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.
- O*NET-SOC code
29-1051.00 - Preparation Job Zone Five: Extensive Preparation Needed
Wages
Median annual wage, U.S.$140,910
Employment, U.S.321,970
Median hourly wage$67.75
| 10th | 25th | Median | 75th | 90th |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $99,290 | $129,380 | $140,910 | $161,840 | $174,230 |
By state (51)
| State | Employment | Median annual | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 5,400 | $134,630 | 1.23 |
| Alaska | 560 | $167,310 | 0.84 |
| Arizona | 6,900 | $146,930 | 1.03 |
| Arkansas | 2,900 | $136,060 | 1.07 |
| California | 34,030 | $164,610 | 0.90 |
| Colorado | 4,560 | $156,030 | 0.77 |
| Connecticut | 3,490 | $141,290 | 0.99 |
| Delaware | 790 | $152,880 | 0.79 |
| District of Columbia | 850 | $153,400 | 0.58 |
| Florida | 21,540 | $135,970 | 1.05 |
| Georgia | 10,530 | $137,120 | 1.04 |
| Hawaii | 1,190 | $163,220 | 0.91 |
| Idaho | 1,790 | $144,900 | 1.01 |
| Illinois | 12,070 | $139,080 | 0.96 |
| Indiana | 6,430 | $144,290 | 0.97 |
| Iowa | 3,230 | $138,860 | 1.00 |
| Kansas | 3,500 | $137,800 | 1.18 |
| Kentucky | 5,030 | $136,530 | 1.21 |
| Louisiana | 5,610 | $132,410 | 1.40 |
| Maine | 1,380 | $140,930 | 1.04 |
| Maryland | 5,400 | $138,990 | 0.94 |
| Massachusetts | 7,230 | $138,170 | 0.96 |
| Michigan | 8,780 | $137,860 | 0.96 |
| Minnesota | 6,310 | $159,740 | 1.03 |
| Mississippi | 3,050 | $133,230 | 1.27 |
| Missouri | 6,740 | $137,610 | 1.11 |
| Montana | 1,190 | $142,080 | 1.12 |
| Nebraska | 2,450 | $139,330 | 1.16 |
| Nevada | 2,500 | $140,030 | 0.78 |
| New Hampshire | 1,130 | $143,020 | 0.80 |
| New Jersey | 9,420 | $137,620 | 1.06 |
| New Mexico | 1,730 | $147,000 | 0.96 |
| New York | 19,760 | $142,090 | 0.98 |
| North Carolina | 11,430 | $138,860 | 1.12 |
| North Dakota | 1,070 | $142,040 | 1.20 |
| Ohio | 12,790 | $137,020 | 1.11 |
| Oklahoma | 3,610 | $135,140 | 1.02 |
| Oregon | 3,250 | $165,960 | 0.80 |
| Pennsylvania | 14,090 | $138,160 | 1.12 |
| Rhode Island | 1,510 | $128,180 | 1.45 |
| South Carolina | 5,320 | $135,700 | 1.12 |
| South Dakota | 1,280 | $146,790 | 1.36 |
| Tennessee | 8,250 | $133,390 | 1.22 |
| Texas | 24,700 | $138,260 | 0.85 |
| Utah | 2,830 | $144,240 | 0.79 |
| Vermont | 530 | $136,270 | 0.85 |
| Virginia | 7,980 | $144,060 | 0.94 |
| Washington | 7,350 | $160,610 | 1.00 |
| West Virginia | 2,260 | $133,430 | 1.56 |
| Wisconsin | 5,730 | $148,740 | 0.94 |
| Wyoming | 510 | $139,550 | 0.89 |
Similar occupations
Similarity is our measure: the cosine of importance x level over all 120 O*NET skills, knowledge areas and abilities. It is not an O*NET finding. More.
Circles are the 20 most similar occupations, coloured by Job Zone. Lines join pairs where one is among the other's 10 most similar; darker lines are pairs O*NET also lists as related. Drag a circle to move it out of the way; select one to open it.
| # | Occupation | Job Zone | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | General Internal Medicine Physicians | 5 | 0.975 |
| 2 | Allergists and Immunologists | 5 | 0.972 |
| 3 | Physician Assistants | 5 | 0.968 |
| 4 | Nurse Practitioners | 5 | 0.968 |
| 5 | Clinical Nurse Specialists | 5 | 0.968 |
| 6 | Urologists | 5 | 0.967 |
| 7 | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians | 5 | 0.967 |
| 8 | Hospitalists | 5 | 0.967 |
| 9 | Neurologists | 5 | 0.967 |
| 10 | Optometrists | 5 | 0.966 |
One skill away
Among the 50 occupations most similar to Pharmacists, those at the same Job Zone or lower, where exactly one skill rated at least 3 in importance needs a level more than 0.75 points higher (on O*NET's 0-7 level scale). Our definition. Change the thresholds.
