The following article discusses the career path of Pharmacy Manager. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Pharmacy Managers.
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Job Duties
Pharmacy managers are responsible for making sure patients receive the right medication, and that their prescription has been filled according to the instructions of the doctor. Typically, they oversee a single branch, although some work across multiple branches. Pharmacy managers must make sure that all federal and state regulations are adhered to, and they also have to focus on their staff’s communication among themselves and with customers.
Pharmacy managers have to monitor and instruct their employees in such a way that they are always courteous and professional. It is common for patients to walk into pharmacies, which means the facility must be very efficient. Staff must be trained to determine which orders have priority and have to ensure they are delivered on time. Additionally, staff must know how to deal with medical practitioners and doctors as well.
Pharmacy managers also have a degree on human resource management. They schedule staff rotas, manage a database, evaluate employees, and handle all reporting duties. They also frequently have to work unsociable hours, as pharmacies have to be open around the clock on a rotational basis.
Other job duties of pharmacy managers include:
- Making sure that all services comply with federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards.
- Being a a consultant to patients and medical staff
- Overseeing the dispensing of inventory, supplies, and drugs
- Ensuring that the pharmacy runs at maximum efficiency.
Where We Work
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 312,500 pharmacists in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were:
- Pharmacies and drug stores: 43%
- Hospitals; state, local, and private: 25%
- General merchandise stores: 8%
- Grocery stores: 7%
How to Become
Usually, pharmacy managers have to hold a Pharm.D. doctorate degree, which they obtain after completing a bachelor’s degree. They often also have to have extensive professional experience working in pharmacies.
Graduates with a degree can pursue entry-level positions in retail, mail order, long-term care, hospitals and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs is expected to increase 12% between 2016 and 2026, creating career opportunities for workers with the right training.
Schools such as the Ultimate Medical Academy Online has partnerships with a number of pharmacy companies including Walgreens and CVS.
Education Requirements
Pharmacy managers must hold a postgraduate degree, which is the Pharm.D. There are 128 accredited programs in this country, which each have different admissions requirements. However, all include a requirement of completing post-secondary courses in areas such as physics, biology, and chemistry. They also usually require at least two years of study at the undergraduate level, and most require a full bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, applicants have to pass the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).
The program takes around four years to complete, although accelerated programs also exist. During the degree, students take courses in medical ethics, pharmacology, and chemistry. It also requires work experiences such as internships in different pharmacies and medical settings.
When pharmacy managers own the pharmacy, they usually also need a master in business administration (MBA) degree. Others have a public health graduate degree, depending on where they work. They must also all complete continuing education courses to keep their knowledge relevant and up to date.
Pharmacy managers must also be licensed by the state. Two exams have to be completed, which are the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX), in which their skills and knowledge are tested, and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJA), in which their knowledge of state laws are tested. They must also be certified if they wish to administer immunizations and vaccinations, which are usually done through the Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery program from the American Pharmacists Association.
Further voluntary certifications also exist. They include Certified Diabetes Educator offered by the Certification Board for Diabetes Educators, or oncology or nutrition certification, offered by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties.
Traits & Qualities
The most effective pharmacy managers have the following traits to some degree or other:
- Strong analytical skills
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
- Great computer skills
- Detail oriented
- Leadership and management skills
Minimum Education
Doctorate Degree
The national average salary estimate for Pharmacy Manager was $119,896. This number is estimated from over 310,824 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $62.45 and monthly of $9,991.
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$51,000
$217,000
The following section lists Pharmacy Manager salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Oregon had the largest quoted salary of $139,388 while New Hampshire had the smallest quoted salary of $2,200.
According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Pharmacy Manager. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.
| Employer Name | Location | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| RPh Professional Search Pharmacy Manager | Washington | $167,413 |
| Skilltech Professionals, LLC Pharmacy Manager | Florida | $165,000 |
| Dove Management Resources (DMR) Pharmacy Manager | Arizona | $160,000 |
| All’s Well Health Care Pharmacy Manager | California | $160,000 |
| Steven Douglas Associates Pharmacy Manager | North Carolina | $157,832 |
| Interregional Med-Exec Group, Inc. Pharmacy Manager | California | $151,506 |
| Clinical Management Consultants Pharmacy Manager | California | $151,039 |
| CVS Health Pharmacy Manager | California | $148,901 |
| Target Pharmacy Manager | California | $143,985 |
| Walgreens Pharmacy Manager | Arizona | $142,416 |
| Walmart Pharmacy Manager | Arizona | $141,919 |
| Logix Healthcare Search Partners Pharmacy Manager | North Carolina | $140,000 |
| Rite Aid Pharmacy Manager | California | $138,608 |
Learn More
- IMPORTANT – North Carolina Board of Pharmacy
- Pharmacists – Bureau of Labor Statistics
- PHARMACIST MANAGER – Michigan
| Career Name | Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Chief Financial Officer | $130,123 |
| Quantitative Analyst | $127,870 |
| Investment Banker | $125,041 |
| Network Architect | $123,709 |
| Chief Information Officer | $121,573 |
| IT Security Specialist | $113,452 |
| Data Warehouse Engineer | $111,007 |
| Business Intelligence Manager | $109,552 |
| Investment Manager | $108,746 |
| Director of Sales | $108,014 |
