Is a Career in Pharmacy Worth It?
Pharmacist Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) expects pharmacist employment to grow five percent from 2023 to 2033, roughly as fast as the average for all occupations. That means about 14,200 new jobs will open each year over the next decade. There are ample opportunities for community-based and hospital pharmacist jobs; you can work anywhere in the U.S. There’s a pharmacy within five miles of 9 out of 10 Americans.
The U.S. Census Bureau projects older adults will exceed the number of children under 18 for the first time in U.S. history by 2034, and 73 million baby boomers will turn 65 by 2030. Why is this relevant? Because older patients typically require more prescription medications and complicated drug regimens than their younger counterparts. Our older population has also highlighted the need for long-term care and pharmacy consultants.
Simultaneously, the demand for prescription drugs has dramatically increased over the last few decades. Last year, the total number of prescriptions dispensed reached 6.47 billion, an increase from 3.95 billion in 2009.
As the pharmacist's role continues to expand beyond traditional drug dispensing, so will more opportunities beyond patient care.
What are the Different Types of Pharmacists?
There’s more to pharmacy than community pharmacy. Pharmacists don’t just focus on filling prescriptions and dispensing medications. Pharmacists can practice in various settings, some of which are new and unconventional.
Conventional Roles
Community pharmacists work in community settings. They dispense medications, answer questions, and may also give flu shots and other vaccines or perform preventive health screenings. These are the pharmacists you see at Walgreens, CVS, and other retailers and independent community-based pharmacies.
Pharmacists provide patient care in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings. They recommend and manage the dosage and delivery of medications to patients, monitor their progress, and evaluate the drug’s efficacy. Some pharmacists earn credentials to work in specialty clinics where they counsel patients on medication management and advise on healthy lifestyle choices.
Consulting pharmacists advise healthcare facilities or insurance providers. They collaborate with healthcare team members to promote safe and effective drug therapy and recommend ways to ensure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.
Pharmaceutical industry pharmacists work in marketing, sales, research, and product development. Within these corporate environments, they work in clinical research, drug safety, medical affairs, medical writing, regulatory affairs, and education. They might also hold traditional marketing, sales, finance, and legal positions.
Unconventional Roles
The job market post-COVID-19 is ripe for exploring unconventional pharmacy careers beyond patient care, pharmaceuticals, and research. The American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education (AJPE) calls these unconventional pharmacy positions “pharmacist innovator” roles. AJPE notes that the pandemic and the opioid crisis have created new opportunities for pharmacists in areas such as public health, substance abuse treatment, and immunization.
Marrying the soft skills inherent in pharmacists — problem-solving, collaboration, cultural sensitivity, communication, self-awareness, leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurship — with technical pharmaceutical skills, pharmacists can apply their degrees in many unconventional ways. According to the AJPE, these areas are:
- Academia
- Federal government agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
- Managed care, working in health management organizations
- Nonprofit association leadership or management
- Quality improvement in health systems or pharmaceutical companies
- Specialty pharmacy distribution and management
- State and regional health organizations, such as departments of health or public service
- Supply chain and distribution management
- Telepharmacy
- Travel pharmacy
What is the Average Salary of a Pharmacist?
A career in pharmacy is lucrative. The median annual pharmacist salary was $137,480 in 2024; the top 10 percent earned more than $164,000.
Take a look at the top four industries in which pharmacists earned the highest median annual salaries:
- General merchandise retailers $139,680
- Ambulatory healthcare services $138,720
- Hospitals; state, local, and private $137,440
- Pharmacies and drug retailers $129,920
Find out the average median salary in your state to see how it ranks nationally.
How Many Hours Do Pharmacists Work?
Another advantage to a career in pharmacy is the availability of nontraditional work schedules. Pharmacists are needed across the country in various capacities. Depending on the practice setting, day, night, and days-on/days-off shifts can offer flexibility to suit your lifestyle.
Additionally, there are increasing opportunities to work remotely from home, providing pharmaceutical services to healthcare facilities and mail-order pharmacies.
Get Started with the University of Findlay's Online PharmD Program
You can feel good about choosing a career in pharmacy because you are contributing to the health and well-being of your community. Pharmacists are widely respected because they help people. A Gallup poll reported more than 70 percent of people polled highly rated pharmacists’ honesty and ethics. One of the best ways to make a difference in the lives of others is to work in healthcare. As a pharmacist, researcher, or innovator, you are an integral part of the continuity of care.
Earning a Doctor of Pharmacy degree is the first step. The University of Findlay offers an online Distance PharmD program with fully online coursework, on-campus immersions, and experiential learning in convenient locations.
The University of Findlay’s online Distance PharmD is fully accredited and nationally ranked. To learn more about this innovatively designed pathway to a degree in pharmacy, visit UF’s Distance Doctor of Pharmacy program. Or find out more about University of Findlay’s on campus PharmD and other program options.