A pharmacy career is a diverse and rewarding profession, with opportunities for patient care, scientific research and innovation. With so many options out there, it can be hard to choose which route you want to take when pursuing this field. Luckily for you, we’ve compiled a list of the most popular paths in pharmacy careers that you should consider before making your final decision. Read on!
There are many options out there for becoming a Pharmacist with new ones created every year. So, before you decide on a career, it is important to know the different types of pharmacy careers available to you. This article will outline the most common pharmacy careers and what each one entails.
Chemotherapy Pharmacist
What do they do?
Chemotherapy pharmacists are engaged in safety compounding, preparation, and dispensing of chemotherapy and cancer medications. One of their primary roles is to minimize drug waste, manage chemo drug shortages and reduce exposure to hazardous drugs. This field is suitable for those who have an interest in the future of cancer treatment. As cancer-related therapies are becoming more specialized and personalized, chemotherapy pharmacists are integral resources in educating the patients about the potential toxicities and adverse reactions of cancer treatment. Not only pharmacists are a great resource of knowledge, but they also help other healthcare professionals in writing chemotherapy orders, teaching other students who want to pursue a career in the chemotherapy domain.
Salary Range
$25,447 to $691,331
Benefits and Caveats
Chemotherapy pharmacists are an important part of the cancer care team, and they are mostly responsible for the pharmacotherapy management of the cancer patients while they are hospitalized. The role is a perfect fit for students who have an interest in chemotherapy and cancer because this field is advancing, and new approaches have been added now and then. So, anyone who wants to learn more about cancer will benefit from this field. Suitable training may be required on cancer drug handling.
Who should pursue this field?
- If you have a strong desire to work with cancerous drugs
- Be ready to collaborate with other members of the cancer care team for this field
Nuclear Pharmacist
What do they do?
Nuclear pharmacy is a very interesting and emerging field where pharmacists are involved in compounding radiopharmaceuticals for outpatient diagnostic clinics, research work and nuclear medicine departments. Nuclear pharmacists are involved in the preparation of radioactive material which is then used to improve and improve health. Sometimes pharmacists are also involved in the safe and effective administration of radioactive materials to the patient. The nuclear pharmacist’s job is also to store, control the inventory of radioactive drugs and also to prepare radiopharmaceuticals by combining two or more radioisotopes. Performing weekly checks of the instrument and determining the quality of the radiopharmaceutical is also the responsibility of a nuclear pharmacist.
Salary Range
$25,061 to $665,510
Benefits and Caveats
Nuclear pharmacists work with huge amounts of radioactive materials on a daily basis, so extensive training is required on the handling of these materials. Intensive training in radiation safety is required for all personnel working with radioactive products. This role is a perfect fit for those who can handle pressure and have a passion to help mankind by formulating new treatments.
Who should pursue this field?
- Nuclear pharmacy field is well suited for people who are strong in science and physics because developing new radiopharmaceuticals does require some basic science.
- If you have a passion to formulate new products which can improve patient health, then this field is for you.
Long-term Care Pharmacist
What do they do?
Long-term care pharmacists offer continuous supper and care to patients in various facilities, especially in areas where patients are admitted for a longer duration. Such pharmacists are actively engaged in offering support to patients admitted to rehabilitation centers, nursing centers and homes and orphanages and old age homes. The pharmacist will provide treatment for a specific disease, take care of the prescriptions, provide on-time medication, formulate other treatment plans, drug regimens and provide knowledge regarding drug adverse actions, and interactions.
Salary Range
$106,289 and $120,156.
Benefits and Caveats
The advantage of working as a long-term pharmacist is that you can brush up your knowledge about drugs like, its pharmacokinetics, interactions, adverse events, among others. However, to become a long-term care pharmacist one must have sufficient knowledge about the role and a relevant degree and is committed to providing care to patients. Long-term care pharmacists develop a very intimate relationship while providing care and are more engaged in day-to-day interactions with their patients and the rest of the healthcare staff.
Who should pursue this field?
- If you have the passion to help patients for a longer duration
- If you are good at patient handling specifically in facilities like old age homes and rehab centers, then this job is suitable for you.
Clinical Pharmacist
What do they do?
Clinical Pharmacist directly interacts with the patient in a healthcare setting and make a decision about their treatment regimen. They assess the patient’s medical condition and prescribe medications, evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment, consult with physicians and discuss the outcome of the treatment, educate patients. Clinical pharmacists are also involved in the decision-making process regarding the treatment. They are also involved in drug dosing and evaluating its effects on patients. Clinical pharmacists are also called upon to provide drug-related information, consultation, look over patient medication charts and recommend a course of action.
