The Salary of a Department Store Pharmacist
Pharmacists prepare and dispense medications in a variety of settings. Besides working in hospitals, grocery stores and retail drug stores, pharmacists work in department stores such as Walmart and Target. In this setting, customers can combine their prescription needs with their other shopping needs in a convenient "one stop shopping" format.
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Function
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Besides dispensing drugs, pharmacists advise patients on over-the-counter drugs and ointments, as well as provide information about the drugs they prepare. They oversee a department of pharmacy technicians who also dispense drugs. Pharmacists are responsible for maintaining a database of patients and the drugs they take, so that they can prevent dangerous drug interactions. Pharmacists also keep inventory of the drugs in stock and may complete additional paperwork such as insurance claim forms.
Salary
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According to Salary.com, pharmacists in December 2010 earned an average annual salary of $111,365. Pharmacists working in department stores earned less than the national average. PayScale stated that in December 2010 pharmacists who worked for Walmart earned $106,949, while those who worked for Target earned $101,736. Target paid registered pharmacists (RPh) $55.99 an hour. These companies offer standard pay across the country for pharmacists. Pharmacists may work overtime, nights and weekends due to their store hours.
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Additional Compensation
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Many department stores offer benefits to their full-time employees, while some offer benefits to their part-time employees as well. Many offer health, dental and vision coverage, along with counseling services, life insurance, 401k plans, paid holidays and sick days and an employee discount. Walmart offers financial planning and assistance with will preparation, along with profit sharing and a company-matched stock purchase plan. Target offers health and wellness counseling, tuition and adoption assistance reimbursement, along with access to preferred home loans and a credit union. These benefits boost the total value of the annual compensation for a pharmacist.
Education/Qualifications
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Pharmacists attend seven to eight years of school. After completing three to four years of undergraduate study featuring science courses, students must attend a four-year Pharm.D. program. This program teaches them about the different aspects of drug therapy. They also take classes on professional ethics, how to interact with clients, public health and business practices. Pharmacists also complete hours alongside practicing pharmacists. All states require licensing for pharmacists, which comprises of a background check and a series of exams.
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References
- Photo Credit drug distribution image by Keith Frith from Fotolia.com
