The number of pharmacists in health services is expected to grow as pharmacists consult more and become more actively involved in patient drug therapy decision-making. The increased severity of the typical hospital patient's illness, together with rapid strides in drug therapy, will sustain demand for pharmacists in hospitals, HMO's, and other health care settings. 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. If enrollments in colleges of pharmacy continue to rise, pharmacists may face competition for jobs. 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.