Sometimes, pharmacists mix the medicine themselves. Most often, though, they sell medicines that have been made by large drug companies. These stores are clean and have a lot of light. Many pharmacists must stand most of the time while they work. Pharmacists must wear gloves and masks when they work with things that could hurt them.
Some pharmacists work at night or on weekends.
This is because sick people may need medicine at any time. Most pharmacists work about 40 hours a week, but some work longer hours. There were about 185,000 pharmacists in 1998. Most of them worked in drug stores. Some worked in hospitals and other places.