Planning to pursue a career in pharmacy? Smart move! A pharmacy career offers plenty of opportunities for patient care, scientific research, and innovation and is a diverse and rewarding profession.

There are many different options in this field and we will be diving into the varied paths to a high-paying pharmacist career, focusing on retail pharmacist career options and the average pharmacist salary.

Here are some of the career options you can pursue within the field of pharmacy:

1. Community Pharmacist

Community pharmacists play a crucial role as they work directly with customers and doctors and carry out a range of duties from filling patient prescriptions to explaining proper medication use as well as giving advice on diet, exercise, and stress management. Doctors seek the advice of community pharmacists regarding medication therapy.

Like being your own boss? Become an independent community pharmacist! You could be running a single store or several stores owned by a small group.

You could even be working in a community health center pharmacy as a pharmacist, providing health care services and information to underserved populations and low-income patients to address their medication needs and conduct wellness and preventive health educational programs.

2. Veterinary Pharmacist

Love animals? Become a veterinary pharmacist. One of the key roles would be compounding medications to meet the specific needs of pets, their owners, and veterinarians. Specialized training in veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics is needed to pursue this pharmacist career option.

3. Hospital Pharmacist

A hospital pharmacist works directly with doctors and nurses to ensure that each patient receives accurate medication, in the right dosage, at the right time. It is an essential job as hospital pharmacists need to keep up-to-date records on each patient, covering crucial information like medication orders and drug allergies.

4. Nuclear Pharmacist

Nuclear pharmacists work with safe and effective radioactive drugs to diagnose and treat serious diseases such as cancer. Calling for scientific knowledge to safely handle radioactive material, as well as training in radiation safety, this career option involves providing clinical services and filling drug prescriptions that are radioactive. Nuclear pharmacists usually work in large hospitals that have these facilities.

 5. Consultant Pharmacist

They specialize in medical communications and educate healthcare professionals, consumers, and other pharmacists about prescription drugs. They could work in education agencies, schools, pharmaceutical manufacturers, hospitals, managed care organizations, and poison control centers.

 6. Home Healthcare Pharmacist

Home health care pharmacists specialize in home care, treating patients in their homes or other residential facilities, such as assisted living communities. They could be attached to hospice organizations, visiting nurse teams, or social services teams.

 7. Government or Federal Pharmacist

Government and federal pharmacists are employed by local, state, or federal government agencies. The settings could be varied such as municipal health clinics, state Medicaid agencies, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), branches of the U.S. Military, and the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS). This role involves dispensing drugs, reviewing new drug applications, and managing pharmacy departments within a government branch.

Understanding Pharmacist Salary Averages: Insights and Trends

As the medical industry continues to grow to meet the rising demand for medical care, so would the demand for qualified and trained pharmacists. According to coursera.org, pharmacists are among the top salary earners in the United States. As of January 2024, salary aggregate sites, the average annual salary for pharmacists in the United States ranges from $118,968 to $145,944 per year. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that the average clinical pharmacist salary is $130,403 per year, or $63 per hour. 

Two main factors can impact the average pharmacist salary:

1.  Location: Pharmacists in urban areas typically earn more than those in rural areas.

2. Specialty: A nuclear pharmacist is likely to earn a much higher pay package than say, a community pharmacist

Navigating Retail Pharmacy Careers: Salary Expectations and Opportunities

Retail pharmacists provide general healthcare advice and are responsible for dispensing and controlling both prescription and non-prescription medicine. They usually work in retail settings rather than in hospitals or GP surgeries. Retail pharmacists are required to adhere to legal and ethical guidelines to ensure that medication is kept secure and given to the correct patients in the right quantities.

According to Zippia, the average retail pharmacist salary in the US as of February 2024 is $118,899, with a range of $93,000–$151,000. The average hourly rate is $57.16. 

According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for a retail pharmacist in the US in 2024 is $142,126, with an average salary of $135,871. 

Employment opportunities:

•              Independent pharmacies

•              Supermarket pharmacies

•              Pharmacy chains

Importance of Pharmacy Certification and Pharmacy Tech Certificates

Pharmacy certification and tech certifications are crucial to establish the credentials of the pharmacist besides signaling their competence, expertise, and skills in their chosen field. Certification also instills confidence in both, doctors and patients alike, and opens many doors for career growth and progress in this rapidly growing field. Tech certificates, in particular, are very important as they help keep up with the ever-changing technology landscape, lead to higher salaries and more job opportunities, and provide job security. Certification in the tech industry can also help a pharmacist stand out from the competition when it comes to salary and career opportunities.

Take Your Pharmacist Career to the Next Level with Quad Recruitment and Get the Salary You Deserve!

Now that you know that a pharmacist career can be so rewarding and, yes, well-paying, the next step is to make yourself stand out in this hugely competitive space. Becoming a certified pharmacist offers numerous benefits that contribute to a successful and fulfilling career - from job security and increased earning potential to professional credibility and the opportunity for advancement.  

To help you bag your dream job in the pharmacy, Quad Recruitment USA is here to stand with you, guide you, mentor you, and ensure you get the job you want and at the salary you hoped for. Reach out to our experts today!