How Much Money Does a Beginning Pharmacist Make?
A licensed pharmacist dispenses drugs prescribed by physicians and other medical providers. Their job includes advising consumers on the proper use of medications and possible health risks. The pharmacist typically works in a pharmacy, which might be in a hospital, drug store, discount store or some other facility.
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Average Wage
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The average wage of a pharmacist, according to the May 2010 report posted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) was $52.59 an hour and $109,380 annually. This took into account some 268,030 pharmacists, not including the self-employed. A beginning pharmacist would typically earn less than the average.
Median Wage
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Half of the pharmacists in the study earned below $53.64 an hour, or $111,570 annually. The other half earned more than that amount. The lowest paid 10 percent earned an hourly wage of $39.47 with annual earnings of $82,090. New pharmacists would probably fall in this lower-earning area.
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Wages by State
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Wages for pharmacists vary by state. For example, the average hourly wage for a pharmacist in California is $57.12, while it is $49.45 in Pennsylvania, according to BLS.
Employer
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Pharmacists who work in health and personal care stores make an average of $53.37 an hour. Pharmacists working in a hospital make an average of $52.13, while pharmacists in grocery stores earn an average of $51.70 an hour. These averages apply to all pharmacists in the study group, which include beginning and seasoned pharmacists.
Salary Trends
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According to the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, most pharmacy graduates report making annual salaries between $90,000 and $95,000. The Iowa Western Community College website for their Pre-Pharmacy program reports the average entry-level salary for pharmacists in Omaha-Council Bluffs is $31.96 an hour.
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References
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