Post job

Pharmacy internship vs pharmacist

The differences between pharmacy interns 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 $80,116 average annual salary of a pharmacy internship.

The top three skills for a pharmacy internship include patients, customer service and patient care. The most important skills for a pharmacist are patients, customer service, and employee development.

Pharmacy internship vs pharmacist overview

Pharmacy InternshipPharmacist
Yearly salary$80,116$118,968
Hourly rate$38.52$57.20
Growth rate2%2%
Number of jobs89,19750,943
Job satisfaction-3.67
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age4242
Years of experience--

What does a pharmacy internship do?

When it comes to a pharmacy internship, one of the primary responsibilities is to observe pharmacy operations and develop efficient communication skills as most of the tasks will revolve around customer service, such as providing instructions on when to take medications and what could be the side effects. Moreover, working as a pharmacist requires excellent attention to detail, ensuring that all customers receive the correct type and amount according to their prescriptions. Among the duties can also revolve around administrative tasks such as verifying prescriptions, keeping and maintaining accurate records, and responding to inquiries.

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.

Pharmacy internship vs pharmacist salary

Pharmacy interns and pharmacists have different pay scales, as shown below.

Pharmacy InternshipPharmacist
Average salary$80,116$118,968
Salary rangeBetween $45,000 And $139,000Between $93,000 And $151,000
Highest paying CitySan Diego, CASacramento, CA
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companySafewaySafeway
Best paying industryHealth CareRetail

Differences between pharmacy internship and pharmacist education

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

Pharmacy InternshipPharmacist
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 57%Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common majorPharmacyPharmacy
Most common collegeUniversity of Michigan - Ann ArborUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Pharmacy internship vs pharmacist demographics

Here are the differences between pharmacy interns' and pharmacists' demographics:

Pharmacy InternshipPharmacist
Average age4242
Gender ratioMale, 40.6% Female, 59.4%Male, 43.2% Female, 56.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 6.6% Unknown, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, 5.4% Asian, 27.1% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2%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 Percentage11%11%

Differences between pharmacy internship and pharmacist duties and responsibilities

Pharmacy internship example responsibilities.

  • Attain thorough knowledge of processes involving medication delivery, compounding, IV/TPN/ chemotherapy preparation, and other hospital pharmacy operations.
  • Counsele patient with regard to OTC medications and Rx medications under the supervision of the pharmacist (s) on duty.
  • Interview patients to obtain information regarding drug allergies and sensitivities and document the information in the pharmacy system.
  • Collaborate with referring physicians in providing diabetes education to patients with multiple chronic conditions individually and in group sessions.
  • Provide diabetes counseling and conduct informational lectures regarding blood glucose monitoring and insulin administration to patients recently diagnose with diabetes.
  • Offer and provide consultation to patients under the supervision of the RPh on duty
  • Show more

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

Pharmacy internship vs pharmacist skills

Common pharmacy internship skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Customer Service, 15%
  • Patient Care, 8%
  • Blood Pressure, 7%
  • Allergies, 5%
  • Math, 5%
Common pharmacist skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Employee Development, 8%
  • Allergies, 6%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Drug Therapy, 5%

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs