Pharmacist Salary in Virginia and How to increase your Pay

The pharmacist salary in Virginia is averagely $112,000 per year.

A pharmacist in Virginia is a health professional who has been awarded a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) degree.

The duties they perform include reviewing patient medication history and record, providing counsel on medications usage and interactions, and managing pharmacy inventory and staff.

They also fill prescriptions for physicians’ orders, maintain records, and prepare reports.

Pharmacist Salary in Virginia Cities

Here is salary information for pharmacists across cities in Virginia:

	City	Hourly Salary	Annual Salary
1.	Virginia Beach	$56.61	$119,925
2.	Chesapeake	$50.08	$110,397
3.	Arlington	$66.37	$146,309
4.	Norfolk	$55.50	$122,348
5.	Richmond	$58.85	$129,725
6.	Newport News	$53.41	$117,737
7.	Alexandria	$61.55	$135,677
8.	Hampton	$53.08	$117,004
9.	Roanoke	$51.88	$114,363
10.	Portsmouth	$50.64	$111,618
11.	Suffolk	$52.97	$116,767
12.	Lynchburg	$51.05	$112,533
13.	Centreville	$56.91	$125,441
14.	Dale City	$52.85	$116,487
15.	Reston	$66.93	$147,525
16.	Harrisonburg	$50.08	$110,388
17.	Leesburg	$57.40	$126,518
18.	McLean	$68.19	$150,319
19.	Tuckahoe	$55.32	$121,936
20.	Charlottesville	$56.59	$124,743
21.	Lake Ridge	$51.59	$113,723
22.	Blacksburg	$51.49	$113,499
23.	Ashburn	$60.80	$134,023
24.	Burke	$52.88	$116,566
25.	Manassas	$56.94	$125,513
26.	Woodbridge	$54.32	$119,742
27.	Annandale	$55.18	$121,641
28.	Danville	$49.73	$109,613
29.	Linton Hall	$64.57	$142,320
30.	Mechanicsville	$52	$114,625

10 Cities with Highest Pharmacist Salary in Virginia

Here are top 10 paying cities for pharmacists in Virginia:

	City	Hourly Salary	Annual Salary
1.	McLean	$68.19	$150,319
2.	Reston	$66.93	$147,525
3.	Arlington	$66.37	$146,309
4.	Linton Hall	$64.57	$142,320
5.	Alexandria	$61.55	$135,677
6.	Ashburn	$60.80	$134,023
7.	Richmond	$58.85	$129,725
8.	Leesburg	$57.40	$126,518
9.	Manassas	$56.94	$125,513
10.	Centreville	$56.91	$125,441

Skill-based Pharmacist Salary in Virginia

In Virginia, pharmacists with the right skills and certifications stand to earn higher salaries than their counterparts without them, these include:

1. Management Styles and Skills
2. Communication Skills
3. Customer Service Skills
4. Team Leadership Skills
5. Critical Thinking Processes.

Experience-based Pharmacist Salary in Virginia

Experience is another determinant of salary earned by pharmacists in Virginia.

Pharmacists with less than one year of experience would earn around $117,188 while those with 10 years of experience or more will make around $144,971.

10 Companies with Highest Pharmacist Salary in Virginia

Here are the top 10 paying companies for pharmacists in Virginia:

	Company	Hourly Salary	Annual Salary
1.	Dignity Health	$76.43	$168,466
2.	UCLA Health	$75.67	$166,792
3.	Meijer	$74.40	$163,990
4.	Raley’s / Bel Air / Nob Hill	$70.88	$156,240
5.	US Department of Veterans Affairs	$68.46	$150,907
6.	Costco Wholesale	$67.83	$149,527
7.	Riverside Health System	$67.09	$147,888
8.	Rite Aid	$66.93	$147,536
9.	Adventist Health	$65.46	$144,285
10.	MedWatchers Inc	$64.19	$141,502

10 Highest Paying Pharmacist Jobs in Virginia

Some of the highest paying jobs for pharmacists in Virginia include:

• Chief Pharmacist; $129,220   
• Pharmacist Acute; $129,041
• Inpatient Pharmacist;  $123,395
• Pharmacist Staff; $120,023
• Clinical Staff Pharmacist; $118,133
• Pediatric Pharmacists; $131,625
• Nuclear Pharmacist; $146,353
• Oncology Pharmacist; $129,666
• Critical Care Pharmacist; $126,875
• Pharmacist Manager; $161,359

More Benefits for Pharmacists in Virginia

Employers also offer pharmacists the following benefits in Virginia:

• Dental and Health Insurance

Employers in Virginia provide dental and health insurance benefits to pharmacists. The cost of insurance varies from company to company.

