Pharmacist- after 10 years?

[megamind]

World's pharmacist shortage is over!!
USA, Canada, UK, Australia - they are all suffered from oversupply of pharmacists. I hope this trend won't affect to Singapore.
BTW I'm just curious about hospital pharmacist pay.
How much senior pharmacist can get? How much the director of pharmacy get?
Do you have any idea?
Like about 40-50 years old most people with uni degree can reach 100k per year right?
Can pharmacist also earn like them?
I just like to study pharmacy so if pay is just over 80k after 10 years I'm happy to work as a pharmacist.

Hi megamind

I'm currently a Year 2 NUS Pharmacy student.

Regarding your question, I would like to clarify something with you first.

Firstly, pharmacist is a team member in the healthcare sector. So what pharmacists do basically have some implications to the health of their patients.

Having said that, I think it is important to set your priorities right.

If you are thinking of studying the pharmacy course for the sake of the salary, I would suggest you think again why you really want to study pharmacy.

I am not suggesting that pharmacists in Singapore get a low pay. Rather, if you don't not have the passion to serve the patients and think in terms of what you can do to contribute to better a medication treatment, then you shouldn't think of being a hospital pharmacist. Of course, the responsibilities of a hospital pharmacist is much more than what I have just mentioned.

It is no doubt that the pay of newly registered pharmacists, be it in the community or hospital pharmacies are slightly higher compared to arts or engineer graduates. However, the hidden clause is also the stress that comes with the responsibilities of a pharmacist.

In the retail/community pharmacy setting, you need to have the patience and courage to talk to your customers, who are basically strangers/random visitors who approach you in the pharmacy in the shopping centre. You also need to be able to convince them that whatever you are recommending is the best for their conditions and symptoms.

In the hospital setting, you would need to go on ward rounds with the doctors, check and make sure that there is no unwanted drug-drug interactions and intervene in time if you suspect one, which could be potentially fatal to the patient. Also, you will need to check with the hospital system to make sure that all the medications which the patient is taking are dutifully recorded in the system, if not you would have to visit the patient in their ward and ask for all the medications that they are taking. Basically, if the patient suffers for any medication related complications or even death, you as the pharmacist could also be held accountable because it is your responsibility to make sure that in 200% if the time, the patient is safe.

Having said so much, are you still going to study pharmacy because of the potential 80 to 100k that pharmacists may get annually?

In fact, let me tell you something:

It is true that the demand for pharmacist in Singapore is still more than the supply. So my seniors who are graduating basically all knew where they are going to work before they graduate.

I cannot say for sure but based on the information I have gathered from my seniors, the salary for:
Pre-reg pharmacist is around 1.7 to 2k. This may increase given that MOH has announced a 4 to 19% pay rise in health care sector.

Registered pharmacist is paid around basically 3++k per month, depending on the class of honours they graduate with. First class honours grads are paid $200 higher than third class honours grads. If you work overtime, which is very common in the retail setting, you will be given overtime pay as well.

Of course, if your passion lies in research, you could choose the route of academia,which you just research and/or teach.

I almost forget, you will need to accumulate continual education points to retain your pharmacist license.

But given the nature of the work of a pharmacist, what really sustains many pharmacist to stay on in this career, would still be the passion to make a small difference on their part to improve the symptoms of their customers/patients, the passion to serve and recognise that they are part of the healthcare sector.

I am not sure by you "like to study pharmacy," whether you are saying that you like it as a subject or like it as you hope to learn more about it so that you can utilise in the betterment of the health of other people. Pharmacy really covers a broad area so it is really important to think of why you chose pharmacy.

Salary is not and should not be your priorities when you choose to study pharmacy.

I am not trying to place the profession of pharmacist on a higher pedestal but I would certainly not agree with your salary views. But if you ask me, I would say that I chose to study pharmacy because I hope to make a small difference to the health care experience of my patients.

Ps. the roles and responsibilities I have mentioned regarding retail and hospital pharmacists may not be totally covered in full. There may be some discrepancies too in the salary part.

Hi,

To the original thread starter:
Consider finding the details of the courses offered by ITE, Poly and Local Uni.
There are marked differences being a Pharmaceutical Technician, Clinical Reseacher and being an actual qualified Pharmacist. [You may like to find the entry requirements, and subsequent employment opportunities.]

