How to Become a Pharmacist
Dispense prescription medications, counsel patients on drug interactions, and collaborate with physicians on optimal therapeutic plans. It typically requires a doctoral degree (pharmd, doctor of pharmacy), with a median salary of $140,910 per year and faster than average projected job growth.
Median pay
$140,910/yr
Middle half
$129,380 to $161,840
Job growth
Faster than average
Openings / yr
14,200
Majors that lead here
Key skills
- Pharmacology
- Drug Interaction Analysis
- Patient Counseling
- Medication Management
- Clinical Assessment
Helpful certifications
- NAPLEX (North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam)
- MPJE (Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam)
- State Licensure
Is this career a fit?
Remote-friendly
10/100
Work-life balance
55/100
Stress level
55/100
Satisfaction
68/100
Related careers
- Psychiatrist$281,870 median
- Physician (Family Medicine)$244,180 median
- Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA)$236,590 median
- Dentist$170,950 median
- Optometrist$136,570 median
- Physician Assistant$135,880 median
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Pharmacist make?
The median pay for a Pharmacist is $140,910 a year, and the middle half of workers earn between $129,380 and $161,840 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025). That covers everyone in the job, not only people starting out, so newer workers sit toward the lower end.
What degree do you need to become a Pharmacist?
The usual entry point is a doctoral degree (pharmd, doctor of pharmacy). Common majors are Pre-Pharmacy, Chemistry, Biology, and Biochemistry.
Is Pharmacist a growing field?
Projected job growth for this role from 2024 to 2034 is faster than average (BLS projections via O*NET), with roughly 14,200 U.S. openings a year.
What skills does a Pharmacist use most?
Common skills for this role are Pharmacology, Drug Interaction Analysis, Patient Counseling, Medication Management, and Clinical Assessment.
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Take the major quizWhere these pay figures come from
Career pay is the annual wage of everyone working in that occupation, not only recent graduates, so it includes people who have done the job for decades. The middle half is the 25th to the 75th percentile. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).
All figures are national. What you earn depends on where you work, who you work for, and how far you take the degree.
Job-growth figures: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and O*NET OnLine (median and percentile annual wages May 2025; employment projections 2024-2034).