Pharmacists
Dispense drugs prescribed by physicians and other health practitioners and provide information to patients about medications and their use. May advise physicians and other health practitioners on the selection, dosage, interactions, and side effects of medications.
Salary distribution (US)
Real salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The p10–p90 spread tells you more than the median alone.
Top skills
Knowledge you'll build
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Customer and Personal Service
- Therapy and Counseling
- Computers and Electronics
A day in the life
Your day begins by reviewing overnight prescription orders for drug interactions and dosing errors—catching a dangerous combination before it reaches a patient. Throughout the morning you verify and dispense medications, counsel patients at the counter about side effects and proper use, and administer flu shots and COVID boosters. Afternoons might include calling a physician to suggest an alternative drug for a patient whose insurance will not cover the original prescription, training pharmacy technicians, or conducting a medication therapy management session with a diabetic patient. The role puts you on the front line of patient safety, and the trust people place in your expertise is both humbling and motivating.
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