Pharmacist named 3rd best job in America

Working as a pharmacist is the third best profession in America in 2013, only behind dentist and registered nurse, according to a list compiled by U.S. News & World Report.

The magazine based its Top-100 rankings on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data identifying professions with the highest projected openings through 2020. The magazine then graded those professions based on 10-year growth volume, 10-year growth percentage, median salary, employment rate, future job prospects, stress level, and work-life balance.

The job of pharmacist was recognized due to high salaries, available training, future openings, and upward mobility. The government projects 25.4% employment growth for pharmacists by 2020, translating into 69,700 new pharmacist jobs. 

“While hiring has cooled a bit in recent years, experts say an aging population and increasingly complex medicines will keep industry growth healthy for years to come,” the report said.

The median annual salary for a pharmacist was $113,390 in 2011, according to the BLS, with the highest 10% earning about $144,090 annually.

The report also said pharmacists working within the areas of residential mental health, rehabilitation facilities, and consulting services were the highest paid. And the geographic areas with the highest-paid pharmacists were in California near the metropolitan areas of El Centro, Napa, and Santa Cruz-Watsonville.

The job of pharmacist is not without drawbacks, according to the report, as the stress levels associated with the job were above average and job flexibility below average.

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