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What is a pharmacist manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted expert
Antoine Al-Achi Ph.D.
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A pharmacist manager oversees the daily operations of a pharmacy. They are responsible for managing staff, maintaining inventory, and ensuring compliance with regulations. These managers seek to create a positive customer experience while ensuring the safety and efficacy of medications. A pharmacist manager may also be responsible for managing budgets, developing marketing strategies, and building relationships with healthcare providers. They must be knowledgeable about medications and their uses and have excellent communication skills.

What general advice would you give to a pharmacist manager?

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 ManagerUS Average
Salary
7.3

Avg. Salary $93,996

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.1

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 7.90%

Black or African American 10.97%

Hispanic or Latino 14.19%

Unknown 4.26%

White 61.97%

Gender

female 48.23%

male 51.77%

Age - 47
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 - 47
Stress level
7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level
8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a pharmacist manager?

Pros

  • Good salary, benefits, and job security

  • Direct impact on patient care and outcomes

  • Chance to work in a variety of settings (e.g. retail, hospital, long-term care)

  • Ability to help shape policies and procedures within the pharmacy

  • Opportunity for continuing education and professional development

Cons

  • Long and irregular work hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays

  • High liability for errors or mistakes that can result in legal or disciplinary action

  • Difficulty balancing administrative tasks with patient care responsibilities

  • Limited opportunities for creativity due to strict regulations governing pharmacy operations

  • Potential for burnout due to high workload and demands on time and energy

Pharmacist manager career paths

Key steps to become a pharmacist manager

  1. Explore pharmacist manager education requirements

    Most common pharmacist manager degrees

    Bachelor's

    58.1 %

    Doctorate

    30.7 %

    Master's

    5.5 %
  2. Start to develop specific pharmacist manager skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients20.14%
    Customer Service17.16%
    Patient Care11.14%
    Compassion5.77%
    Inventory Management5.58%
  3. Complete relevant pharmacist manager training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New pharmacist managers 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 manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real pharmacist manager resumes.
  4. Gain additional pharmacist manager certifications

    Pharmacist manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific pharmacist manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for pharmacist managers include Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) and Basic Life Support for Healthcare and Public Safety (BLS).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research pharmacist manager duties and responsibilities

    • Schedule procedures, manage caseload for physicians in clinic and surgery.
    • Addressed customer complaints with compassion, tact, and respect to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
    • Manage a team of 6 (1 pharmacist and 5 techs) prepare shift schedules according to Rx plan and payroll.
    • Manage educational training for technicians relate to federal HIPAA guidelines.
  6. Prepare your pharmacist manager resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your pharmacist manager 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 manager 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 manager resume templates

    Build a professional pharmacist manager 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 manager resume.
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  7. Apply for pharmacist manager jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a pharmacist manager 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 manager job

Zippi

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Average pharmacist manager salary

The average pharmacist manager salary in the United States is $93,996 per year or $45 per hour. Pharmacist manager salaries range between $57,000 and $153,000 per year.

Average pharmacist manager salary
$93,996 Yearly
$45.19 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do pharmacist managers rate their job?

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Pharmacist manager 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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