<p>I know a recent graduate last year was hired straight out of high school into retail one of those corner shops. She started at $108K which I thought was excellent. If she switched to 12 hr days but one day a week less then she would get an increase.</p>
<p>The problem with pharmacy schools is that the # of pharmacy graduates are not regulated by the federal government like dentists or medical doctors. Because of that, pharmacy schools have popped up all over the place wanting to make a profit in education. But that oversaturates the market with pharmacists having a hard time finding jobs.
I also understand from pharmacists in the field (neighbor) that there are still jobs out there, maybe not under your nose.</p>
<p>I’m a pharmacist and I can tell you that at least for retail pharmacy, the explosion in new pharmacy schools (Illinois went from one school to about six in 25 years) has made it a tough job market in some areas, like Chicago and suburbs. That being said, if you want to practice in a rural area, there is still plenty of demand. If you want to do something outside retail, plan on a postgrad one year residency.</p>
<p>But the reality is that this is a soft job market for pharmacists, but a soft market for pharmacists is still a pretty good job market compared to most careers! It used to be 100% of students had a job at graduation. Now its probably 80%, and thats in the tough areas. The demand will be back though. - with the ACA setting up PharmDs for getting reimbursed for patient education, etc, and the possibility that the APhA might actually want us to get paid for services, there probably will be a steadier demand over the next decades. But the traditional retail pharmacist position is a dinosaur to some extent…</p>
<p>I am constantly on job boards, mainly since I have a daughter in college looking at BA -Math/BS Engineering. The bottom line is looking toward the future since I want no more kids in the household or for them to come back. I have been on many job boards, forums, etc … You need to do the same, and after you learn the truth than you can make a realistic decision. </p>
<p>Honestly, anything that come from the BLS is pure fiction. How many years have they screwed up and skewed the unemployment numbers. Look at the projections of the BLS, 30% gain for massage therapist? major demand for hygienists? Again I reiterate, there are some excellent job boards out there that will give you a better idea of the job market instead of relying on the drivel you get from the government. </p>
<p>hello I know this was a while ago. I am currently in pharmacy school and wish I would have thought about it more. The market is very saturated and make sure if you want to go to pharmacy school, that you are doing it for the right reasons, not the money or flexibility. You will be very disappointed that it will not provide either of those.</p>
<p>I’ve been following this thread for as long as I can remember and it’s easily one of the most conflicted ones I’ve ever come across. It’s like you don’t know who to believe anymore.</p>
<p>I’ve been an rph since 1992. The market is near flooded. Unless you know someone to get you an interview it’s near impossible to even get a reply to a search. Do not believe anyone here who is not on the profession. The stats are skewed, wrong and use old data. They are using the same anecdotal “ifs” about pharmacists actually being involved in drug therapy and getting paid for consulting. They told this to us 20 years ago- it hasn’t happened yet, and i do not see it happening soon. What IS HAPPENING soon is… 16000 new grads a year into a market that is already flooded. As a pharmacist you are highly educated and trained- but the ONLY way you can get a start is by working for someone else…you cannot hang a shingle and have a go like an attorney, CPA, or really any other professional… And our education is very expensive and 6 years is a LONG time. Do not listen to the schools…I graduated 20+ years ago and they are still spewing the same stuff now… With no basis of what is really happening. It took me 8 months to find my last job- minimal benefits, $5000/year deductible health ins, no pension or retirement plan and I get 30 hours a week. I’ve been looking but there is nothing else…local mail order just laid off 50+ pharmacists local schools are graduating 350 more a year… In 6 years when you get out there will be NO OPENINGS…it’s rare that any of us have retirement packages, and the job is repetitive and boring.
If you are smart enough for pharmacy school you are smart enough for anything… I have 6 kids and they all know pharmacy is NOT an option… I assume you are a girl- go for engineering- schools are begging for women in math based majors- you could write your own ticket…like pharmacy was 25 years ago… But those days are gone.</p>
<p>the key is why you like pharmacy, and the risk is the school cost?
Before the Medicare act in 2003, many Pharmacist could not find a stable job. I have known 2 former pharmacists (my neighbors) that quit the profession hated their job because they don’t like counting pills. Both are very successful marketing/salesman making $200K a years working in other industry not related to medical. </p>
<p>I’ve had a stable job since the 80’s. It’s just in the last few years with the opening of so many new schools that the glut has happened, along with at least one of the big chains eliminating mid-shift pharmacists which takes out a lot of jobs too. </p>
As a pharmacist of 25 yrs (PharmD) I can honestly say I still love what I do. I have worked for a small chain for the last 12 years. I am involved in counseling,!know most patients by name and serve as a source of information not only to my patients but also to the local Drs.
Back in the 80s to early 90s I was offered two jobs via phone! They told me just to show up with my license. And there was a 10k sign on bonus! While those days are gone, you can still find a job. If you are in a big city you may have to move. Those markets are usually saturated but you can stil find a job. I had a regional manager for a major nation wide chain about 3 years ago tell me that he could hire me that day if I was was willing to move to certain small towns.
Also if you do a residency you could get a job as a clinical pharmacist. Not as many of those jobs around but not as much competition either. I had a BS already when I entered PharmD school so after 8 years of college I decided I needed to make some money and opted out of the residency even though that was my original intention. I imagine many others would feel the same, so that is an option.