extreme specialization, I may have taken that path.
Gosondth said:
No kidding. I really wish we had that sort of compensation. I suppose programs that do, do it out of necessity to attract students. People would be less inclined to rack up 100K in loans to make 45K getting out. Ah, well.
Hmmm $40/45k isn't bad money to make in many areas, but if I'm limited to that, I'd rather be a school teacher. I figure at least then I know I'm not going to get paid what I'm worth, treated like **** and ignored by principles, students and parents.
That would really beat standing on my feet for 10 hours, listening to medicaid people complain that they are getting generics for free, rather then name brand for free. Or getting yelled at because they had to wait 20 minutes even though they came in after 10 or 15 people. If for no other reason, summers off and the knowledge that kids heal fast so that quick, procise strikes won't bruise or won't bruise long.
That would really beat standing on my feet for 10 hours, listening to medicaid people complain that they are getting generics for free, rather then name brand for free. Or getting yelled at because they had to wait 20 minutes even though they came in after 10 or 15 people. If for no other reason, summers off and the knowledge that kids heal fast so that quick, procise strikes won't bruise or won't bruise long.
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