• Life Insurance

Employers also provide pharmacists with life insurance, which can be taken as a benefit in case of permanent disability.

• Retirement Plans

Virginia employers may also provide pharmacists with retirement plans like 401(k), 403(b), and 457 plans. Each plan has a different price depending on the company.

• Paid Sick Leave and Holidays

Employers provide Paid Sick Leave for pharmacists and many of these companies have a generous vacation policy.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

This is to help address personal issues in life that may affect job performance, such as relationship problems, stress, depression, alcoholism or substance abuse; financial difficulties, legal problems, etc.

What Related Job Titles to Pharmacists Earn in Virginia

Here are earnings of related jobs to pharmacists in Virginia:

• Veterinarian; $111,250
• Geneticist;  $100,439
• Clinical Investigator; $110,212
• Medical Technologist; $106,501
• Health Inspector; $54,147

Pharmacists Salary and Job Outlook in Virginia

Pharmacist employment in Virginia is expected to grow 2% from 2021 to 2031, slower than the average for all occupations.

In terms of pharmacist salaries, Virginia ranks fourth out of fifty states.

The average salary for a pharmacist varies greatly (up to $21,483), implying that there may be numerous opportunities for advancement and increased pay based on skill level, location, and years of experience.

How to increase your Pay as a Pharmacist in Virginia

There are different strategies you can use to increase your pay as a pharmacist in Virginia, these include:

• Job Training and Certifications

Pharmacists have one of the highest pay increases based on the training they have received.

The higher your certification as a pharmacist in Virginia, the more your salary can be.

• Education and Degrees

There are a lot of opportunities to get certified, which implies that there will be greater chances of getting paid as an experienced pharmacist.

To increase your earnings, you may consider obtaining certifications in other related fields.

• Volunteering

There are companies, non-profits, and even pharmacy chains that are always on the lookout for volunteers.

These organizations need volunteers to help out with administrative, marketing, and research and sales.

You can gain lots of experience working with these companies or organizations, which can enable you to add more value to your paid job and translate to increase in your salary.

• Trade Show Participation

There are trade shows taking place in Virginia and all around the United States regularly.

You can become an exhibitor and display your products on the trade show floor.

These shows pay handsomely, since there are a number of visitors from not only pharmacy related industries but many other industries too.

• Networking

You can engage in network activities with colleagues, peers and other pharmacists from different companies, hospitals, or pharmacies.

Make the most of your contacts by giving referrals to other professionals in your field.

You can ask for referrals from your colleagues too.

More Career Opportunities for Pharmacists in Virginia

Looking for more career opportunities in Virginia as a pharmacist? If you do, here is a list you can explore:

1. Work with a Pharmacy Chain

You can work for a pharmacy chain or a local pharmacy.

The work involves dispensing medication, taking care of customers, and carrying out other related duties like stocking the shelves, cleaning and maintaining of the pharmacy.

2. Work for a Wellness Center

You can join other healthcare professionals or pharmacists as a trainer, pharmacist investigator/trainer, pharmacist assistant/pharmacy intern, health educator, and more in wellness centers like chiropractors, physiotherapists, and massage therapists.

3. Work for a Medical Institution

Here, the pharmacists can work along with other allied healthcare professionals like nurses and physicians.

They will be responsible for managing and dispensing medication, handling records, taking care of patients, auditing drugs and more.

4. Work with Sports Teams

As a sports pharmacist in Virginia, you can work with professional sports teams as a part of their medical support staff.

You will be responsible for managing and dispensing medication, handling records, taking care of patient health, auditing drugs and more.

5. Work for a State Institutional Pharmacy

Here, you will work as a pharmacist at correctional facilities like state penitentiaries and psychiatric hospitals. The work is similar to that of other institutions.

Conclusion

Pharmacists specialize in the delivery of medications and treatments to patients.

They make sure that all procedures are carried out according to established standards.

Pharmacists discover side effects from drugs, and assess whether patients need more treatment or not.

This post has provided detailed information on the salary pharmacists may earn in Virginia, including the cities and companies that pay the highest salaries.

Pharmacists looking to live and work in Virginia will be able to make the best decision concerning their career.

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