Even during a tough job market, the unique mix of medical knowledge and people skills required to run a pharmacy counter remain in demand. The more than 272,320 pharmacists in the United States dispense medicine and advice in tens of thousands of retail pharmacies and hospitals, as well as in mail-order, clinical, or corporate settings. Earnings potential remains relatively high in the field, and wages have climbed slightly from a year ago. While hiring has cooled a bit in recent years, experts say an aging population and increasingly complex medicines will keep industry growth healthy for years to come. A recent focal point in the industry is medication therapy management, or MTM. Pharmacists counsel patients by thoroughly reviewing their medications and finding the best way to reduce drug-related costs, but more importantly, the goal of MTM is to improve the quality of a patient's life.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects 25.4 percent employment growth for pharmacists by 2020, with the field adding 69,700 new jobs. Solid employment growth and a high median salary help make pharmacist a top contender on this year's list of Best Jobs.
Salary
According to the BLS, the median annual salary for a pharmacist was $113,390 in 2011. The best-paid 10 percent made approximately $144,090 a year, while the lowest-paid made approximately $84,490. The field's best-compensated areas include residential mental health or rehabilitation facilities and consulting services. The highest-paid in the profession work in California near the metropolitan areas of El Centro, Napa, and Santa Cruz-Watsonville.Salary Range
75th Percentile $129,310
Median $113,390
25th Percentile $101,360
没有评论:
发表评论