In order to understand a pharmacist salary as well as it determining factors, you need to first understand the kind of job these professionals do in today’s medical industry. The busier and more occupied a pharmacist is, the greater will be the responsibilities of the subordinates working under him/her. These days, the human healthcare industry is assuming wider and wider significance; and with this the need for pharmacists to expand the scope of their role in patient care is becoming increasingly important.
The Role of a Pharmacist in the Patient’s Care
Basically, pharmacists mix and distribute prescribed medication to patients in set ups such as drug stores and healthcare facilities like hospitals. They can also advice patients and other healthcare professionals on the use of medication as well as monitoring the effects of medication on patients. However, in order to become a licensed pharmacist, you must receive a degree from one of the accredited schools of pharmacy and pass a certification exam. With sound training and certification, you can be certain that you will enjoy the job prospects and perks that come with this career path.
How to Become A Certified Pharmacist
There is great potential for anyone going into the pharmacy industry to excel. Therefore, once you have made up your mind that you want to pursue a career as a pharmacist, you should consider various training options. However, before going further, you need to have the right pharmacist education requirement in order to enroll in a pharmacist school.
If you make your decision while still in high school, then you need to incline your interest towards science and math courses. Classes such as general biological sciences and chemistry as well as mathematics are very essential for your future training as a pharmacist.
However, if you joined college without taking math and science courses while in high school, then you should consider enrolling for pre-pharmacy training upon joining college. Again, you can consider several training options. You can take your courses on campus or online. The most straightforward option that you can consider would be to take general courses that will include pre-pharmacy courses as well as the relevant math and science courses. These courses should prepare you for admission exams that you must sit as pass in order to be admitted into pharmacy college.
Once you have taken the basic courses, you will have to get a Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy. This can take about five years. During this training, you will learn everything about pharmacy with the major courses including pharmacology, dispensing as well as the professions code of ethic among other courses. Alongside the coursework, you will also acquire professional skills, relevant knowledge and hands on experience during your training.
Upon graduating from the school of pharmacy, you will be required to take a 1-2 year internship or residency program. During this period, you will be assigned projects to work on and defend at the end of your internship.
Finally, you will have to take a certification exam such as the Multi-state Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam in order to be licensed to practice in your state.
Pharmacist Salary Guide
As of 2009, the average pharmacist salary in the United States was $107, 783 per year. The middle 50 percent of the practitioners made between $ 101, 653 and $113, 437. Only the lower 10 percent of the pharmacists had an income that was less than $96, 073 while the highest 10 percent made more than $118,585 per year.
Benefits and Bonuses
Pharmacists are also entitled to several benefits and bonuses. On average, the base salary of a pharmacist only accounts for about 73.8 per cent of his/her income. The average income increases by $8,189 from social security, $327 from bonuses, $3,892 from 401k/403b plans, $5,722 from healthcare, $1,081 from disability, $14,138 from time off and $4,973 from pensions. All these benefits and bonuses put a pharmacist’s annual income at $140,105.
Pharmacist Salary by Industry
According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, pharmacists’ earnings vary with the industry of practice. As such, the most paid pharmacist is the one who works at the department store, with an average income of $99,050 per year. Those who work in the grocery stores earn an average of $95,600 while those who work in pharmacies and drug stores earn $94,640 per annum. Finally, pharmacists who practice in general surgical and medical hospitals are the least paid, with an average income of $93,640.
Other Factors Determining the Salary of a Pharmacist
There are several other factors that can affect your income in this industry. One of them is your experience. With less than one year in experience, a pharmacist salary range can vary from $73,208 to $99,578. However, a pharmacist who has been in practice for more than twenty years can earn between $95,092 and $120,032. In addition, male pharmacists tend to earn a few thousand dollars more than their female counterparts. Finally, your income can also be affected by your location.
In order to earn a good pharmacist salary at the entry level, it is advisable that you pursue your training and certification courses from an accredited institution. Whether you intend to study online or from college campus, ensure that the institution is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). According to the United States’ laws, you can only practice as a pharmacist after getting the relevant training and certification. In addition, most employers prefer hiring applicants with a sound training background in pharmacy.
