Pharmacy Manager Salary

Created by Henry Steele

By Henry Steele - January 8, 2018
Reading Time: 9 minutes
Reading Time: 9 minutes

The following article discusses the career path of Pharmacy Manager. Learn about how to become one, education requirements, job duties, traits and qualities, national salary outlook as well as top national employers of Pharmacy Managers.

Job Duties

Pharmacy managers are responsible for making sure patients receive the right medication, and that their prescription has been filled according to the instructions of the doctor. Typically, they oversee a single branch, although some work across multiple branches. Pharmacy managers must make sure that all federal and state regulations are adhered to, and they also have to focus on their staff’s communication among themselves and with customers.

Pharmacy managers have to monitor and instruct their employees in such a way that they are always courteous and professional. It is common for patients to walk into pharmacies, which means the facility must be very efficient. Staff must be trained to determine which orders have priority and have to ensure they are delivered on time. Additionally, staff must know how to deal with medical practitioners and doctors as well.

Pharmacy managers also have a degree on human resource management. They schedule staff rotas, manage a database, evaluate employees, and handle all reporting duties. They also frequently have to work unsociable hours, as pharmacies have to be open around the clock on a rotational basis.

Other job duties of pharmacy managers include:

  • Making sure that all services comply with federal and state regulations, as well as professional standards.
  • Being a a consultant to patients and medical staff
  • Overseeing the dispensing of inventory, supplies, and drugs
  • Ensuring that the pharmacy runs at maximum efficiency.

Where We Work

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 312,500 pharmacists in 2016. The largest employers of these professionals were:

  • Pharmacies and drug stores: 43%
  • Hospitals; state, local, and private: 25%
  • General merchandise stores: 8%
  • Grocery stores: 7%

How to Become

Usually, pharmacy managers have to hold a Pharm.D. doctorate degree, which they obtain after completing a bachelor’s degree. They often also have to have extensive professional experience working in pharmacies.

Graduates with a degree can pursue entry-level positions in retail, mail order, long-term care, hospitals and more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs is expected to increase 12% between 2016 and 2026, creating career opportunities for workers with the right training.

Schools such as the Ultimate Medical Academy Online has partnerships with a number of pharmacy companies including Walgreens and CVS.

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Education Requirements

Pharmacy managers must hold a postgraduate degree, which is the Pharm.D. There are 128 accredited programs in this country, which each have different admissions requirements. However, all include a requirement of completing post-secondary courses in areas such as physics, biology, and chemistry. They also usually require at least two years of study at the undergraduate level, and most require a full bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, applicants have to pass the Pharmacy College Admissions Test (PCAT).

The program takes around four years to complete, although accelerated programs also exist. During the degree, students take courses in medical ethics, pharmacology, and chemistry. It also requires work experiences such as internships in different pharmacies and medical settings.

When pharmacy managers own the pharmacy, they usually also need a master in business administration (MBA) degree. Others have a public health graduate degree, depending on where they work. They must also all complete continuing education courses to keep their knowledge relevant and up to date.

Pharmacy managers must also be licensed by the state. Two exams have to be completed, which are the North American Pharmacist Licensure Exam (NAPLEX), in which their skills and knowledge are tested, and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Exam (MPJA), in which their knowledge of state laws are tested. They must also be certified if they wish to administer immunizations and vaccinations, which are usually done through the Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery program from the American Pharmacists Association.

Further voluntary certifications also exist. They include Certified Diabetes Educator offered by the Certification Board for Diabetes Educators, or oncology or nutrition certification, offered by the Board of Pharmacy Specialties.

Traits & Qualities

The most effective pharmacy managers have the following traits to some degree or other:

  • Strong analytical skills
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
  • Great computer skills
  • Detail oriented
  • Leadership and management skills

Minimum Education

Doctorate Degree

National Salary

The national average salary estimate for Pharmacy Manager was $119,896. This number is estimated from over 310,824 employees, users past and present job advertisements from Indeed.com. This equates to an hourly salary of $62.45 and monthly of $9,991.

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$51,000

$217,000

Salary Distribution

Salary by State

The following section lists Pharmacy Manager salaries in each state around the country. The figures are based on the total number of job postings through Indeed.com. For example, Oregon had the largest quoted salary of $139,388 while New Hampshire had the smallest quoted salary of $2,200.

AlabamaIndianaNorth CarolinaSouth Carolina
ArizonaKentuckyNebraskaTennessee
CaliforniaLouisianaNew HampshireTexas
ColoradoMassachusettsNew JerseyVirginia
ConnecticutMarylandNevadaWashington
FloridaMaineNew YorkWisconsin
GeorgiaMichiganOhioWest Virginia
IowaMinnesotaOregon
IllinoisMontanaPennsylvania
Alabama$107,626Rank: 31st
The average salary ranks 31st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Publix and CVS Health.

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$33,000

$223,000

Salary Distribution
Arizona$135,592Rank: 2nd
The average salary ranks 2nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kore Healthcare Recruitment, CVS Health, Dove Management Resources (DMR), and Walgreens.

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$68,000

$216,000

Salary Distribution
California$128,151Rank: 7th
The average salary ranks 7th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like All’s Well Health Care, RPh Professional Search, Interregional Med-Exec Group, Inc., and Clinical Management Consultants.

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$45,000

$251,000

Salary Distribution
Colorado$124,257Rank: 9th
The average salary ranks 9th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Denver Health, Walgreens, and Safeway.

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$62,000

$189,000

Salary Distribution
Connecticut$115,885Rank: 20th
The average salary ranks 20th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CVS Health.

