The salary landscape has been fairly stagnant in recent years, but there are signs that this may be changing. In 2023, salaries for pharmacists are expected to rise slightly, although overall the average salary for pharmacy remains largely unchanged from previous years. However, small dips in wages are not necessarily indicative of a downward trend, and any decreases should be considered inconsequential. Pharmacists continue to be in high demand, and salaries are expected to continue to reflect this. With the right experience and credentials, pharmacist salaries can reach upwards of six figures. This makes the profession an attractive option for those looking for a stable career with good earning potential.

Pharmacy positions continue to be some of the highest paying, with retail pharmacy remaining at the bottom. An increasing number of pharmacists are working in hospitals. While retail pharmacy jobs appear at the bottom, this may be due to urban hiring positions with very low salaries, offered to new graduates. Salaries for those employed in hospitals is significantly higher than other positions, such as retail pharmacy.

Pharmacists are one of the most important, yet underrated, professionals in the medical field. We play a vital role in ensuring that patients receive the correct medication and provide invaluable guidance on how to use it correctly. However, pharmacist jobs are also some of the most high-stress positions in the country. A recent survey found that pharmacist salaries are slightly lower than those of other medical professionals, such as doctors and surgeons. This is often attributed to the fact that pharmacist jobs are extremely demanding and require long hours. While the stress level associated with pharmacist jobs has decreased in recent years, it remains one of the highest-stress professions in the country.

While pharmacy remains a high-stress industry, the stress correlated to the pandemic has decreased. In instances where pharmacists have reported decreased stress, they have attributed it to additional staffing and improved workplace environment. While encouraging to hear, those instances are few and far between. The majority of pharmacists report that their primary source of stress at work is based on understaffing and being overworked due to the pandemic. In September 2020, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) conducted a survey of pharmacists and found that 85% said their store’s workflow is excessively demanding, with 45% saying it’s “much more” demanding than before the pandemic started.

The increased workload is not only due to the number of patients coming in wanting a COVID-19 vaccine, but also because many patients are avoiding doctor’s offices and hospitals out of fear of contracting the virus. As a result, they are turning to their local pharmacy for medical advice and assistance with minor ailments that would normally be seen by a primary care physician. This has put an added strain on pharmacies that are already struggling to keep up with orders and prescriptions. In addition, many pharmacies have been closed due to staff members becoming infected with COVID-19 or being exposed to someone who has the virus. These closures have put even more pressure on remaining open pharmacies as they try to meet the demand.

Despite the challenges faced by pharmacists during the pandemic, there are some silver linings. The NACDS survey also found that 55% of pharmacists said their store had been able to hire additional staff since March 2020, which has helped lighten the load somewhat. In addition, 57% said they had received support from management in terms of scheduling breaks and providing PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), which has also made a positive impact on working conditions. Hopefully, these improvements will continue even after the pandemic ends and help make the profession less stressful for those who choose it as a career.