| Occupation | Skill to build | Level gap | Similarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urologists | Operations Monitoring | 1.12 | 0.967 |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physicians | Learning Strategies | 0.88 | 0.967 |
| Obstetricians and Gynecologists | Critical Thinking | 0.88 | 0.965 |
| Family Medicine Physicians | Active Listening | 0.76 | 0.964 |
| Podiatrists | Active Learning | 1.00 | 0.963 |
| Acute Care Nurses | Operations Monitoring | 1.24 | 0.961 |
| Nurse Anesthetists | Operations Monitoring | 1.37 | 0.958 |
| Critical Care Nurses | Operations Monitoring | 1.24 | 0.949 |
| Recreation and Fitness Studies Teachers, Postsecondary | Learning Strategies | 0.88 | 0.940 |
Software to learn next
Software used by at least 3 of the 20 occupations most similar to Pharmacists, excluding software Pharmacists already lists and any you named. Ranked by how many of them use it, weighted by how much more common it is among them than across all occupations (lift). Our ranking.
| Software | Similar jobs using it | Lift |
|---|---|---|
| Bizmatics PrognoCIS EMR | 9 of 20 | 23.1x |
| e-MDs software | 7 of 20 | 26.9x |
| ChartWare EMR | 6 of 20 | 25.2x |
| Greenway Medical Technologies PrimeSUITE | 6 of 20 | 25.2x |
| Allscripts Professional EHR | 6 of 20 | 23.1x |
| Allscripts PM | 5 of 20 | 25.6x |
| Automatic Data Processing AdvancedMD EHR | 5 of 20 | 25.6x |
| Benchmark Systems Benchmark Clinical EHR | 5 of 20 | 25.6x |
| CareCloud Central | 5 of 20 | 25.6x |
| Cerner PowerWorks Practice Management | 5 of 20 | 25.6x |
Skills
From O*NET data. Importance is rated 1 to 5 and level 0 to 7.
| Skill | Type | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Comprehension | Essential skill | 4.00 | 5.00 |
| Active Listening | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.12 |
| Speaking | Essential skill | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Monitoring | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.38 |
| Critical Thinking | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Service Orientation | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Social Perceptiveness | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Writing | Essential skill | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Complex Problem Solving | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Time Management | Transferable skill | 3.88 | 3.75 |
| Active Learning | Essential skill | 3.62 | 3.88 |
| Coordination | Transferable skill | 3.38 | 3.62 |
| Science | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.62 |
| Mathematics | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.25 |
| Learning Strategies | Essential skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Management of Personnel Resources | Transferable skill | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Instructing | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.50 |
| Systems Evaluation | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Systems Analysis | Transferable skill | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Negotiation | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Persuasion | Transferable skill | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Management of Material Resources | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Operations Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.62 |
| Quality Control Analysis | Transferable skill | 2.62 | 2.50 |
| Management of Financial Resources | Transferable skill | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Operations Monitoring | Transferable skill | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Troubleshooting | Transferable skill | 1.88 | 0.88 |
| Technology Design | Transferable skill | 1.75 | 0.75 |
| Programming | Transferable skill | 1.50 | 0.50 |
| Operation and Control | Transferable skill | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Equipment Selection | Transferable skill | 1.12 | not rated |
| Equipment Maintenance | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Installation | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
| Repairing | Transferable skill | 1.00 | not rated |
Knowledge (33) and abilities (52)
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Medicine and Dentistry | 4.64 | 4.79 |
| English Language | 4.39 | 4.86 |
| Biology | 4.36 | 5.29 |
| Mathematics | 4.18 | 4.93 |
| Chemistry | 4.11 | 5.11 |
| Education and Training | 3.89 | 5.25 |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.71 | 4.68 |
| Law and Government | 3.50 | 3.29 |
| Therapy and Counseling | 3.43 | 4.18 |
| Administrative | 3.21 | 4.39 |
| Psychology | 3.14 | 4.93 |
| Computers and Electronics | 3.11 | 3.96 |
| Administration and Management | 2.93 | 4.18 |
