Pharmacist Job Description and Salary Averages in USA

Pharmacists are the health professionals who dispense the prescription drugs to the patients. They provide information and instruction about those drugs and guide the patients in using that drug their doctor has suggested. They scrutinize the health progress of patients to ensure the proper, safe, and effective working of medication. These professionals work under pharmaceutical industry as well as in pharmaceutical education and research and developments centers.

A Pharmacist requires holding Doctor of Pharmacy degree: Pharm.D. After 2 years degree in any one of math, chemistry, biology, physics, humanities or social science, one can apply to get admission in the 4 years pharmacy programs, but it must be certified by Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). In USA, to become a Pharmacist professional, it is necessary to pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam. National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) administrates these exams. Some states of USA also require passing Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJE). It is a test of pharmacy law and also administrated by NABP. Some states require passing additional state specific exams. All states (except California) grant license transfers from any other state.

The scope and future of pharmacy career is away from dark with plenty of job opportunities and rewards in USA. Pharmacists earned a median annual salary of $109,180 in the year 2009; this ratio increased in the year 2010 and job prospects are expected to be excellent over the coming years.

Average annual salary rates for different positions of pharmacy for the year 2010 are given below:

Job Title	Base Salary	Bonus	Profit Sharing	Average Range
Pharmacist	$76,610 – $104,800	$1,012 – $5,170	$388.85 – $6,753	$80,850 – $113,570
Clinical Pharmacist	$94,230 – $112,590	$1,207 – $4,145	$1,000 – $5,087	$97,747 – $117,300

They also get commissions and some other benefits depending on the industry and company they work in. Their annual salary averages vary on different factors that add value to their profession. More years of experience in the field ensure higher average salaries of these medical professionals. Salary rates by years of experience in USA are shown in the table below:

Job Title	Experience	Salary Rates
Pharmacist	Less than 1 year	$67,460 – $99,803
	1 – 4 years	$70,434 – $101,655
	5 – 9 years	$82,726 – $112,020
	10 – 19 years	$90,057 – $113,420
	20 or more years	$95,670 – $118,340