Because of efforts to control prescription drug costs, retail pharmacies are taking steps to increase their prescription volume to make up for declining dispensing fees. Automation of drug dispensing and greater use of pharmacy technicians will help them dispense more prescriptions. The number of community pharmacists needed in the future will depend on the expansion rate of chain drug stores and the willingness of insurers to reimburse pharmacists for providing clinical services to patients taking prescription drugs. Slower employment growth is expected in traditional chain and independent pharmacies. Overall, salaries for pharmacists were highest in the West and second highest in the East.
Many pharmacists also receive compensation in the form of bonuses, overtime, and profit-sharing.
Related Occupations Persons in other professions who may work with pharmaceutical compounds are pharmaceutical chemists, pharmacologists, medical scientists , and biological technicians. Information on requirements for licensure in a particular State is available from the State board of pharmacy. Information on specific college entrance requirements, curriculums, and financial aid is available from the dean of any college of pharmacy.