Pharmacists

[Zebra]

How much do they earn a year ?

At school from my career cooridnator : $36000
My research : Approx. $ 70000

:S? wth

[Souljette_93]

First year ( i think intern) is 38000. Over the years it should go higher, however pharmacy these days are not so high. ( community)

[Toothpaste]

Yeah internship/pre-registration year is about $38000, but remember you're not even a full pharmacist yet so it's reasonable. You'll still have pharmacy board exams to sit during intern year and you'll still be learning new things.

It increases then on. Hard to say how much since all positions differ depending on where you work. $70000 give or take is probably a good figure for registered pharmacists. Obviously when you get more experienced, you'll be entitled to more pay. The more qualified (extra degrees) you get, more pay.. etc. Most job listings have pharmacist grades employing on experience, here is an example (click).

[mystikal]

also if you work retail the amount you get paid differs at what times/days you work since you get penalty rates. I know people who work weekends only and a couple of nightshifts so probably like 3 days a week and they get around like.... $35/hr base rate.. so double pay sundays, 1.25 saturdays, 1.25 after 6pm its pretty chill. Problem is in retail there is a cap, unless you are a owner which means you set ur own salary  . Probably one of the benefits of working as a pharmacist you can work weekends or weekdays or night shifts and get good pay compare to other jobs that offer such flexibility (only other one i can think of is optom) coz not alot of jobs open weekend/nightshifts only retail industry does and public healthcare. Has more flexibility with your life.

yea interns only get $38000, but the more degrees thing... doesnt really apply for retail i rkn coz, u dont need those higher qualifications generally. Plus if you are expecting to get a higher pay coz of it you might get let off instead since the boss can just employ some1 cheaper to do the same job with lesser qualifications.

ALSO i need to add in saying ive worked with 7 pharmacists and 5 of them have 3 other part time jobs as pharmacist elsewhere to equal the amount of money for a full time position. All im sayin now is... bosses generally have like alot of part time pharmacist workin since it is safety net if sum1 gets sick, more flexibility and cheaper as well. So just saying I wont be surprise if graduates complain they cant find a full time job after intern and that 97% sure of employment thing that Monash states is true... but how much of the 97% of graduates are full time jobs.  

[_henwee]

That sounds good - I'm happy with a part-time job as a pharmacist.

Then I can do my PhD.

[mystikal]

That sounds good - I'm happy with a part-time job as a pharmacist.

Then I can do my PhD.

i can see in your sig that you go to RMIT pharmacy? How is it?

[Zebra]

Hey tooth! whats beneficial for doing a double degree commerce/pharmacy?

[Toothpaste]

Hey tooth! whats beneficial for doing a double degree commerce/pharmacy?

Erm, fallback option if you hate pharmacy.

The benefits aren't too clear because it depends on how you use that extra qualification. You could use it by itself without going into anything requiring pharmacy, however I know of people who have managed to incorporate the health side with the commerce side.

I used to work with a pharmacist who has the double degree, and I think his role (along with being a normal pharmacist) was along the lines of preparing the financial reports or something for the hospital pharmacy department. Also stuff about accountancy and how to better manage distribution. Can't remember details since it was a while ago. My current boss's friend is an economist at a major drug company located behind the uni and the zoo (CSL) - but only after gaining years of experience as a pharmacist, so he didn't jump straight into it. With drug companies you usually start off doing office work, "drug info", so your drug knowledge has to be really up to date. Basically, it's taking queries on the phone and knowing where to source your information. This is also done in a hospital (there are special hotlines you can call) .. if say you want a pharmacist who specialises in pediatrics you'd ring the Royal Children's, or if you're a pregnant person needing info on whether to take a drug you could ring the Women's (Monash MC is also good at this). There are also roles on special boards or committees where it could come in handy. It would depend on what you major in.

So mainly for a way out, and for broadening your knowledge. Fantastic option if you don't mind doing uni for 6 years.

[Mao]

Hey tooth! whats beneficial for doing a double degree commerce/pharmacy?

Erm, fallback option if you hate pharmacy.

Classic Tooth. (Y) I lol'd

[_henwee]

RMIT Pharmacy:
Fun!
Small Cohort (About 50)
I actually know everyone.

Our Introduction to Pharmacy course is kinda slow (Communication skills, Guest speakers, a bit of technical writing skills, Year 10 mathematics).

Other than that, Bio, Statistics, Chem - don't think it is too different.

[Zebra]

I heard Rmit pharmacy wasnt approved by the aus pharmacy something blahblah...?

[_henwee]

YET!
It's decided October this year. =)

So I might just do another VTAC application to transfer out just in case.

[Zebra]

whats the atar you need for rmit pharmacy?

[_henwee]

If you get like 90~ I think you should be fine. =)

And then you have to fill in some form about why you want to do the course blah blah blah.

[Zebra]

monash ftw!!!! haha i guess the uni doesnt matter that much..