Would you encourage your DC to be a pharmacist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been a pharmacist for over 18 years but have never worked at a pharmacy. I went straight into pharma and love my career path. It has allowed me to have an interesting career path, make more money than I would have at CVS and have job flexibility while raising kids. Pharma\biotech is high risk high reward career path. I would not recommend working at CVS, or a hospital.

The helpful context here is what percentage of pharm jobs are similar to yours vs hospital or retail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been a pharmacist for over 18 years but have never worked at a pharmacy. I went straight into pharma and love my career path. It has allowed me to have an interesting career path, make more money than I would have at CVS and have job flexibility while raising kids. Pharma\biotech is high risk high reward career path. I would not recommend working at CVS, or a hospital.

The helpful context here is what percentage of pharm jobs are similar to yours vs hospital or retail.

It’s like sales. 10% make gonzo money. The rest end up slinging cars/pills

[Anonymous]

Hospital based nurse here. All the pharmacists Ive known in several DMV hospitals share the same traits— they’re all very bright and thoughtful, and they all visibly dislike their jobs. They are all overworked. Way, way overworked. But to a person, they’ve all been knowledgeable and professional.

Conversely, every physical therapist Ive worked with in the hospital setting seems to enjoy their job.

Maybe look at that path?

[Anonymous]

Aren’t they being replaced by vending machines?

[Anonymous]

Same answer as everyone else. My sister and brother-in-law are pharmacists. It used to be great. They had lots of job opportunities and ways to make additional $ because there was a shortage of pharmacists. Now there are too many. My sister started at $50/hr 20+ years ago. She now makes maybe $60/hour? On your feet all day, everyday. She works in a long term care facility that services nursing homes, so she doesn't have to deal with customers all the time. But the work is a total grind and pharmacies have become very, very profit oriented and very micro-manag-ey from what she tells me.

She is a very happy, optimistic person, but from what she says, her job is pretty miserable and pretty much all of the pharmacists are unhappy.

There is a theme in this thread, OP. And the theme is: Don't do it.

[Anonymous]

Pharmacists start with a high salary, but there is little movement over time. You’re essentially capped the moment you start.

Also, retail work is the worst. As others have said, you are overworked, you’re working with high school graduates for assistants who are oftentimes not committed at a professional standard, you’re on your feet all day, and your boss is the store manager, who is typically a non-college educated person who resents that you think you’re better than them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been a pharmacist for over 18 years but have never worked at a pharmacy. I went straight into pharma and love my career path. It has allowed me to have an interesting career path, make more money than I would have at CVS and have job flexibility while raising kids. Pharma\biotech is high risk high reward career path. I would not recommend working at CVS, or a hospital.

The helpful context here is what percentage of pharm jobs are similar to yours vs hospital or retail.

OP here, if you are willing to use pharmacy education as a foundation and pivot your career as needed, you can create your own options because a doctorate degree in pharmacy allows you to have those options. However, it’s not easy. Hospital pharmacist are really bright and professional but also overworked. They are not paid enough for their expertise. You can get a residency or fellowship and then work for a hospital but those jobs are limited and not paid well for the years of education and training. It’s easier to be a nurse practitioner or physicians assistant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t they being replaced by vending machines?

It does seem like a very clear use case for AI

[Anonymous]

Most of you know little about pharmacy beyond going to your local CVS. That's your only experience.

OP, read the student doctor forum. Don't come here.

[Anonymous]

I know a young couple both hospital pharmacists. They make 350K between them. Very smart and passionate about their profession. The key is securing residencies and specializing beyond the PharmD.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it considered prestigious and stable? Does it pay well? I don’t know much about it but my DD is interested.

With all the medications people are taking? Yes. Very good job security.

Dumb rational. Insurance dictates the prices so it’s now very low margin

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Used to be great. Now glut and underpaid.

+1. And mail-order pharmacies are putting a lot of downward pressure on salaries, benefits. Many national pharmacy chains are having financial problems. Go read the 8K SEC filings for several of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is a ton of education needed to then have to essentially work retail.

It's not that much education depending on the state. It is a 6 year degree program in NY to get a job that basically pays you mid-six figures straight out of grad school. There used to be a pharmacist shortage, not so much anymore, but still it's a fairly lucrative job particularly in states with aging populations.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like the best route is to work in Pharma with a PharmD degree. Good money and not a lot of work. Why would anyone choose retail-sounds horrible.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely not. Worse than doctor hours, lower pay.