What Does a Pharmacist Do? Job Duties, Salary, and More

Many people think of doctors and nurses as being on the front lines of health care, but a pharmacist is just as important for helping patients treat illnesses and other health concerns. They ensure patients receive the correct dosages of life-saving prescriptions, look for potentially dangerous interactions with other drugs, educate patients regarding their medications and conditions, and offer tips for healthy living. 

Read on to determine if a career as a pharmacist is right for you, and get tips on how to get started. 

What is a pharmacist?

A pharmacist is a health care professional who specializes in the usage of medication. They dispense prescriptions. But they are also experts on how drugs work and interact with the body so that patients who take them achieve the best possible results. That includes how the drugs may interact with medications a person is already taking as well as what side effects a drug may cause. 

Most pharmacists work in drug stores, grocery stores, private pharmacies, hospitals, mail-order pharmacies, big box stores, and other health care facilities. In addition to ensuring patients receive their medication, you may also answer questions and help educate both patients and other health care professionals on how certain drugs interact or the effects they may have on the body. 

What does a pharmacist do?

As a pharmacist, your main task will be filling prescriptions for patients. But depending on where you work, you’ll likely perform other tasks on a daily basis, including: 

• Checking a customer's history to ensure their new medications won't interfere with their old ones 

• Giving vaccines, like the flu shot 

• Testing a customer's blood sugar, cholesterol level, or blood pressure 

• Teaching customers how to take their medicine safely and effectively

• Consulting with doctors and other health care professionals about prescriptions for specific customers 

• Providing basic wellness screenings 

• Managing the pharmacy, including pharmacy techs and assistants 

• Negotiating with insurance providers  

• Maintaining customer records 

• Recommending over-the-counter medication

• Providing basic health advice on topics like stress management, nutrition, how to stop smoking, and other lifestyle changes  

Types of pharmacists 

Many people assume there is one type of pharmacist: the one you see at your local drug store when you go to fill your prescriptions. These are called retail pharmacists, and they generally work in retail pharmacies, grocery stores, and big-box store pharmacies. But there are other specialty areas you can choose from. Some of them include: 

Why pursue a career as a pharmacist 

If you're looking for a career that allows you to help others by improving their health, then a career as a pharmacist may be right for you. Many people do not take their medication correctly, which can lead to illness, hospitalization, and other unfortunate effects. By educating a patient or customer and ensuring their prescriptions are safe to take with their other health conditions and medications, you can improve their quality of life and possibly even save a life.  

Pharmacists are also leaders in their communities. When a person has a medical question, they can run to their local drug store and ask the pharmacist face-to-face without an appointment. It's much harder to do that with a doctor. 

How much do pharmacists make?

The national median salary for pharmacists in the United States was $128,570 in 2021, according to the US Bureau of Labor and Statistics [1]. And while the number of pharmacists needed in retail settings isn't supposed to grow much over the next decade, there will be a bigger need for those who work in hospitals and clinical environments.

Benefits of being a pharmacist

In addition to being paid well, pharmacists generally enjoy good job security and have many options when it comes to choosing where and how they want to work. For example, if you enjoy working directly with people, becoming a retail or ambulatory care pharmacist is an excellent choice. But if you are more introverted and prefer to work more independently, you may opt to become a nuclear pharmacist who only deals with other medical professionals. 

Pharmacists can work for national drug store companies or open their own independent pharmacies. They may be completely autonomous or work with a large team. They may work nine-to-five jobs or work nights and weekends. The flexibility and variety of the job may also appeal to you. 

Pharmacist skills 

As a pharmacist, you can have a direct impact on people’s lives. Success in this career relies on a combination of skills that include: 

• Attention to detail and accuracy  

• Critical thinking

• Verbal and written communication skills 

• Compassion 

• Integrity

• Math and counting skills

• Ability to multitask 

• Willingness to advocate for patients 

• Time management 

How to become a pharmacist 

To work as a licensed pharmacist, you’ll need to earn a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education and get licensed to practice. Let’s take a closer look at the specific requirements.

Pharmacist degree requirements

Unlike many other doctoral programs, a Doctor of Pharmacy degree typically only takes four years to complete (full-time). While some programs require a bachelor’s degree, many others only require two years of undergraduate study, with courses in chemistry, physics, and biology. That means with a high school diploma, you can earn your PharmD in as little as six years.

Tip: While in college or pharmacy school, consider working as a pharmacy technician to gain experience in the field. 

Pharmacist license requirements

Once you've earned your pharmacy degree, you'll need to become licensed to practice. Each state has its own requirements for obtaining a license to become a practicing pharmacist. 

In most cases, you'll need to pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) as well as the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE), which tests you on the laws and regulations in your state. You can learn more about your state’s requirements by contacting the state board of pharmacy.

You'll also need to complete a background check. Some states require additional training in specific areas, like vaccinations. 

Get started with Coursera

Experience for yourself whether your interest in pharmacy might translate into a career by taking a course from a top-rated school of pharmacy. Explore how drugs are developed from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego. Or learn about how to tailor medications to patient needs from the University of Copenhagen.

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Article sources

1. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Pharmacists, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/pharmacists.htm." Accessed May 17, 2022.