In very board and general terms, yes. It's possible to hit/achieve the S$80K (annual) income, within 10 years. But very frankly, that number is not exceptional to 'shout' about. A decent engineer/accountant/IT professional can achieve these numbers. You may like to reference the published median income range in the other threads.

How and why know: Because I know someone close who had been there, done that. [The faster way you may want to explore is through 'sales'. Medical devices etc. Comission based type. General life science degree can liao....no need to be so 'gi-lat' for a Bsc (Pharmacy) degree. Go ask around..... ]

My sharing: If you are really into Pharmaceutical arena purely for the financial aspect, do consider the tome of data/knowledge you must acquire in the course of your studies. [Hint: Might as well 'top-up' a little more (Time/finance) and be a 'Dr' in the process....Example Dentistry]

Fast and furious way to earn legit money?: Consider car sales. [Way of life and ability to 'smoke' real or via B.A.T., highly debatable]

From the ethical & work ethics point of view, I will concur with the 2nd contributor's train of thoughts below:

Originally Posted by Unregistered

Hi megamind

I'm currently a Year 2 NUS Pharmacy student.

Regarding your question, I would like to clarify something with you first.

Firstly, pharmacist is a team member in the healthcare sector. So what pharmacists do basically have some implications to the health of their patients.

Having said that, I think it is important to set your priorities right.

If you are thinking of studying the pharmacy course for the sake of the salary, I would suggest you think again why you really want to study pharmacy.

I am not suggesting that pharmacists in Singapore get a low pay. Rather, if you don't not have the passion to serve the patients and think in terms of what you can do to contribute to better a medication treatment, then you shouldn't think of being a hospital pharmacist. Of course, the responsibilities of a hospital pharmacist is much more than what I have just mentioned.

It is no doubt that the pay of newly registered pharmacists, be it in the community or hospital pharmacies are slightly higher compared to arts or engineer graduates. However, the hidden clause is also the stress that comes with the responsibilities of a pharmacist.

In the retail/community pharmacy setting, you need to have the patience and courage to talk to your customers, who are basically strangers/random visitors who approach you in the pharmacy in the shopping centre. You also need to be able to convince them that whatever you are recommending is the best for their conditions and symptoms.

In the hospital setting, you would need to go on ward rounds with the doctors, check and make sure that there is no unwanted drug-drug interactions and intervene in time if you suspect one, which could be potentially fatal to the patient. Also, you will need to check with the hospital system to make sure that all the medications which the patient is taking are dutifully recorded in the system, if not you would have to visit the patient in their ward and ask for all the medications that they are taking. Basically, if the patient suffers for any medication related complications or even death, you as the pharmacist could also be held accountable because it is your responsibility to make sure that in 200% if the time, the patient is safe.

Having said so much, are you still going to study pharmacy because of the potential 80 to 100k that pharmacists may get annually?

In fact, let me tell you something:

It is true that the demand for pharmacist in Singapore is still more than the supply. So my seniors who are graduating basically all knew where they are going to work before they graduate.

I cannot say for sure but based on the information I have gathered from my seniors, the salary for:
Pre-reg pharmacist is around 1.7 to 2k. This may increase given that MOH has announced a 4 to 19% pay rise in health care sector.

Registered pharmacist is paid around basically 3++k per month, depending on the class of honours they graduate with. First class honours grads are paid $200 higher than third class honours grads. If you work overtime, which is very common in the retail setting, you will be given overtime pay as well.

Of course, if your passion lies in research, you could choose the route of academia,which you just research and/or teach.

I almost forget, you will need to accumulate continual education points to retain your pharmacist license.

But given the nature of the work of a pharmacist, what really sustains many pharmacist to stay on in this career, would still be the passion to make a small difference on their part to improve the symptoms of their customers/patients, the passion to serve and recognise that they are part of the healthcare sector.

I am not sure by you "like to study pharmacy," whether you are saying that you like it as a subject or like it as you hope to learn more about it so that you can utilise in the betterment of the health of other people. Pharmacy really covers a broad area so it is really important to think of why you chose pharmacy.

Salary is not and should not be your priorities when you choose to study pharmacy.

I am not trying to place the profession of pharmacist on a higher pedestal but I would certainly not agree with your salary views. But if you ask me, I would say that I chose to study pharmacy because I hope to make a small difference to the health care experience of my patients.

Ps. the roles and responsibilities I have mentioned regarding retail and hospital pharmacists may not be totally covered in full. There may be some discrepancies too in the salary part.