Salary range
$117,070
Benefits and caveats
Clinical pharmacists are also part of the clinical trial team, which evaluated the effectiveness and AEs of the drug on both animals and humans before they are marketed. They may also be involved in making policies and procedures and in determining the drug-taking protocols. Clinical pharmacists also evaluate treatment outcomes, counsel patient, and train new pharmacists.
Who should pursue this field?
- If you are good at pharmacology and know about drugs and their MOA, AEs, interactions then you should pursue this field.
- If you are flexible and can work round the clock, then this is a good career option for you.
Staff Pharmacist
What do they do?
A staff pharmacist is someone who interprets prescription orders and then obtains information from prescribers, patients and other members of the healthcare team. Apart from this, they are also involved in verifying correct medication, direction of use and other relevant information in compliance with the policies and regulatory requirements before they are dispensed to the clients. Staff pharmacists also perform pharmacy-related duties which include keeping a check on fellow workers, reporting any unethical behavior, among others. The staff pharmacist has the authority to go back and forth and check if the prescription is authentic and can also refuse to dispense medication in case of any doubt. From prescription checking to the shipping of the medication to the right client, a staff pharmacist oversees all operations.
Salary range
$130,422
Benefits and Caveats
Staff pharmacists are also involved in inventory management, supervise other pharmacy technicians, and also perform quality checks on medication, and provide on-counter counseling to the clients, if necessary. If you think you have good leadership qualities and enough drug knowledge, then you should apply for the position right away.
Who should pursue this field?
- If you think you have excellent good communication and leadership skills
- If you can interpret clinical knowledge to non-clinical audiences
- If you can accurately follow protocols established by the pharmacy
Director of Pharmacy
What do they do?
The director of the pharmacy oversees the overall operations of an independent pharmacy or pharmacy operations within the hospital setting. Direct of pharmacy has direct contact with pharmacy administrative, medical and hospital staff and vendors and auditors. The pharmacy supervises day to day functions of the pharmacy departments to ensure that the pharmacy provides round-the-clock service to its clients. The pharmacist is also involved in conducting performance evaluations of the staff and handles queries related to staff disciple and termination of employees. In short director of the pharmacy is the boss who handles all the functions of a pharmacy department.
Salary Range
$30,105 to $799,021
Benefits and Caveats
The benefit of becoming the director of the pharmacy is that you have a direct influence on the team working under you. The Director of the pharmacy also ensures seamless coordination between pharmacists and other medical staff. The serve on pharmacy and therapeutic committees and on infection control committees as well.
Who should pursue this field?
- If you have leadership skills and are good at analytical thinking
- You should exhibit a high level of professional excellence
Health Outcomes Pharmacist
What do they do?
The main role of the health outcomes pharmacist is to offer individualized care to patients having chronic diseases. Pharmacists also offer support to patients who require intensive care. They also assess the strength and purity of medications by running a few quality tests on the medications. They also work with other members of the healthcare team to plan, monitor and review the treatment plans, monitor the efficacy of the medication and provide expert advice on drug usage. They are also involved in patient counseling regarding medication, diet, follow-ups and treatments.
Salary Range
$105,522 per annum
Benefits and Caveats
Health outcomes pharmacists are involved in implementing certain health strategies which drive optimized health outcomes. They also develop patient intervention pharmacy programs and ensure compliance of pharmacy policies and procedures. The main focus of the health outcomes pharmacist is on the well-being of the patient which is achieved by administering effective treatment against the chronic diseases.
Who should pursue this field?
- If you have good communications skill and you can convince patients of what is good for them
- If you are keen to work with other members or staff of the hospital or pharmacy to improve the outcomes of the patients, then this job is for you.
Community Pharmacist
What do they do?
Community pharmacist’s role is to dispense prescription medications to the patients and in some instances non -prescription medication like some common OTC drugs. These are in direct contact with the patients, so they are also a part of the programs which are aimed at reducing the mortality and morbidity rates in patients. Community pharmacists are also a part of the campaigns which are formed to achieve rations use of the medications by following good pharmacy practices. They also enhance patient knowledge by providing them with sufficient information regarding their treatment regime and also offer help.
Salary Range
$97,381 and $123,494
Benefits and Caveats
Apart from the traditional job responsibilities, the community pharmacist also provides advice regarding nutrition and what diet a patient should take while following a specific drug regime. So, if you have knowledge of drugs and food, then this is a worthy option for you. The pharmacist also advises on special requirements, suggests or designs specialized meal plans especially for people with food allergies.
Who should pursue this field?
- Anyone with a relevant degree
- Anyone with good people’s skills can apply for this field
- Anyone good at patient handling
Research & Development Pharmacist
What do they do?
Unlike others, research and development pharmacists are involved in more strategic work like in designing and executing formulation developments and experimenting on animals for the formulation of new biologic drugs. R&D pharmacists also work for government bodies when they have to formulate a new medication or vaccine which have not been previously formulated e.g., COVID-19 vaccine. They also prepare important documents for regulatory filings and for internal use. They are also involved in designing experiments, research works, preparation of supporting documents for regulatory agencies. Not only this but R&D pharmacists also attend cross-functional meetings with scientists, other pharmacists, nurses and physicians to ensure harmonization of drug delivery
Salary Range
$137,280 to $205,920
Benefits and Caveats
The benefit of working as a research and development pharmacist is that you will be working with the world’s famous and competent scientists and researchers in order to formulate a new vaccine or drug. You will also get to work with other members of the health team where you can share your ideas about future treatments.
Who should pursue this field?
- If you are interested in intensive research work then this is a good field
- If you can work with government bodies and are familiar with R&D protocols
Hospital Pharmacist
What do they do?
Hospital pharmacists usually work in a hospital setting and collaborate with other professionals like clinicians to formulate the most effective treatment plan by considering the specific needs of the patients. Moreover, their job is also to design product specifications according to the hospital formulary and is also a member of various committees constituted for procurement of therapeutic drugs. The hospital pharmacist is also responsible for inventory management, record keeping, physical verification of the incoming stock, and expiry of medicines. Sometimes, they also interact with patients and offer explanations regarding their treatment plans.
Salary Range
$123,670 per annum
Benefits and Caveats
Hospital pharmacist works in close vicinity with nurses and doctors and works as a team in improving the patient’s health. They manage the paperwork of the hospital pharmacy by keeping a record of the inventory, expired medication, incoming stock, etc. Being a hospital pharmacist is not an easy job because you have to be on your toes all the time because you are dealing with some sensitive issues which involves patients life.
Who should pursue this field?
- Anyone who has a strong grip on the pharmacology of medicines and is familiar with the legal guidelines of treatments
- Someone who has an eye to focus on details and is familiar with the prescribing process of drugs and treatments
Managed Care Pharmacist
What do they do?
Managed care pharmacists are a part of quality assurance programs that are designed to enhance patient safety. They are also a part of medication management and drug benefit programs which are aimed at improving patients’ overall health. Managed care pharmacists are also active members of fraud and abuse programs that decrease the misuse of medications. Pharmacists also collaborate with other members of the healthcare team to formulate plans that serve the population’s needs like Medicaid and Medicare. They also develop patient-centric programs in collaboration with nurses, physicians and other specialists to enhance the treatment outcome.
Salary Range
$122,327 to $138,287
Benefits and caveats
If you are passionate about the health and safety of others and want to contribute to the society then this job is for you. Managed care pharmacists also help health plan payers like trusts, funds, HMOs and Medicaid to evaluate their pharmacy benefits.
Who should pursue this field?
- If you understand managed care sector and utilization management then you can qualify to become a competent managed care pharmacist.
- If you can work back and forth with the insurance companies, evaluate cost and benefit ratios then this field is a good option.
Mail Service Pharmacist
What do they do?
Mail service pharmacist has similar duties to that of a traditional pharmacist, but they do not interact with patients directly. The primary role of a mail service pharmacist is to provide prescriptions to the patients which include prescription refills or one-time prescriptions via email or fax. The pharmacist can receive the requests via email or telephone and once the request has been taken care of, the pharmacist then dispatches them via email. The goal is to cater each prescription that comes in through email or fax while keeping in mind the specific health requirements and concerns of each customer.
Mail service pharmacists not only focus on human medication but also veterinary medications as well.
Salary Range
$117,372
Benefits and caveats
Most of the mail service pharmacies work with insurance companies and send policyholders their medications in email. Mail service pharmacists are responsible for filling the prescription which are received via email or fax. If you think you can provide medications to customers without delay and if you can work round the clock then you are a great fit.
