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
|
