21+ Pros and Cons of Being a Pharmacists (Explained)

A pharmacist is a healthcare professional which is specialized in the right way to store, use, provide, and preserve medicine. Their duty also includes guiding people about ways to take medications along with letting us be aware of all potential bad effects of medications taken by us.

They do fill prescriptions stated by physicians and other healthcare supervisors. Pharmacists do contribute to the testing and research of new drugs. They work in medical clinics, pharmacies, universities, hospitals, and government institutions.

Advantages of Being a Pharmacists	Disadvantages of Being a Pharmacists
Good salary	Education and Training Requirements
Sufficient work opportunities available	Technicality
Tele pharmacy	Costly to study pharmacy
Strong occupational outlook	One is responsible for the efficacy and quality of medications
Pharmacists work in hygienic and clean work environments	Long shift-hours
Easy to start and own a pharmacy	Few job advancement opportunities

Advantages of Being a Pharmacists

Good salary

Pharmacists are reputed and are well paid in comparison to other several professionals. Some pharmacists even earn millions per year. After one completes their graduation in pharmacy they can even land a position at the top of a multinational company.

As per several online surveys available, the salary of a pharmacist in their initial years may be USD 100,000 per year. The average salary is above USD 300,000. The lowest 25% earn approximately USD 97,000 annually.

With experience and good exposure, one can earn much more than the national average, and may even become a Billionaire.

Sufficient Work opportunities available

The pharmacist serves two different sectors, retail, and the hospital. Though there is a lot of similarity between these sectors, they both have their own job markets and they reap benefits of job opportunities in both these sectors.

Most pharmacists contribute to both sectors by handling several roles with full responsibilities. They as a pharmacist are assigned to care in an ambulance or an academician where they teach others.

Moreover, one may become a compounding pharmacist and be creating drugs that meet the needs of the patients. Many pharmacists work as consultants in several fields like long-term care or infectious disease.

Tele pharmacy

One may work from home by setting up an online portal healthcare option at which one may consult from their home.

Telepharmacy is gradually becoming popular in the world. One does not have to deal with the similar physical demands one gets in a real pharmacy. One has more time for their family because of less commuting.

They are also able to avoid infections or hardships faced at a medical workplace. They can work from their air-conditioned or heated home.

Strong occupational outlook

According to several online surveys available, employment in this profession is expected to grow at a 5% rate constantly till 2030. This is a higher growth rate compared to a median of several other professions.

The recent rise in demand for prescription medications translates that there is going to be a high demand for the pharmaceutical industry and pharmacist services. The world has approximately 31, 20,000 working pharmacists, and expected job growth of 200,000 in the next decade.

Pharmacists work in hygienic and clean work environments

Pharmacists have lesser chances of getting infections or allergies from patients, unlike doctors and nurses who are dealing with stressful conditions.

This has encouraged buddy pharmacists as they get a hefty salary and do not have to place themselves at risk health-wise.

The profession is less stressful as compared to other professionals like nurses and surgeons.

Easy to start and own a pharmacy

A certified and recognized pharmacist can run an independently-owned pharmacy. One can start an independent fully owned pharmacy in just a year.

There is always a demand in the market and one can run it themselves or hire staff to operate it for them.

Operating the pharmacy business for half a year is sufficient to give a great cash flow. One May create a relaxing lifestyle for their family. The required investment is at about $500,000. The returns are in this business.

Disadvantages of being a Pharmacists

Education and Training Requirements

While most other professions require basic training or schooling, pharmacy is different from these fields. Pharmacists must complete a higher level of study and tend to get a doctorate degree.

On-the-job clinical work training is required as a part of their academic programs and this on-the-job training is usually very demanding. The course that enables one to become a pharmacist is not easy and it requires thorough effort and dedication.

Getting a Pharmacy degree is equivalent to a doctorate for several people. One has to go through education for 4to9 years to meet the mandatory educational requirements making one fit to serve as a pharmacist in society.

Technicality

During their education, they will learn chemical structures, theories, metabolic pathways, drug side effects, and computer-based research. These exams come with stress, peer pressure, and to succeed, the process is very tough for all students.

Moreover, though flexibility can be seen in a positive light, the diversity in this field is bear as negative. Real-life working conditions pharmacists have to face and the job requirements which are mandated differ based on setups where employment is achieved.

Their job roles are not fixed over the entire sector, which signifies that special training programs or advanced education might be required for many job positions in this sector.

Costly to study pharmacy

An average Pharmacy degree graduate is indebted by student loan debt of over $200,000. Even though few students lowers their costs of education by going for scholarships and grants.

However, the cost of pursuing a pharmacy degree is enormously high. Many students face problems in paying their education loans.

One is responsible for the efficacy and quality of medications

As the prescription is prescribed to human beings therefore there is no room for error. It means one has to regularly assess pharmaceutical safety to make certain the quality and efficacy are in order.

This is their job to make certain patients get the correct dosage and medications which can treat their overall condition. They answer patient and medication instructions or customer questions, which is really overwhelming.

Long shift-hours

Most hospitals run round the clock and seven days a week. Being a central part of medical system pharmacy with no exception to leisure. This job makes one engaged the moment the shift starts till it ends, which can be tiresome.

One handles everything, including newborn babies, ICU patients, and has to ensure efficacy. They complete the billing process and work with tougher customers.

Few job advancement opportunities

At the time when they join as a pharmacist, they are at the top, a single-person unit, most of the time. Aspiring people crave to earn higher pay and reach a higher position.

An experienced pharmacist earns 30% more than average that of those in entry-level positions, which means a roughly $40,000 yearly difference.