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What is a pharmacist in charge and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Antoine Al-Achi Ph.D.
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Can you imagine what we would do without pharmacies? Pharmacies play a vital role in our society by helping patients access the medicine they need. You can help make this happen by becoming a pharmacist in charge.

The pharmacist in charge manages the day-to-day operations of one or more pharmacies. If you end up working in this role, you will sometimes be expected to supervise staff, oversee purchases and preparate drugs, and ensure delivery of the right products to customers in a timely and professional manner.

You'll also take care of the hiring and managing of pharmacy technicians. One of the key skills you'll need for this position will be attention to detail, and the ability to multitask since the pharmacist in charge will frequently have to handle multiple requests at one time.

If you're looking to get into this field, you'll need a current state pharmacy license. In addition, many positions require a Doctorate of Pharmacy from a school accredited by the American Council on Pharmaceutical Education.

What general advice would you give to a pharmacist in charge?

Antoine Al-Achi Ph.D.Antoine Al-Achi Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Professor of Pharmaceutics and Biomedical Sciences Track-Head/Industrial Pharmacy (Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences), Campbell University

The premise behind biomedical science is to provide knowledge and applications in areas that directly affect people's health and life. Thus, keeping that in their mind while doing their daily tasks is of utmost importance.
ScorePharmacist In ChargeUS Average
Salary
8.1

Avg. Salary $120,281

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
10.0

Growth rate 2%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
2.8
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.18%

Asian 19.80%

Black or African American 7.33%

Hispanic or Latino 5.68%

Unknown 3.99%

White 63.02%

Gender

female 54.38%

male 45.62%

Age - 40
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 40
Stress level
10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
10.0

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
6.7

Work life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Pharmacist in charge career paths

Key steps to become a pharmacist in charge

  1. Explore pharmacist in charge education requirements

    Most common pharmacist in charge degrees

    Bachelor's

    57.1 %

    Doctorate

    26.6 %

    Master's

    5.3 %
  2. Start to develop specific pharmacist in charge skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients24.93%
    Customer Service9.77%
    Patient Care9.65%
    IV5.80%
    Therapy Management3.47%
  3. Complete relevant pharmacist in charge training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New pharmacists in charge learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a pharmacist in charge based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real pharmacist in charge resumes.
  4. Research pharmacist in charge duties and responsibilities

    • Counsele patients on managing disease states, proper use of prescription and OTC drugs and on life style changes.
    • Check prescriptions for appropriate dosage, drug interactions, allergies and contraindications before dispensing medications using OmniDX computer system.
    • Oversee pharmacy operations including confirming new and refill prescription orders, conducting screenings for interactions and allergies, and dispensing medications.
    • Check accuracy of physician calculations of TPN's for tube feed patients.
  5. Prepare your pharmacist in charge resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your pharmacist in charge resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a pharmacist in charge resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable pharmacist in charge resume templates

    Build a professional pharmacist in charge resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your pharmacist in charge resume.
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    Pharmacist In Charge Resume
  6. Apply for pharmacist in charge jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a pharmacist in charge job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first pharmacist in charge job

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Average pharmacist in charge salary

The average pharmacist in charge salary in the United States is $120,281 per year or $58 per hour. Pharmacist in charge salaries range between $93,000 and $154,000 per year.

Average pharmacist in charge salary
$120,281 Yearly
$57.83 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do pharmacists in charge rate their job?

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Pharmacist in charge reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

Pay is fair for a starting pharmacist (CVS). The technicians are alright. 401K Helping people (and I really mean it).

Cons

Typical pharmacist complaints like tired legs, stress, etc. Terrible work-life balance. You make a good amount of money, sure, but there's a point where money doesn't bring happiness like it used to.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Pros

it helps a lot. i really needed this.

Cons

i like everything. theres nothing i dont like.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Apr 2019
Pros

The ability to make a difference in someones Health and Wellness

Cons

Inability to balance Life and Work and Family


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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