US News & World Report Names Pharmacist One of Best Jobs of 2012

The magazine put pharmacist third on its list, after registered nurse and software developer, citing predictions of solid job growth and good pay.

US News & World Report has ranked pharmacist third on its list of the best jobs of 2012, predicting excellent job prospects and relatively good pay in the coming years. The magazine notes that an aging population and increasingly complex medications will help fuel demand for new pharmacists into the future—with medication therapy management singled out as a particular area of growth.

The magazine notes that there are more types of employment available to pharmacists than ever before, including jobs with mail-order or Internet pharmacies and wholesalers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 25.4% employment growth for pharmacists between 2010 and 2020, providing an additional 69,700 jobs. According to the Labor Department, the median annual salary for pharmacists was $111,570 in 2010, with the top 10% earning $138,620 per year and the lowest 10% earning $82,090. The best compensated areas include mental health or rehabilitation facilities and consulting services.

“The stress level [for pharmacists] is moderate,” the magazine notes, “but can vary depending on the number (and disposition) of customers.”

To read the entire US News & World Report article, click here.

To read a commentary on the article by Pharmacy Times Editor-in-Chief Fred Eckel, RPh, MS, click here.