What Does a Pharmacist Do? Job Duties, Salary, and More

Becoming a pharmacist can be a fulfilling and lucrative career. Many people think doctors and nurses are on the front lines of healthcare, but a pharmacist is just as important for helping patients treat illnesses and other health concerns.

Pharmacists know the science of medicine inside and out, so they can ensure that patients receive the correct dosages of life-saving prescriptions. They also identify any dangerous interactions with other drugs and educate patients about the medication. Some pharmacists go a step further and offer tips for health and well-being. 

Read on to determine if a career as a pharmacist is right for you.

What is a pharmacist?

A pharmacist is a healthcare professional who specialises in the usage and administration of medication. They dispense prescriptions to patients upon receiving a physician's order. Pharmacists are experts on how drugs work and interact with the body so that patients who take them achieve the best possible results.

Most pharmacists work in community pharmacies, general practices, hospitals, other healthcare facilities, and military settings serving patients. You might also work in settings that have less contact with patients, such as universities, governments, research institutions, and the pharmaceutical industry. In addition to ensuring patients receive their medication, you may also answer questions and help educate both patients and other healthcare professionals on how certain drugs interact or the side effects they may have on the body or mind. Pharmacists generally work 38 hours to 40 hours per week. 

What does a pharmacist do?

As a pharmacist, your main task will be filling prescriptions for patients. You’ll likely perform other tasks daily, including: 

• Checking a customer's history to ensure their new medications won't interfere with their old ones 

• Teaching customers how to take their medicine safely and effectively

• Consulting with doctors and other healthcare professionals about prescriptions for specific customers 

• Providing wellness screenings for diabetes, cholesterol, or blood pressure 

• Managing the pharmacy, including pharmacy techs and assistants 

• Run hospital prescription programmes

• Recommending over-the-counter medication

• Supervise junior pharmacists and trainees

• Research new medicines or run clinical trials in education or research facilities

Types of pharmacists 

There are a few types of pharmacists you might consider as you earn your pharmaceutical degree. Take a look at the chart below: 

Why pursue a career as a pharmacist 

If you're looking for a career that allows you to help others by improving their health, then a career as a pharmacist may be right for you. By educating patients or customers and ensuring their prescriptions are safe to take with their other health conditions and medications, you can improve their quality of life and possibly even save a life.  

How much do pharmacists make?

According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for pharmacists in the United Kingdom is £43,154 plus £1,983 in additional cash compensation [1]. 

Benefits of being a pharmacist

In addition to a high salary, pharmacists can typically enjoy the following benefits:

• Flexibility: You'll have options for choosing where and how you want to work. For example, if you enjoy working directly with people, becoming a retail pharmacist is an excellent choice. If you are more introverted and prefer to work more independently, you may become a radiopharmacist who only deals with other medical professionals rather than customers. Pharmacists can work for national pharmaceutical companies or open their independent pharmacies. They may be completely autonomous or work with a large team. They may work nine-to-five jobs or work nights and weekends.

• Leader in a community: Pharmacists are also leaders in their communities. When a person has a question about a medication and its side effects, they can run to their local chemist and ask the pharmacist face-to-face without an appointment.

Pharmacist skills 

As a pharmacist, you can have a direct impact on people’s lives. Success in this career relies on a combination of skills that include: 

• Attention to detail and accuracy  

• Critical thinking

• Verbal and written communication skills 

• Compassion 

• Integrity

• Maths and counting skills

• Ability to multitask 

• Willingness to advocate for patients 

• Time management 

How to become a pharmacist 

To work as a licensed pharmacist, there are two potential paths. You can enroll in a four-year Master of Pharmacy (MPharm) degree and complete a one-year pre-training course in pharmacy. Alternatively, you can do a two-year pharmacy foundation degree and work as a pharmacy assistant or technician. Then, you’d apply to enter the MPharm degree for year two. This is a longer route, but you will get valuable pharmacy experience in your job before completing your master’s. 

Get started with Coursera

Experience for yourself if your interest in pharmacy might translate into a career by taking a course from a top-rated pharmacy school. Explore how drugs are developed from the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego, or learn how to tailor medications to patient needs from the University of Copenhagen.