Who should pursue this field?
- People with precise and methodical personalities can thrive well in this profession.
- This job is for people who have the ability to multi-task and cater multiple requests with precision.
Veterinary Pharmacist
Salary Range
$75,800-131,000
What Do They Do?
A veterinary pharmacist may be a good fit for students with an interest in animals. One of their major tasks is to combine drugs to match the requirements of pets, their owners, and veterinarians. Many veterinary prescriptions are prepared by hand according on the animal’s weight and size. The quantity, strength, and flavor of the solution can be altered to make it more pleasant for animals to consume. Students who want to become veterinary pharmacists must complete specialized training in veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics.
Benefits and Caveats:
Interactions with consumers and their pets, as well as veterinary office employees. Being a Veterinary Pharmacist you have to be truly passionate about animals. This may be a good fit for students with an interest in animals. One of their major tasks is to combine drugs to match the requirements of pets, their owners and veterinarians.
Who Should Pursue This Field?
- If you have a strong desire to work with animals and like interacting with them, this is the job for you.
- Be ready to collaborate with other veterinarians on projects.
- May have to relocate based on where you live
Academia Pharmacist
What do they do?
Academic pharmacists train, educate and assess pharmacy students. If you were always keen to teach and you think you have sufficient knowledge and expertise to teach, then this role is definitely for you. Academia pharmacists work alongside a wider educational team and develop and revise pharmacy coursework according to the changing guidelines. The pharmacist will also work closely with the head of the department to devise plans to improve the education system so that students can attain maximum benefit. Sometimes academia pharmacists are involved I the research and development of a new drug or vaccine or involved in the clinical trials of a certain drug.
Salary Range
$84,000 and $170,000
Benefits and Caveats
This role will help the person to develop teaching skills. Being an academia pharmacist, you will deal with students and other faculty members. The future of the students will be in a way in your hands, so if you think you can educate students and share your knowledge with them then you should go in this field.
Who should pursue this field?
- Someone with good teaching skills
- Who can handle pressure and can handle students
- And someone who has a strong grip on the pharmacy subjects like pharmacology
Community Healthy Center Pharmacist
What do they do?
As a community pharmacist, you are actively involved in helping patients and the general public, by assessing their current medical condition, and coming with treatment plans t mitigate the risk associated with the disease. Not only this but a community health center pharmacist also dispenses prescription and nonprescription medicine to the clients and helps them of keeping them in a good state. These pharmacists also monitor patients with chronic diseases like asthma, hypertension or diabetes. They also deliver door-to-door flu shots, vaccines for rubella or mumps and conduct medicine reviews. They also provide counseling sessions to patients who are having a hard time quitting smoking or drinking, provide consultation on safe sexual practices and offer pieces of advice to general public on how to stay healthy by eating healthy.
Salary Range
$97,381 and $123,494
Benefits and Caveats
The benefit of being a community health center pharmacist is that you get to travel to different areas where minimum or no health facilities are available, and you offer medical support to them. Not only this by interacting with the general public residing in rural areas and convincing them on how they can improve their health by adopting healthy practices.
Who should pursue this field?
- If you are good at people handling then this is a suitable field for you
- If you can travel to rural areas with minimum facilities available, then you can thrive in this role
- Anyone having a degree in pharmacy
Compounding Pharmacist
What do they do?
Compounding pharmacist’s job is to create customized medication as per the requests of the clients. This can be achieved by mixing different pharmaceutical API and formulating a specialized treatment regime. At times, pharmacists have to work with radioactive materials which are hazardous to health. Compounding pharmacists put medicines into flavored liquids to mask the bad odor, especially in children’s medicines. They also prepare OTC topical creams for example for dermatitis or pruritis. They compound the medicine and then dispense it to the clients. Compounding pharmacist also keeps a check of all active ingredients and excipients, their expiry date and notify others about the non-availability of the raw materials.
Salary Range
$121,588 and $137,451
Benefits and Caveats
If you have good knowledge about medications and their dosage, then you can certainly become a good compounding pharmacist. Being a compounding pharmacist, you are expected to have deep knowledge about medicines, their adverse reactions and their specific dosages according to age.
Who should pursue this field?
- If you have good Prescription drug knowledge then you are suitable for this field
- Prior experience in compounding and dispensing of medications
- Strong attention to detail is a must for this role
Medical Communications Pharmacist
What do they do?