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$58,000

$191,000

Salary Distribution
Florida$113,700Rank: 25th
The average salary ranks 25th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Clinical Management Consultants, Skilltech Professionals, LLC, Steven Douglas Associates, and RPh Professional Search.

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$44,000

$214,000

Salary Distribution
Georgia$111,987Rank: 27th
The average salary ranks 27th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Walmart, CVS Health, Publix, and Kroger Stores.

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$52,000

$194,000

Salary Distribution
Iowa$126,376Rank: 8th
The average salary ranks 8th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like RPh Professional Search and Ploeger Recruiting Services.

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$63,000

$192,000

Salary Distribution
Illinois$131,899Rank: 4th
The average salary ranks 4th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CVS Health, Walmart, Walgreens, and Affiance Group LLC.

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$66,000

$210,000

Salary Distribution
Indiana$118,236Rank: 16th
The average salary ranks 16th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Walmart and Walgreens.

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$56,000

$203,000

Salary Distribution
Kentucky$115,439Rank: 21st
The average salary ranks 21st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kirby Clinical, RPh Professional Search, and CVS Health.

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$52,000

$203,000

Salary Distribution
Louisiana$117,597Rank: 17th
The average salary ranks 17th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Walgreens.

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$53,000

$206,000

Salary Distribution
Massachusetts$122,328Rank: 11th
The average salary ranks 11th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Walgreens, New England Personnel, LLC, CVS Health, and Steven Douglas Associates.

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$62,000

$202,000

Salary Distribution
Maryland$114,153Rank: 23rd
The average salary ranks 23rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Clinical Management Consultants, CVS Health, and Walmart.

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$45,000

$214,000

Salary Distribution
Maine$131,198Rank: 5th
The average salary ranks 5th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like RPh Professional Search.

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$65,000

$198,000

Salary Distribution
Michigan$106,670Rank: 32nd
The average salary ranks 32nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Rite Aid, CVS Health, Kmart, and Brooks Pharmacy.

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$41,000

$202,000

Salary Distribution
Minnesota$118,600Rank: 15th
The average salary ranks 15th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Walgreens.

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$51,000

$214,000

Salary Distribution
Montana$111,255Rank: 28th
The average salary ranks 28th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like RPh Professional Search.

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$56,000

$169,000

Salary Distribution
North Carolina$128,306Rank: 6th
The average salary ranks 6th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kirby Clinical, Steven Douglas Associates, Logix Healthcare Search Partners, and Walgreens.

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$64,000

$214,000

Salary Distribution
Nebraska$114,151Rank: 24th
The average salary ranks 24th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Pro-Touch Nurses Inc., RPh Professional Search, and Roland and Associates.

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$57,000

$172,000

Salary Distribution
New Hampshire$2,200Rank: 34th
The average salary ranks 34th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Procare USA.

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$1,100

$3,300

Salary Distribution
New Jersey$112,705Rank: 26th
The average salary ranks 26th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like RPh Professional Search, CVS Health, Walgreens, and Rite Aid.

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$53,000

$194,000

Salary Distribution
Nevada$114,753Rank: 22nd
The average salary ranks 22nd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Walmart.

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$42,000

$221,000

Salary Distribution
New York$108,540Rank: 29th
The average salary ranks 29th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS Health.

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$37,000

$215,000

Salary Distribution
Ohio$116,585Rank: 18th
The average salary ranks 18th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Plain City Druggist Companies, Kirby Clinical, Walgreens, and CVS Health.

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$54,000

$202,000

Salary Distribution
Oregon$139,388Rank: 1st
The average salary ranks 1st among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Health Career Associates and E-Health Jobs.

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$70,000

$212,000

Salary Distribution
Pennsylvania$108,329Rank: 30th
The average salary ranks 30th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Walgreens, CVS Health, Rite Aid, and Walmart.

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$44,000

$200,000

Salary Distribution
South Carolina$104,894Rank: 33rd
The average salary ranks 33rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like CVS Health, Publix, Walmart, and Medical University of South Carolina.

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$38,000

$204,000

Salary Distribution
Tennessee$119,717Rank: 13th
The average salary ranks 13th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kirby Clinical, Walgreens, Kroger Stores, and Clinical Management Consultants.

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$60,000

$183,000

Salary Distribution
Texas$116,527Rank: 19th
The average salary ranks 19th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like University of Texas Medical Branch, Walmart, Clinical Management Consultants, and HEB.

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$51,000

$208,000

Salary Distribution
Virginia$119,794Rank: 12th
The average salary ranks 12th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kirby Clinical, PharmacistRecruiters.com, CVS Health, and Clinical Management Consultants.

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$53,000

$212,000

Salary Distribution
Washington$132,341Rank: 3rd
The average salary ranks 3rd among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like RPh Professional Search, Walmart, Clinical Management Consultants, and Walgreens.

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$59,000

$234,000

Salary Distribution
Wisconsin$122,864Rank: 10th
The average salary ranks 10th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Walgreens, RPh Professional Search, and Innovative Management Solutions.

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$62,000

$194,000

Salary Distribution
West Virginia$119,356Rank: 14th
The average salary ranks 14th among states in the country. There were also job openings from employers like Kirby Clinical.

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$60,000

$185,000

Salary Distribution

Top 20 National Employers

According to Indeed.com, the following states had employers looking to hire a Pharmacy Manager. The quoted salary figure represents the average salary from all job postings by this employer.

Employer NameLocationAverage Salary

Learn More

Related Careers

Career NameAverage Salary

Henry Steele
Managing Editor
Henry is Managing Editor of BusinessStudent.com. He is a seasoned business professional who regularly consults with local business's throughout Southern California. Henry pursued his undergrad in Business and Economics at the University of San Diego and gained valuable life changing experience through a unique internship upon graduation.

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