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Occupation Profile
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Occupation: Pharmacists Change Occupation
State: Minnesota Change State
Profile Content: (content listed below) Modify Profile Content
Wages  |  Employment Trends  |  Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities  |  Tasks & Activities
Tools & Technology  |  Education & Training  |  Related Occupations
Web Resources

PHARMACISTS: MINNESOTA

Occupation Description

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.


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State and National Wages

Location Pay
Period		 2008
10% 25% Median 75% 90%
United States Hourly $37.21 $44.55 $51.16 $58.32 $63.19
Yearly $77,400 $92,700 $106,400 $121,300 $131,400
Minnesota Hourly $41.60 $49.20 $55.30 $60.60 $63.95
Yearly $86,500 $102,300 $115,000 $126,000 $133,000
Annual Wages for Pharmacists

United States - $131,400 United States - $106,400 United States - $77,400 Minnesota - $133,000 Minnesota - $115,000 Minnesota - $86,500
  • High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
  • Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
  • Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Hourly Wages for Pharmacists

United States - $63.19 United States - $51.16 United States - $37.21 Minnesota - $63.95 Minnesota - $55.3 Minnesota - $41.6
  • High is the wage at which 90% of workers earn less and 10% earn more.
  • Middle is the wage at which 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more.
  • Low is the wage at which 10% of workers earn less and 90% earn more.

Occupation Wages FAQs

Median Wage by Occupation Across States
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National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Survey
State Data Source: Minnesota Wage Information

State and National Trends

United States Employment Percent
Change		 Job Openings 1
2008 2018
Pharmacists 269,900 315,800 +17% 10,580
Minnesota Employment Percent
Change		 Job Openings 1
2006 2016
Pharmacists 4,720 5,820 +23% 190
1Job Openings refers to the average annual job openings due to growth and net replacement.

Note: The data for the State Employment Trends and the National Employment Trends are not directly comparable. The projections period for state data is 2006-2016, while the projections period for national data is 2008-2018.

Occupation Trends FAQs

Employment Trends by Occupation Across States
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Employment Trends by Industry and Occupation

National Data Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections
State Data Source: Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The most important knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) are listed for Pharmacists.

Knowledge:

  • Chemistry - Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
  • Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
  • English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  • Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
  • Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Skills:

  • Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Mathematics - Using mathematics to solve problems.
  • Science - Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.

Abilities:

  • Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Source: Occupational Information Network: Pharmacists.

Tasks and Activities

Occupation specific tasks and the most important generalized work activities are listed for Pharmacists.

Occupation Specific Tasks:

  • Advise customers on the selection of medication brands, medical equipment and health-care supplies.
  • Analyze prescribing trends to monitor patient compliance and to prevent excessive usage or harmful interactions.
  • Assay radiopharmaceuticals, verify rates of disintegration, and calculate the volume required to produce the desired results, to ensure proper dosages.
  • Assess the identity, strength and purity of medications.
  • Collaborate with other health care professionals to plan, monitor, review, and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of drugs and drug regimens, providing advice on drug applications and characteristics.
  • Compound and dispense medications as prescribed by doctors and dentists, by calculating, weighing, measuring, and mixing ingredients, or oversee these activities.
  • Maintain records, such as pharmacy files, patient profiles, charge system files, inventories, control records for radioactive nuclei, and registries of poisons, narcotics, and controlled drugs.
  • Manage pharmacy operations, hiring and supervising staff, performing administrative duties, and buying and selling non-pharmaceutical merchandise.
  • Offer health promotion and prevention activities, for example, training people to use devices such as blood pressure or diabetes monitors.
  • Order and purchase pharmaceutical supplies, medical supplies, and drugs, maintaining stock and storing and handling it properly.
  • Plan, implement, and maintain procedures for mixing, packaging, and labeling pharmaceuticals, according to policy and legal requirements, to ensure quality, security, and proper disposal.
  • Prepare sterile solutions and infusions for use in surgical procedures, emergency rooms, or patients' homes.
  • Provide information and advice regarding drug interactions, side effects, dosage and proper medication storage.
  • Provide specialized services to help patients manage conditions such as diabetes, asthma, smoking cessation, or high blood pressure.
  • Publish educational information for other pharmacists, doctors, or patients.
  • Refer patients to other health professionals and agencies when appropriate.
  • Review prescriptions to assure accuracy, to ascertain the needed ingredients, and to evaluate their suitability.
  • Teach pharmacy students serving as interns in preparation for their graduation or licensure.
  • Work in hospitals, clinics, or for Health Management Organizations (HMOs), dispensing prescriptions, serving as a medical team consultants, or specializing in specific drug therapy areas such as oncology or nuclear pharmacotherapy.

