Career Opportunities
"We are living in the most exciting period in the history of pharmaceuticals, as new options lead to new opportunities for those of us in the field and those about to join us. Pharmacists are at a zenith in our ability to manage, cure and prevent disease."
Dean J. Lyle Bootman, PhD,ScD
The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy
It's a great time to pursue pharmacy as a career. Job opportunities are plentiful, salaries are excellent and the profession remains one of the most respected in the nation (The Gallup Organization, 2007).
Facts about pharmacy- 3rd largest health profession
- 200,000 pharmacists in U.S., with an estimated need for 60,000 new pharmacists by 2012 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- Pharmacists are needed in
- chain and independent drugstores
- hospitals and other healthcare facilities
- government
- the military
- academia
- pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies
- and a variety of other settings
- Consumers interact with their pharmacist 12 to 15 times a year, compared to 3 or 4 with their physicians
- New graduates are likely to earn starting salaries above $95,000
Theodore Tong, PharmD, longtime associate dean of academic and student affairs at the College of Pharmacy, worries about whether there will be enough pharmacists to serve Arizona and the country in the years ahead. View a short video of him speaking about this with a small group of students.
Today's pharmacists deal with a dynamic world of technology, changing economics, medical breakthroughs and increasing patient awareness of healthcare issues.
As the only health professionals who receive comprehensive education and training about pharmaceuticals at all levels, pharmacists are key members of clinical healthcare teams. Their training provides a base for challenging careers in pharmaceutical and biomedical research too.
Below is a broad overview of some of the career paths open to pharmacists. Career information is also available at the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy.
Community Pharmacists
Community pharmacists work in independent, chain and supermarket drugstores. They fill prescriptions, advise patients about the proper use of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, monitor blood pressures and advise patients on using medical equipment.
Some community pharmacists serve as consultants for drug use in nursing homes or may prepare and dispense intravenous solutions for home use.
Community pharmacists usually are employees of independent or corporate-owned drugstores. Career paths include promotions to chief pharmacist, store manager, district manager or corporate administrator.
Hospital Pharmacists Most hospitals have inpatient, outpatient and satellite pharmacies where pharmacists prepare and dispense medications. They also stock drugs and supplies within the various pharmacies and nursing stations. The pharmacist replenishes the code cart that contains drugs and emergency equipment and provides drug information to the other healthcare professionals and the general public.
Clinical Pharmacists Clinical pharmacists help select medications for patients, monitor the beneficial and toxic effects of drug therapy on patients and work closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals to provide optimal care for patients. Clinical pharmacists are part of the patient care teams in such specialties as pediatrics, oncology, ambulatory care, hospice, emergency, critical care, geriatrics, psychiatrics, internal medicine, IV therapy and nutrition.
Research Pharmacists The doctor of pharmacy degree qualifies individuals to teach at the college level. Highly skilled PharmD graduates are needed to teach student pharmacists, develop clinical programs and conduct research at pharmacy schools throughout the country.
Exciting research opportunities in product development abound in the pharmaceutical and biotechnical industries for pharmacists who want to discover new therapies. With the release of the complete map of the human genome in 2000, the field of pharmacogenomics--the study of how an individual's genetic inheritance affects the body's response to drugs--brings unlimited potential for discovery and application.
Government The military services, Veterans Administration and Public Health Services employ pharmacists in hospitals, clinics and healthcare administration. Pharmacists may work in military hospitals as civilians or as commissioned officers. Other governmental positions for pharmacists include drug enforcement agents, drug manufacturing inspectors, and agents in the Food and drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control.
Other Possibilities- Poison control pharmacist: The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy operates the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center
- Managed care pharmacist
- Veterinary pharmacist
- Nuclear pharmacist
- Compounding pharmacist
- Pharmacist attorney
- Consulting pharmacist
Be sure to see our College of Pharmacy Profiles for personal stories about students and graduates working in many of these practice areas.