How Much Does A Pharmacist Make

"How much does a pharmacist make?" is a popular question when it comes to the profession.  Whether you're curious or interested in the career personally, learning about the earnings of pharmacists is simple.  Follow along to learn about the salary expectations and areas of work for pharmacists.

Earning estimates.  According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the media for pharmacists in May 2008 was $106,410.  For a broader figure, $92,670 and $121,310 a year represents the middle 50 percent.  Lower than $77,390 and higher than $131,440 a year marks the low and high 10 percent, respectively.

Reasons for variation.  As with any profession, education, experience, and other factors will determine earnings, along with the specifics of the position.  Most pharmacists work in either community pharmacies or in healthcare facilities.  Other pharmacists may specialize in a particular area of drug therapy, such as psychiatric pharmacy or the field of oncology (cancer).  Additionally, some pharmacists only work part time, approximately 19 percent of pharmacists, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Necessary training.  Education plays an important role in any earnings projection.  All pharmacists in the United States need a Pharm.D. degree, which is a four-year program that follows two years of specific study (qualifications in math and science).  After the four years, some graduates choose a one to two-year residency program for postgraduate work.  This enables them to work in a clinical setting.  As a further possibility, some pharmacists choose to obtain a master's degree in business administration (MBA), in order to own their own pharmacy.  These factors can certainly contribute to how much a pharmacist makes.