Pharmacist Salary in Pennsylvania and How to increase your Pay

The pharmacist salary in Pennsylvania is on the average $125,873 yearly.

A pharmacist is a drug administrator, a member of the medical profession who examines and provides or oversees the use of drugs.

Pharmacists practice in hospitals and clinics, as well as retail locations. They work to improve drug therapy for patients as well as establish the safety, purity, and effectiveness of medications used in healthcare facilities.

Pharmacist Salary in Pennsylvania Cities

Here are the average pharmacist salaries in the largest cities in Pennsylvania:

	City	Hourly Salary	Annual Salary
1	Philadelphia	$60.76	$133,939
2	Pittsburgh	$57.66	$127,093
3	Allentown	$55.69	$122,750
4	Erie	$50.60	$111,532
5	Reading	$53.82	$118,644
6	Upper Darby	$51.65	$113,856
7	Scranton	$53.20	$117,259
8	Bensalem	$52.30	$115,290
9	Lower Merion	$50.34	$110,954
10	Lancaster	$52.53	$115,790
11	Bethlehem	$54.27	$119,620
12	Abington	$51.70	$113,970
13	Bristol	$52.03	$114,687
14	Mill Creek	$48.55	$107,014
15	Lower Paxton	$45.86	$101,098
16	Haverford	$53.39	$117,687
17	Harrisburg	$56.30	$124,109
18	Middletown	$53.01	$116,838
19	York	$52.88	$116,561
20	Altoona	$49.21	$108,462
21	State College	$51.39	$113,270
22	Doylestown	$53.23	$117,325
23	Wilkes-Barre	$50.98	$112,371
24	Hempfield	$48	$105,812
25	Manheim	$47.83	$105,440
26	Northampton	$50.60	$111,545
27	Cheltenham	$51.54	$113,609
28	Norristown	$53.04	$116,906
29	Chester	$53.24	$117,356
30	Falls township	$53.18	$117,228

10 Cities with Highest Pharmacist Salary in Pennsylvania

Here are the 10 highest paying cities for pharmacists in Pennsylvania:

	City	Hourly Salary	Annual Salary
1	Philadelphia	$60.76	$133,939
2	Pittsburgh	$57.66	$127,093
3	Harrisburg	$56.30	$124,109
4	Allentown	$55.69	$122,750
5	Bethlehem	$54.27	$119,620
6	Reading	$53.82	$118,644
7	Haverford	$53.39	$117,687
8	Chester	$53.24	$117,356
9	Doylestown	$53.23	$117,325
10	Scranton	$53.20	$117,259

Skill-based Pharmacist Salary in Pennsylvania

A pharmacist with applicable skills and certifications will earn more money in Pennsylvania than their counterparts that do not possess them, these include:

1. Medical and scientific skills
2. People management skills
3. Communication skills
4. Leadership and team working skills
5. Negotiation, creativity, and critical thinking skills.

Experience-based Pharmacist Salary in Pennsylvania

Experience is one of the important considerations when determining an individual’s salary.

Pennsylvania employers look to how much work the pharmacist has done over the course of their career/employment with their company, and how many years they have been practicing.

The more experience, the higher the Pennsylvania pharmacist’s salary will be.

A pharmacist in Pennsylvania with less than one year experience earns $112,657, while one with 10 or more years earns $139,365.

10 Companies with Highest Pharmacist Salary in Pennsylvania

The top 10 highest paying companies for pharmacists in Pennsylvania include:

	Company	Hourly Salary	Annual Salary
1.	Dignity Health	$75.93	$167,369
2.	UCLA Health	$75.67	$166,792
3.	Meijer	$74.49	$164,196
4.	Raley’s / Bel Air / Nob Hill	$71.12	$156,774
5.	Vtech Solution Inc	$70.70	$155,836
6.	Costco Wholesale	$67.38	$148,530
7.	Adventist Health	$65.46	$144,285
8.,	MedWatchers Inc	$64.19	$141,502
9.	Pharmedium	$63.27	$139,463
10	Soleo Health	$62.39	$137,526

10 Highest Paying Pharmacist Jobs in Pennsylvania

Some of the highest paying pharmacist jobs in Pennsylvania include:

1. Clinical Staff Pharmacist; $124,257
2. Clinical Pharmacist Specialist; $122,037
3. Neonatal Pharmacist; $114,651
4. Hospital Pharmacist; $114,592
5. CVS Pharmacists; $138295
6. Home Care Pharmacist; $133673
7. Walgreens Pharmacist; $135810
8. Retail Pharmacist; $154,298
9. Nuclear Pharmacist; $145987
10. Industrial Pharmacist; $132,692.

