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I am interested in becoming a pharmacist, I value time with family and friends, money, and fun does this occupation aline with my values?

Does a pharmacist have free time to spend with family/friends? What is the average salary of a pharmacist? Is interesting enough to keep as a ling term job?

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William’s Answer

Hello Cameron, if cherishing moments with your family, aspiring for a lucrative career, and having some leisure time for your hobbies are your priorities, then a career in pharmacy could potentially fulfill your aspirations. Retail pharmacy hours can be quite demanding, with the occasional need to work on weekends. So, pharmacy might not be the perfect fit if you're seeking a career with the most leisure time—though this is a common trait in many healthcare jobs. Regarding earnings, rest assured you'll be making a comfortable income in the six-figure bracket, potentially earning close to 200K depending on your location and role.

Hospital-based clinical pharmacists, on the other hand, may enjoy more regular working hours and could offer a more intellectually challenging environment.

To answer your query, pharmacists do have time for their loved ones, although their work hours can be quite flexible and sometimes long. You can expect a decent income in the six-figure range. Depending on your hobbies, you should still have some time to engage in them.

Moreover, the trend of remote work in pharmacy is on the rise, which could be a great option if you value family time. Also, the pharmaceutical industry could be an interesting avenue if you're open to exploring different facets of pharmacy jobs. Working in pharmaceutical companies can offer attractive wages and stable work hours.

Speaking from personal experience, I have no regrets about choosing pharmacy as a career, and I believe the field offers a variety of options depending on your preferences.
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Afifa’s Answer

Hey Cameron!

I'm in the mid of becoming a pharmacist and I can assure that you can have all the fun, make money, be dedicated all at the same time. But you need to be strategic in managing your schedule that can only be done if the field interests you. In my experience, if you're fond of Chemistry and it's sub-branches, it'll pave your way smoothly. Once you graduate, you're expected to make a six-figure salary range which is another motivation to keep you hooked throughout the five years (Pharm-D) or four years (B-pharm).

A mesmerizing thing about Pharmaceutical industry is that you can opt for a career that interests you the most like clinical pharmacy, Marketing sector, Industrial pharmacist, Medical writer and more.

In addition, I spare time for content writing that different companies or clients outsource so you can even freelance alongside in whatever you're an expert at.
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Diana’s Answer

Hello, my better half is a dedicated Pharmacist.
The median income for this profession is somewhere between $115,000-$120,000, and that's straight after graduation, which is quite appealing! He has the good fortune of earning more than this, thanks to his tenure with his current employer.

Currently, he's working from 2pm-11pm from Monday to Friday, and occasionally, one Saturday a month. This schedule might sometimes affect his time with family and friends, as the majority of people work from 9am-5pm from Monday to Friday. However, it's important to note that not all Pharmacists have these hours--depending on the establishment and their operational hours-- there are options for first, second and third shifts. For example, he previously had a schedule from 8am-6pm, which was more in sync with the typical work schedule.

From my understanding, being a Pharmacist might not be the most exciting job. Companies tend to push their Pharmacists to work hard, often providing minimal staff to meet the set objectives. My husband has shared with me that, given the choice, he would have considered dentistry. Dentistry offers more opportunities to establish your own practice, earn a higher income, work fixed hours, and so on. Plus, the education required isn't as demanding as Medical School.

I sincerely hope this information is of some benefit to you!

Warm regards,
Diana
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Michael’s Answer

Pharmacy requires a 6 years education commitment. You will then need to work 40 hours or so per week but make a very nice 6 figure salary. If leisure time is very important to you a less demanding career choice might be more appropriate.
Pharmacy professionals must be focused as they have the lives of patients in their hands.
You might want to look at something in the leisure industry. Ski instructor etc.
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