What Does a Pharmacist Do?
As long as people take prescription medicines, pharmacists will be needed to make sure each dose is safe, correct and understood. They check prescriptions for errors and drug interactions, counsel patients, give vaccines and advise doctors and nurses on therapy. Retail pharmacies and hospitals are the main employers, and some pharmacists complete a residency to move into clinical roles such as oncology or critical care.
Also known as: Clinical Resident Pharmacy
Other Job Titles for This Work
Workers in this occupation report titles such as Clinical Pharmacist, Hospital Pharmacist, Informatics Pharmacist, Pharm D (Pharmacy Doctor), Pharmacist in Charge (PIC), Pharmacy Coordinator, Pharmacy Informaticist, Pharmacy Services Clinical Coordinator.
Pharmacist Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a pharmacist include:
- Verify prescriptions for the right drug, dose, route and patient before they are released.
- Screen medication profiles for interactions, allergies and duplicate therapy.
- Counsel patients on how and when to take each medicine and what side effects to watch for.
- Administer vaccines such as flu and shingles shots where state law allows.
- Advise physicians and nurses on drug choice, dosing and monitoring in hospital care.
- Supervise pharmacy technicians and check their work at each step of filling.
- Manage controlled substance records and investigate any count discrepancies.
- Resolve insurance rejections and prior authorization problems with prescribers and insurers.
- Review lab results to adjust doses of drugs such as warfarin or vancomycin.
- Report adverse drug events and medication errors through the proper channels.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a pharmacist, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree
- State pharmacist license (NAPLEX and MPJE)
- Drug interactions, dosing and pharmacology
- Pharmacy systems such as Epic Willow or retail dispensing software
- Immunization certification
- Clear counseling in plain language
- Accuracy through steady volume and interruptions
- Postgraduate residency for clinical hospital roles
Education and Training
Most pharmacists qualify through a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) program after prerequisite college courses, but some start out by working as pharmacy technicians while they study. All states require pharmacists to be licensed. While many graduates go straight into community pharmacy, it is a good idea to apply for a residency in your final year if you want a clinical hospital post.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $129,380 - $161,840 per year, with a median of $140,910.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Pharmacists.
According to BLS, employment of pharmacists is projected to grow about 5 percent from 2025 to 2035. That translates into roughly 12,500 openings a year. Drugstore chains have closed locations in recent years, while hospitals and clinics keep adding clinical roles, so residency training carries more weight.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Pharmacists.
Pharmacist Pay Range
| Earners | Annual pay |
|---|---|
| Bottom 10% earn less than | $99,290 |
| Bottom 25% earn less than | $129,380 |
| Median (half earn more, half less) | $140,910 |
| Top 25% earn more than | $161,840 |
| Top 10% earn more than | $174,230 |
Highest-Paying States for Pharmacists
The states with the highest median pay for this occupation are Alaska ($167,310), Oregon ($165,960), California ($164,610), Hawaii ($163,220), Washington ($160,610). Pay is lowest in Mississippi ($133,230), Louisiana ($132,410), Rhode Island ($128,180).
Median pay in all 51 states with BLS data
| State | Median annual pay |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $134,630 |
| Alaska | $167,310 |
| Arizona | $146,930 |
| Arkansas | $136,060 |
| California | $164,610 |
| Colorado | $156,030 |
| Connecticut | $141,290 |
| Delaware | $152,880 |
| District of Columbia | $153,400 |
| Florida | $135,970 |
| Georgia | $137,120 |
| Hawaii | $163,220 |
| Idaho | $144,900 |
| Illinois | $139,080 |
| Indiana | $144,290 |
| Iowa | $138,860 |
| Kansas | $137,800 |
| Kentucky | $136,530 |
| Louisiana | $132,410 |
| Maine | $140,930 |
| Maryland | $138,990 |
| Massachusetts | $138,170 |
| Michigan | $137,860 |
| Minnesota | $159,740 |
| Mississippi | $133,230 |
| Missouri | $137,610 |
| Montana | $142,080 |
| Nebraska | $139,330 |
| Nevada | $140,030 |
| New Hampshire | $143,020 |
| New Jersey | $137,620 |
| New Mexico | $147,000 |
| New York | $142,090 |
| North Carolina | $138,860 |
| North Dakota | $142,040 |
| Ohio | $137,020 |
| Oklahoma | $135,140 |
| Oregon | $165,960 |
| Pennsylvania | $138,160 |
| Rhode Island | $128,180 |
| South Carolina | $135,700 |
| South Dakota | $146,790 |
| Tennessee | $133,390 |
| Texas | $138,260 |
| Utah | $144,240 |
| Vermont | $136,270 |
| Virginia | $144,060 |
| Washington | $160,610 |
| West Virginia | $133,430 |
| Wisconsin | $148,740 |
| Wyoming | $139,550 |
What the Work Is Like
O*NET surveys people who work as pharmacists about their daily conditions. Of those surveyed:
- 100% work indoors in a climate-controlled space every day
- 100% are on the phone every day
- 100% say teamwork is very or extremely important in their job
- 100% say being exact and accurate is very or extremely important
- 83% work against deadlines every day
- 78% use email every day
- 77% are exposed to disease or infection every day
Education Workers Say the Job Needs
| Education level | Share of workers |
|---|---|
| Doctoral degree | 78% |
| Bachelor's degree | 11% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5% |
Tools and Software Pharmacists Use
Tools and equipment
Software
Is This Job a Good Fit for You?
People who do well in this job tend to enjoy analyzing problems and working with ideas as well as helping, teaching or caring for people.
Skills O*NET rates most important: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Writing, Critical Thinking, Monitoring.
Knowledge areas used most: Medicine and Dentistry, Mathematics, Customer and Personal Service, English Language, Chemistry.
Preparation: O*NET places this occupation in Job Zone 5 of 5, which means extensive preparation.
Related Careers
These jobs use similar skills, according to O*NET's related-occupation data:
Applying for a Pharmacist Job
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Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035.
- O*NET 30.1 Database, occupation 29-1051.00 (Pharmacists). View on O*NET OnLine.
This page includes information from the O*NET 30.1 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. The Job Explorer has modified some of the information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed or tested these changes.