Also called: Retail Pharmacist, Pharmacist
Fills prescriptions, checks for dangerous drug interactions, gives vaccines, and is the most accessible health expert in town.
Verifies hundreds of prescriptions a day, catches a doctor's dosing mistake on a child's antibiotic, gives flu shots, and answers questions like 'can I take this with my blood pressure pill?' Retail can be hectic; many move to hospitals or specialty roles.
BLS May 2024 (all pharmacists).
Professional degree (MD, JD, DVM…), about 6 years after high school. 2+ years of pre-pharmacy college, then a 4-year Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), plus licensing exams.
Ways in: 4-year college, Professional school. Training cost: Over $150k.
Majors to look at: Pharmacy (PharmD), Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry.
Growing faster than average (about 5% over 10 years). Retail jobs are flat while hospital and clinical roles grow.
Medium risk for 10 years. Robots fill and count, central-fill sites and AI check orders, so stores need fewer pharmacists; vaccines and counseling stay human.
Classes: AP Chemistry, AP Biology, Algebra II, Spanish.
Official data: O*NET occupation 29-1051.
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