Generalized Work Activities:

  • Interacting With Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Detailed Work Activities:

  • accept prescriptions for filling
  • adhere to safety procedures
  • advise clients or customers
  • advise governmental or industrial personnel
  • analyze chemical experimental, test, or analysis data or findings
  • analyze medical data
  • analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
  • answer customer or public inquiries
  • apply drug information to patient treatment
  • assign work to staff or employees
  • calculate medical dosages
  • calculate radiation dosage, following physician's prescription
  • collect scientific or technical data
  • communicate technical information
  • compile numerical or statistical data
  • compound pharmaceuticals or medical preparations
  • conduct analyses or tests of organic compounds
  • conduct laboratory research or experiments
  • conduct standardized qualitative laboratory analyses
  • conduct standardized quantitative laboratory analyses
  • create mathematical or statistical diagrams or charts
  • demonstrate or explain assembly or use of equipment
  • develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
  • develop tables depicting data
  • direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
  • dispense prescribed medications and pharmaceuticals
  • distinguish colors
  • explain complex mathematical information
  • explain uses or effects of drugs
  • follow confidentiality procedures
  • follow infectious materials procedures
  • follow safe waste disposal procedures
  • hire, discharge, transfer, or promote workers
  • interpret prescriptions
  • inventory medical supplies or instruments
  • inventory stock to ensure adequate supplies
  • label pharmaceutical supplies
  • maintain customer records
  • maintain established procedures concerning quality assurance
  • maintain record of medication or equipment dispensed to patient
  • maintain records, reports, or files
  • make presentations
  • measure, weigh, or count products or materials
  • mix paint, ingredients, or chemicals, according to specifications
  • monitor worker performance
  • obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
  • obtain information from individuals
  • order or purchase supplies, materials, or equipment
  • plan or organize work
  • prepare sterile solutions, infusions, or intravenous packs
  • provide advice on food or drug storage or use
  • provide customer service
  • refer patients to community resources
  • sell merchandise
  • store pharmaceutical supplies or filled prescriptions
  • teach individuals work-related techniques or skills
  • understand drug products
  • understand government health, hotel or food service regulations
  • understand pharmaceutical formulas
  • understand properties of gases or liquids
  • understand properties or composition of drugs
  • use chemical testing or analysis procedures
  • use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
  • use health or sanitation standards
  • use interpersonal communication techniques
  • use knowledge of investigation techniques
  • use knowledge of medical terminology
  • use knowledge of metric system
  • use laboratory equipment
  • use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment
  • use quality assurance techniques
  • use quantitative research methods
  • use relational database software
  • use research methodology procedures in health care
  • use sanitation practices in health care settings
  • use scientific research methodology
  • use spreadsheet software
  • use word processing or desktop publishing software
  • work as a team member
  • write scholarly or technical research papers
  • write technical health or medical documents

Source: Occupational Information Network: Pharmacists.

Tools and Technology

Pharmacists  View Detailed Report

Tools:

  • Ampoule filling equipment - Ampoule filling machines
  • Laminar flow cabinets or stations - Horizontal air flow laminar hoods, Laminar flow hoods, Vertical air flow laminar hoods
  • Liquid scintillation counters - Multiple channel well scintillation counters, Single channel well scintillation counters
  • Medical radiological shielding freestanding or portable screens - Lead transport shields, Radiation shields for syringes and vials
  • Pestle or mortars - Mortars, Pestles

Technology:

  • Accounting software - Insurance claim processing software
  • Analytical or scientific software - TPNassist software, TTP LabTech comPOUND
  • Computer based training software - MedTeach software
  • Data base user interface and query software - Computer records systems, Healthprolink MedAtlas, Pharmaceutical Care Network software, Recordkeeping software
  • Label making software - Label-making software, RxKinetics UD Labels for Windows

Source: Occupational Information Network: Pharmacists.

Education and Training

Occupation: Pharmacists
Most Common Educational/Training Level: First professional degree
Related Instructional Programs:

  • Clinical and Industrial Drug Development (MS, PhD)
  • Clinical, Hospital, and Managed Care Pharmacy (MS, PhD)
  • Industrial and Physical Pharmacy and Cosmetic Sciences (MS, PhD)
  • Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry (MS, PhD)
  • Natural Products Chemistry and Pharmacognosy (MS, PhD)
  • Pharmaceutics and Drug Design (MS, PhD)
  • Pharmacoeconomics/Pharmaceutical Economics (MS, PhD)
  • Pharmacy (PharmD [USA], PharmD or BS/BPharm [Canada])
  • Pharmacy Administration and Pharmacy Policy and Regulatory Affairs (MS, PhD)
  • Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Other
Distribution of Educational Attainment
Occupation Percent of employees aged 25 to 44 in the occupation whose highest level of educational attainment is
Less than high school diploma High school diploma or equivalent Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Master's degree Doctoral or professional degree
Pharmacists 0.2% 0.5% 1.2% 0.9% 45.4% 6.6% 45.2%
Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners 0.6% 2.6% 3.6% 8.3% 18.9% 17.8% 48.2%
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 1.2% 10.4% 15.4% 15.4% 20.7% 11.6% 25.2%
Total, All Occupations 10.7% 27.6% 20.6% 8.9% 19.4% 8.3% 4.5%

Find colleges, training schools and instructional programs for this occupation.

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Use the Financial Aid Advisor to help find funds for financing education.

WIA Eligible Training Provider List: http://www.iseek.org/education/collegeList?area=&major=&instType=&wia=W&tuition=&x=27&y=10

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections (Education/Training Level, Educational Attainment); National Center for Education Statistics (Typical Instructional Programs)

Related Occupation Profiles
Occupations with similar skill requirements

Web Resources

The following resources are related to occupations in the job family
Healthcare Practitioners and Technical

Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners
Health Technologists and Technicians
Other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations

Health Diagnosing and Treating Practitioners
Health Technologists and Technicians
Other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations


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