| Public Safety and Security | 2.89 | 2.82 |
| Personnel and Human Resources | 2.57 | 3.54 |
| Communications and Media | 2.57 | 2.50 |
| Production and Processing | 2.46 | 2.86 |
| Sociology and Anthropology | 2.39 | 2.71 |
| Telecommunications | 2.32 | 1.96 |
| Economics and Accounting | 2.18 | 2.50 |
| Foreign Language | 2.07 | 2.11 |
| Engineering and Technology | 1.93 | 1.68 |
| Physics | 1.79 | 1.75 |
| Sales and Marketing | 1.71 | 1.96 |
| Philosophy and Theology | 1.52 | 1.30 |
| Design | 1.50 | 1.32 |
| Mechanical | 1.46 | 0.75 |
| Transportation | 1.39 | 0.64 |
| Geography | 1.30 | 0.78 |
| Building and Construction | 1.29 | not rated |
| History and Archeology | 1.18 | not rated |
| Food Production | 1.04 | not rated |
| Fine Arts | 1.00 | not rated |
| Name | Importance | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Oral Comprehension | 4.12 | 5.00 |
| Written Comprehension | 4.12 | 5.00 |
| Oral Expression | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Problem Sensitivity | 4.00 | 4.75 |
| Near Vision | 4.00 | 4.62 |
| Deductive Reasoning | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Inductive Reasoning | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Written Expression | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Category Flexibility | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Information Ordering | 3.88 | 4.00 |
| Speech Clarity | 3.88 | 3.88 |
| Speech Recognition | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Mathematical Reasoning | 3.25 | 3.12 |
| Number Facility | 3.12 | 3.62 |
| Selective Attention | 3.12 | 3.12 |
| Visual Color Discrimination | 3.12 | 3.00 |
| Fluency of Ideas | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Time Sharing | 3.00 | 3.12 |
| Memorization | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Perceptual Speed | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Flexibility of Closure | 2.88 | 3.12 |
| Far Vision | 2.88 | 3.00 |
| Speed of Closure | 2.75 | 3.00 |
| Originality | 2.62 | 3.00 |
| Manual Dexterity | 2.62 | 2.38 |
| Finger Dexterity | 2.50 | 2.62 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 2.50 | 2.50 |
| Visualization | 2.12 | 2.38 |
| Trunk Strength | 2.12 | 2.00 |
| Auditory Attention | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Control Precision | 2.00 | 1.88 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 2.00 | 1.12 |
| Depth Perception | 1.88 | 0.88 |
| Wrist-Finger Speed | 1.75 | 0.75 |
| Multilimb Coordination | 1.62 | 1.25 |
| Extent Flexibility | 1.38 | 0.75 |
| Gross Body Coordination | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Stamina | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Static Strength | 1.38 | 0.38 |
| Dynamic Strength | 1.12 | not rated |
| Dynamic Flexibility | 1.00 | not rated |
| Explosive Strength | 1.00 | not rated |
| Glare Sensitivity | 1.00 | not rated |
| Gross Body Equilibrium | 1.00 | not rated |
| Night Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Peripheral Vision | 1.00 | not rated |
| Rate Control | 1.00 | not rated |
| Reaction Time | 1.00 | not rated |
| Response Orientation | 1.00 | not rated |
| Sound Localization | 1.00 | not rated |
| Spatial Orientation | 1.00 | not rated |
| Speed of Limb Movement | 1.00 | not rated |
Software used
Examples from O*NET data. "Hot" and "in demand" are O*NET flags for technologies often listed in job postings.
- Epic Systems hot
- MEDITECH software hot
- Microsoft Excel hot
- Microsoft Office software hot
- Microsoft Outlook hot
- Microsoft PowerPoint hot
- Microsoft SharePoint hot
- Microsoft Word hot
- eClinicalWorks EHR software hot
- Computer records systems
- Freedom MedTEACH
- Healthprolink MedAtlas
- Insurance claim processing software
- Label-making software
- Multitask software
- Pyxis MedStation software
- Recordkeeping software
- RxKinetics UD Labels for Windows
- TPNassist
- TTP LabTech comPOUND
- Web browser software
Where it concentrates
Metro areas ranked by BLS location quotient: the occupation's share of the area's jobs divided by its share of all US jobs. Above 1 means more concentrated than the nation. Metros employing fewer than 100 are left out.
| Metro area | Employment | Location quotient | Median annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa City, IA | 450 | 2.34 | $142,530 |
| Morgantown, WV | 300 | 2.15 | $130,710 |
| Sioux Falls, SD-MN | 690 | 1.85 | $148,330 |
| Arecibo, PR | 130 | 1.82 | $105,880 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 370 | 1.80 | $131,200 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 130 | 1.80 | $129,630 |
| Winston-Salem, NC | 1,010 | 1.79 | $135,710 |
| Lexington-Fayette, KY | 1,060 | 1.78 | $136,530 |
| Florence, SC | 320 | 1.76 | $155,020 |
| Alexandria, LA | 220 | 1.74 | $134,340 |