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Pharmacist assistant vs pharmacist

The differences between pharmacist assistants and pharmacists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a pharmacist has an average salary of $118,968, which is higher than the $37,719 average annual salary of a pharmacist assistant.

The top three skills for a pharmacist assistant include patients, customer service and phone calls. The most important skills for a pharmacist are patients, customer service, and employee development.

Pharmacist assistant vs pharmacist overview

Pharmacist AssistantPharmacist
Yearly salary$37,719$118,968
Hourly rate$18.13$57.20
Growth rate5%2%
Number of jobs47,08250,943
Job satisfaction-3.67
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age3942
Years of experience--

What does a pharmacist assistant do?

Pharmacist assistants require skills in teamwork, organization, problem-solving, computer literacy, communication, and mathematics. Paid anywhere from $24K to $200K per year, those who choose this career will be expected to work alongside licensed pharmacists and pharmacist technicians to help process prescriptions. They also perform clerical and organizational duties.

What does a pharmacist do?

Pharmacists are medical experts who distribute prescribed medications and immunizations to individuals. They are responsible for ensuring the quality of medicines supplied to patients, which should be within the law and prescribing only what is suitable to the condition of the user and provide proper knowledge on how to take them and possible reactions or side effects that may occur. Pharmacists could work in all environments where medications are used, or medication therapy is appraised as part of patients' care plan but most commonly in hospitals, community-based setting, and health systems.

Pharmacist assistant vs pharmacist salary

Pharmacist assistants and pharmacists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Pharmacist AssistantPharmacist
Average salary$37,719$118,968
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $50,000Between $93,000 And $151,000
Highest paying CityCarmel, NYSacramento, CA
Highest paying stateNew YorkCalifornia
Best paying companySutter HealthSafeway
Best paying industryHealth CareRetail

Differences between pharmacist assistant and pharmacist education

There are a few differences between a pharmacist assistant and a pharmacist in terms of educational background:

Pharmacist AssistantPharmacist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorPharmacyPharmacy
Most common college-University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Pharmacist assistant vs pharmacist demographics

Here are the differences between pharmacist assistants' and pharmacists' demographics:

Pharmacist AssistantPharmacist
Average age3942
Gender ratioMale, 27.7% Female, 72.3%Male, 43.2% Female, 56.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 6.3% Hispanic or Latino, 20.3% Asian, 11.3% White, 48.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 4.0% Hispanic or Latino, 5.6% Asian, 20.9% White, 62.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%
LGBT Percentage9%11%

Differences between pharmacist assistant and pharmacist duties and responsibilities

Pharmacist assistant example responsibilities.

  • Manage assigned pharmacy workstations and tasks while supporting team members in promptly, safely and accurately filling patient prescriptions.
  • Observe pharmacists and pharmacy technicians input prescription orders and filling medications to be dispense to patients
  • Order medication when stock is low performs iv preparation per establish protocol; perform chemotherapy preperation per establish protocol.
  • Operate POS system by ringing up customer orders and reconciling till when pharmacy closes.
  • Operate a point of sale system, a traditional cash register, and a HIPPA signature device.
  • Handle customer medical information according to HIPAA federal regulations.
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Pharmacist example responsibilities.

  • Perform diabetes interviews along with physician collaboration agreement to manage therapy and optimal goals.
  • Dose and manage all Vancomycin and Aminoglycoside antibiotics throughout the entire hospital including overseeing, evaluating, and ordering antibiotic labs.
  • Perform critical care and oncology medication therapy management reviews for all patients assign to both satellite pharmacies.
  • Assist with transition to new computer system pending start of permanent PIC.
  • Deliver approximately 20K prescriptions per day to patients through budgeting Dr. Andy Nguyen, Pharm.
  • Provide small-group formal educational presentations for cardiac rehabilitation patients.
  • Show more

Pharmacist assistant vs pharmacist skills

Common pharmacist assistant skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • Phone Calls, 6%
  • Patient Care, 5%
  • Direct Supervision, 5%
  • IV, 3%
Common pharmacist skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Employee Development, 8%
  • Allergies, 6%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Drug Therapy, 5%

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