Pharmacists work with physicians to provide the right medications and treatments to patients.
If you’re interested in helping the public and creating a healthier society, you might consider a career as a pharmacist. These important medical professionals help treat the many diseases and mental health issues patients face the U.S.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for pharmacists is 6 percent through 2026. Read on to find out some essential information regarding careers in pharmacy and learn how you can join this fulfilling, lucrative career.
The job duties of pharmacists
As a pharmacist, you have the important responsibility of prescribing medications to patients and communicating with physicians regarding the right dosage to administer. Other common tasks that pharmacists perform include:
Not all pharmacists are in charge of making the medications themselves, as a majority of products come from pharmaceutical companies. However, they may need to create customized medications to meet patients’ rare or specific health needs in a process known as compounding.
Pharmacist work environments and hours
Although a majority of pharmacists work for large-scale drug store chains, others run their own independent practices. According to the BLS, the most common work environments for pharmacists include the following:
Most pharmacists keep traditional full-time, daytime hours. However, some pharmacists must work evening and late-night shifts in pharmacies that operate late or 24 hours a day.
Salary outlook
Since pharmacists play such important roles in the public health sector, their earnings are generally relatively generous. The median salary for pharmacists in 2017 was $124,170, according to the BLS.
According to PayScale, entry-level pharmacists with less than five years of experience of $109,000. However, individuals pursuing this career at an entry level can expect a salary on the lower end of the scale, at approximately $76,000.
How to become a pharmacist
You might be wondering what it takes to become involved in this crucial role in public health. Pharmacists are required to have a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree before joining the practice. Ideally, candidates should look into programs that are accredited by the (ACPE).
Here is a mere handful of universities that are ACPE-accredited:
If you are interested in pursuing a career as a pharmacist but don’t have an advanced degree in , start browsing ACPE-accredited universities to find the right master’s and doctorate program for you.
10601 Calle Lee, Los Alamitos, CA, 90720
Touro University Worldwide is a nonprofit institution of higher learning established by philanthropi....
1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA, 23464
Regent University is a Christian learning community comprised of seven graduate schools (Business &a....
3690 East Avenue, Rochester, NY, 14618
As an independent institution in the Catholic tradition of American higher education, St. John Fishe....
Graduate Admissions Office, Springfield, MA, 01119
Western New England University offers a diverse range of master's, doctoral, and dual degree program....
126 Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY, 11549
At Hofstra University, students take advantage of dynamic courses, flexible schedules, exceptional f....
Doheny Campus, Los Angeles, CA, 90007
The Master of Art in Humanities at Mount Saint Mary’s University is a dynamic and fl....
401 N Fairview St, Lock Haven, PA, 17745
Founded in 1870, Lock Haven University sits on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River and looks ov....
5701 Delhi Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45233
Mount St. Joseph University is a Catholic academic community grounded in the spiritual values and vi....