More Benefits for Pharmacists in Pennsylvania

Employers in Pennsylvania also offer the following benefits to pharmacists:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

The employer (company) will pay for all or part of the medical insurance and provide a deduction to the employee.

This, in turn, reduces the amount of money the employee has to pay towards it.

• Life Insurance

Life insurance compensates a person’s family for the loss of income and/or services that were earned by the employee (husband, wife, father, mother, brother or sister) in the event that something happens to the employee.

• Long Term Disability

This is insurance that will pay out a percentage of an individual’s income if they are unable to work due to an illness or injury.

The amount an individual receives depends on how much they make and how long they were employed with their company.

• Retirement Plan

The employer will often contribute to a retirement plan. This is to take care of your financial needs and provide for your dependents when you are no longer able to work.

All employers contribute or match the contributions of their employees.

This can be a 401k, 403b, IRA, SEP, and many more.

What Related Job Titles to Pharmacist Earn in Pennsylvania

1. Medical Assistant; $37,941
2.  Microbiologist; $71,209
3. Medical Technologist; $72,936
4. Medical Records Technician; $39,667
5. Clinical Research Associate; $90,873.

Pharmacist Salary and Job Outlook in Pennsylvania

The state of Pennsylvania is beneficial for a pharmacy profession, with a negative employment growth rate of 1.62 percent during a 10-year period of 2018-2028.

The typical salary for a pharmacist ranges substantially (up to $19,412), implying that there may be several prospects for promotion and improved income dependent on skill level, location, and years of experience.

In terms of pharmacist salary, Pennsylvania ranks 34th out of 50 states.

How to increase your Pay as a Pharmacist in Pennsylvania

There are ways to increase your pay as a pharmacist in Pennsylvania. It is important to note that there are some things you can do that can help you make more money, including:

1. Become a Certified Pharmacist

If you possess important certifications, such as the Certified Drug Information Specialist (C.D.I.S.) and Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (B.C.P.S.), then you can expect to make more money in Pennsylvania than pharmacists who do not have them.

These certifications will also help prove your expertise and make you more valuable to Pennsylvania employers.

2. Get a License

In order to become licensed, you must earn an Associate degree or Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Pharmacy, or receive certification as a pharmacist by the National Board of Pharmacy.

This will show employers that you have a solid educational background that can help you be effective in your job as a pharmacist in Pennsylvania.

Also, if you have any certifications from the Pharmacy Technician Certification Council or Pharmacy Technician Certification Board, then employers will see that and will see your skill level and value as an employee.

3. Earn a Doctorate Degree

Pennsylvania pharmacists can also earn doctorate degrees, such as a Pharm.D degree, which will make them more qualified for the position and command increase in salary.

4. Work in Hospitals

Pharmacists working in hospitals are paid more than their counterparts in retail pharmacies in Pennsylvania due to having different skill levels and the level of responsibility they have on the job.

To become hired by hospitals you must have experience and certifications that certify your medical knowledge.

More Career Opportunities for Pharmacists in Pennsylvania

You can avail yourself of more career opportunities with your pharmacy background in Pennsylvania by considering these ideas:

1. Go into Management

You could consider going into management if you want to go into a profession related to pharmaceuticals. You can make a living out of managing and supervising people.

2. Own a Pharmacy Store

If you own your very own pharmacy, it will allow you to handle the workload as well as manage your time better.

This is an important skill before you take the next step that involves opening up your own practice for the community.

3. Become a Team Member of a Large Pharmacy

This would mean you will have to work under someone who is already in the profession.

You can also make a living out of this opportunity by working with them and learning from them.

You can also start managing the store since they have been doing it for quite some time.

4. Work in a Hospital

There are many hospitals that need pharmacists who can handle the workloads of the profession well.

You could consider working with them and learning how they go about their work on a daily basis.

You will be able to follow in their footsteps by making a living from becoming a hospital pharmacist yourself.

Conclusion

This post has provided detailed information on the pharmacist’s salary in Pennsylvania, including the cities and companies that pay the best salaries, to help individuals seeking to live and work in Pennsylvania as a pharmacist to make the best decisions concerning their career in the state.

Information sources: indeed.com, bls.gov, glassdoor.com, payscale.com, pharmacytechnicianguide.com, pharmapproach.com, salary.com, and beckershospitalreview.com.