Medical communications pharmacists are involved in the preparation of sales training presentations, clinical drug monographs and any other promotional material. The pharmacist also works with the media team and helps them in preparing engaging content of the drug they are launching in the market. They are also responsible for producing medically correct content that are backed by authentic sources. The pharmacist also communicates medical knowledge to all the non-medical team members.
Salary Range
$80,000–100,000
Benefits and Caveats
Medical communications pharmacist is involved in the verification of drug information, prepares presentations and addresses audiences when a new drug is launched in the market. The pharmacist is also a part of the promotion campaigns and works closely with the marketing team as well. Being a medical communications pharmacist, you should have stellar soft skills and should be able to handle multiple projects simultaneously. They should have great knowledge about drugs because medical communication pharmacists are involved in creating engaging scientific content.
Who should pursue this field?
- The role is appropriate who has good verbal and written skills
- Someone with good interpersonal skills because medical communications pharmacists usually work with the members or sales team, communication team, etc.
Home Health Care Pharmacist
What do they do?
Home health care pharmacists provide pharmacy-related services and treatment to patients in their homes and other residential care facilities which can be nursing homes or old age homes. The pharmacist prepares, compounds and dispenses the medicine to the patients according to their prescriptions. Home health care pharmacist has the liberty to administer some OTC medicines without prescription which usually involves the administration of IV, epidural or subcutaneous medicines.
The role of the home health care pharmacist is also to deliver and set up equipment and supplies to support patients’ treatment needs over time.
Salary Range
$137,500 to 142,237
Benefits and Caveats
Being a home health care pharmacist, you might have to stay a patient’s residential facility until he gets well or until he is shifted to the hospital. The pharmacist might have to stay back after his shift in case of an emergency. This role is for someone who finds happiness in helping others because most of the patients are either old or they are not mentally stable and hence cannot be taken to the hospital for treatment.
Who should pursue this field?
- This job is for people who are good at handling old age people
- Anyone who is comfortable staying late at work
Federal & Government Pharmacist
What do they do?
The job responsibilities of a federal and government pharmacist include working for any government agency like FDA or any other firm which is concerned with pharmaceuticals. The job of a federal and government pharmacist is also to help regulators and researchers to assess the safety and efficacy of new medications before they are sent out in the market for public use. Apart from working for the government or federal agencies, such pharmacists may also work in a hospital or retail settings where they perform duties like prescription filling, compounding, and drug formulations and educating patients on the correct use of medication.
Salary Range
$122,390 – $183,139
Benefits and Caveats
The benefit of working as a federal and government pharmacist is that you get to work with government-owned agencies who are involved in clinical trials of new or existing drugs, research on new drug treatments for chronic conditions, and formulate new vaccines in case of epidemic and pandemic. The job requires you to have sufficient knowledge about drugs and their mechanism and how do they treat diseases.
Who should pursue this field?
- Excellent attention to detail and research skills are essential are a must for this role
- A few basic certifications is required in some states
- Must have attended a doctoral program in pharmacology
Independent Community Pharmacist
What do they do?
The Independent community pharmacist is responsible for handling the patient’s prescriptions and also supervises the other pharmacy staff. Independent community pharmacist has the power to implement changes in the services and operations of the pharmacy including medication therapy management. Good communication skills are one of the valuable traits for community pharmacists because they have direct interaction with the community. They also provide counseling sessions to patients regarding their treatment and diet. At times a lot of traveling is involved because the community pharmacist are also a part of committees that are aimed at improving the patient’s well-being.
Salary Range
$97,381 to $123,494
Benefits and Caveats
The benefit of being an independent community pharmacist is that you will be in direct contact with the patients. If they have any issue with their treatment regime they can directly discuss with the pharmacist. Independent community pharmacists’ role also involves taking part in health-related workshops and sessions.
Who should pursue this field?
- Anyone with stellar communication skills is a good fit for this role
- If you have good leaderships skills
- If you are open to traveling and can provide counselling session
Final Thoughts
Choosing a pharmacy career is an important decision. The different types of careers available to you will vary depending on your interests and goals, but all are rewarding in their own way. In this article we’ve outlined the most common paths as well as what each entails. If you need help deciding which route best suits your needs or want more information about any of these options, contact us today! Our experts have decades of experience helping students with various stages in the pharmacy field so they can provide world-class guidance for choosing a pharmacy career that fits both who you are and where you hope to go with your life.