March 1st, 2013 - 12:41:02 PM

I am a pharmacist and agree with article. But be aware that market may get flooded and salaries have slowed. Also be ready for a high stressed and fast paced work load of 10 to 13 hour shifts- on duty every minutes with no breaks.

March 1st, 2013 - 01:25:28 PM

I support Miranda's statement. Market is already flooded with pharmacist in certain states. In addition to higher number of new graduates as before, companies bringing people with work visas so that they can lower the wages. I have been looking for a pharmacist position last 6 months, as it used to take me to find a new position only a day in the past! Information in this article is not correct for today, it might have been correct for 2000's and before!

March 1st, 2013 - 01:44:13 PM

I agree also. I've been a Pharmacist for over 45 years, and the pressure to perform at 100% accuracy, with very limited help, extreme amounts of distractions and for longer and longer shifts has never been greater.

March 1st, 2013 - 01:47:18 PM

4. Physician assistants
Yearly earnings: $71,000
Earnings as percentage of men’s earnings: N/A

3. Physicians and surgeons
Yearly earnings: $74,000
Earnings as percentage of men’s earnings: 68%

2. Nurse practitioners
Yearly earnings: $79,500
Earnings as percentage of men’s earnings: N/A

The information on Physician and Surgeons can't be correct. They can't be making less than a nurse practitioner and a little more than their PAs.

One of the thing about a career is that you enjoy what you do. I have a hard time understanding why there are so many pharmacy schools at a time when new grads can't find a job. They are overwhelmed with student loans that they can't pay back without a job. It's beginning to be like the legal profession. I really feel bad for these new interns. I really feel that somebody needs to send the message out there that the job market for pharmacist is very difficult. I have not recommended anyone to go this path because of the job outlook and the job condition in the retail sector.

March 1st, 2013 - 01:49:09 PM

I agree with Sue regarding the difficulty of finding a job and lower pay salary due to over-saturation of the market. Unless you don't mind moving to a rural area, pharmacist jobs are extremely difficult to find these days--especially in larger cities. There are way too many pharmacy schools graduating new pharmacists every year. I think that the reason that retailers such as Walgreens are sponsoring so many of these pharmacy schools is to eventually drive the Pharmacist's salary down and get rid of Pharmacists all together. I can see pharmacy being outsourced and this is probably the reason why Walgreens is pursuing international opportunitieswk. So BEWARE.

March 1st, 2013 - 03:28:20 PM

It is difficult to believe that physicians and surgeons would ever make less than a pharmacist, regardless of gender, especially once they pass their boards. Be that as it may, I have discouraged my college-age children from pursuing pharmacy and following in my footsteps for many of the reasons stated by other readers. I practice in Ohio where there are 7 pharmacy schools and nowhere near enough positions. The bad economy has kept pharmacists working longer. I would encourage anyone considering going into pharmacy to explore other options unless it is unequivocally their dream.

March 1st, 2013 - 03:58:10 PM

The Pharmacist job market it terrible now and I find it very hard to believe that Pharmacists are making more than surgeons. I know several young pharmacists who could not find jobs for almost a year after completing their residencies! Several of my other pharmacy friends have recently gotten laid off. Things aren't the same as they were in the early 2000s.

March 1st, 2013 - 07:47:20 PM

I'll echo the other comments. Students enroll in a six year pharmacy program based on the promise of large salaries only to emerge from school with 6 figures of debt and a saturated job market. This is a sad commentary on the business of education (too many new pharmacy schools).

March 2nd, 2013 - 10:39:45 PM

Oversupply of Pharmacists, deplorable work conditions, sweat shops worse than are found in China. Routinely working 12 hour shifts with no breaks. Unbelievable work loads. That's what faces today's Pharmacy graduates!!

March 13th, 2013 - 05:07:23 PM

The salary reported in this article for physician assistants is low. According to the National Physician Assistant Salary Report, Results for the American Academy of Physician Assistants' 2010 Census, the median salary for PAS for all states in 2010 was $90,000.

March 15th, 2013 - 02:50:37 PM

I am a hospital pharmacists...up to 5 years ago recruiters called us often, now it is very difficult to find a job. I heard most hospitals require residencies...PGY1...PGY2...how many years of education are expected now? We don't have to work long hours, on the other hand we are asked to go home early if the hospital census is low. I am fortunate that i like my job that I have been holding for 16 years, but I'm afraid to be replaced by the new grads...they all have doctorate degrees...all smart and enthusiastic and cheaper...so i have to keep studying to "defend" my position (board certifications, etc).

March 17th, 2013 - 01:22:21 PM

If it was not for mail order and over sampling we would all have enough RX to fill at retail. Any solutions to combat this?