Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer expertise in the safe use of prescriptions. They also may conduct health and wellness screenings, provide immunizations, oversee the medications given to patients, and provide advice on healthy lifestyles.
Recruiter & Staffing Needs
Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer expertise in the safe use of prescriptions. They also may conduct health and wellness screenings, provide immunizations, oversee the medications given to patients, and provide advice on healthy lifestyles.
Recruiter & Staffing Needs
Job Prospects
The number of pharmacy schools has grown in recent years, creating more pharmacy school graduates and therefore more competition for jobs. Students who choose to complete a residency program gain additional experience that may improve their job prospects. Certification from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties or as a Certified Diabetes Educator also may be viewed favorably by employers.
Employment projections data for pharmacists, 2016-26
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2016 | Projected Employment, 2026 | Change, 2016-26 | Employment by Industry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||||
| Pharmacists | 29-1051 | 312,500 | 329,900 | 6 | -17,400 |  xlsx |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Employment projections data for pharmacists, 2016-26
| Occupational Title |
|---|
| Pharmacists |
| SOC Code |
| 29-1051 |
| Employment, 2016 |
| 312,500 |
| Projected Employment, 2026 |
| 329,900 |
| CHANGE, 2016-26 |
| PERCENT |
| 6 |
| NUMERIC |
| 17,400 |
| EMPLOYMENT BY INDUSTRY |
| xlsx |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
Pay
The median annual wage for pharmacists was $124,170 in May 2017. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $87,420, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $159,410.
In May 2017, the median annual wages for pharmacists in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:
| General merchandise stores | $128,610 |
|---|---|
| Food and beverage stores | $125,850 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $124,900 |
| Pharmacies and drug stores | $123,670 |
Most pharmacists work full time, although about 1 in 5 worked part time in 2016. Because many pharmacies are open at all hours, some pharmacists work nights and weekends.
Pharmacists
Median annual wages, May 2017
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Job Outlook
Employment of pharmacists is projected to grow 6 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Several factors are likely to contribute to this increase.
Demand is projected to increase for pharmacists in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals and clinics. These facilities will need more pharmacists to oversee the medications given to patients and to provide patient care, performing tasks such as testing a patient’s blood sugar or cholesterol.
The large baby-boom generation is aging, and older people typically use more prescription medicines than younger people. Higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes among all age groups will also lead to demand for prescription medications. In addition, scientific advances will lead to new drug products.
Employment of pharmacists in some traditional retail settings, like grocery stores, is projected to decline slightly as mail order and online pharmacy sales increase.
Pharmacists
Percent change in employment, projected 2016-26
Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Run Your First Background Check for Pharmacists
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Free Staffing Resources
Professional Recruiter and Staffing Organizations
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National Association of Personnel Services
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Association of Talent Acquisition Professionals
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American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment
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National Association of Executive Recruiters
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National Association for Health Care Recruitment
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Recruitment Process Outsourcing Association
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American Staffing Association
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Top Echelon Recruiting Network
