Pharmacist salary?

15-09-2015 12:39am

RobFowl wrote: »

The clue to this forum is in the ie bit of boards.ie......

So we can only discuss things that are happening in Ireland? I would just like some clarification from yourself.

steddyeddy · 15-09-2015 12:44am

I would have to agree with Dazzler. It seems unreasonable not to be allowed to compare differences in health care strategies across countries.

RobFowl · 15-09-2015 7:19am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

So we can only discuss things that are happening in Ireland? I would just like some clarification from yourself.

Firstly I wasn't posting as a moderator in that post !
Secondly this tihread is about pharmacist salaries in Ireland, if you want a thread on antibiotic prescribing by pharmacists throughout the world then start a thread on it !!

RobFowl · 15-09-2015 7:21am

steddyeddy wrote: »

I would have to agree with Dazzler. It seems unreasonable not to be allowed to compare differences in health care strategies across countries.

That's a great subject for a thread and is of course allowed, however this thread is about pharmacist salaries in Ireland and still waiting for anyone the give me good reason for that topic to be kept open in a health science forum....

Saint Sonner · 15-09-2015 9:43am

Just to bring it back on point here - I'm curious.

What salary would you expect a pharmacist to earn when they are managing a very busy Community Pharmacy in Dublin?

nesf · 15-09-2015 9:52am

RobFowl wrote: »

That's a great subject for a thread and is of course allowed, however this thread is about pharmacist salaries in Ireland and still waiting for anyone the give me good reason for that topic to be kept open in a health science forum....

Split the offending posts off into their own thread if they're on-topic for the forum but off-topic for the thread.

(lurker's 2c)

RobFowl · 15-09-2015 1:33pm

nesf wrote: »

Split the offending posts off into their own thread if they're on-topic for the forum but off-topic for the thread.

(lurker's 2c)

Too much like hard work

Fastidious · 23-02-2019 5:24pm

I'm hoping to study pharmacy-but to tell the truth, this thread has really put me off doing so.
I'd appreciate if anyone could shed light on the employment situation atm, and if the situation is going to further deteriorate.
I know I'd love to study chemistry/pharmacology, but really don't want to study for five years only to be paid pittance or worse be unemployed.

Thanks!

The Hound Gone Wild · 23-02-2019 8:15pm

Fastidious wrote: »

I'm hoping to study pharmacy-but to tell the truth, this thread has really put me off doing so.
I'd appreciate if anyone could shed light on the employment situation atm, and if the situation is going to further deteriorate.
I know I'd love to study chemistry/pharmacology, but really don't want to study for five years only to be paid pittance or worse be unemployed.

Thanks!

This was started 11 years ago. Things are fine for Pharmacists at the moment. Typically salaries start in the €50,000-60,000 range. Will rise to the €65,000-100,000 range after 3+ years.

With Brexit it's hard to predict the future but Pharmacists are always in demand. No such thing as an unemployed Pharmacist

23-02-2019 8:18pm

Im not going to lie. I earn a seriously good wage as a pharmacist. Not as much as community pharmacist but there are only about 4/5 pharmacists who could do my job in Ireland.
More than if I would if I was an IT person or accountant. I work hard for it. I've normalish hours too. If you are looking at 100k+, you will be working long hours.

The Hound Gone Wild · 23-02-2019 8:34pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Im not going to lie. I earn a seriously good wage as a pharmacist. Not as much as community pharmacist but there are only about 4/5 pharmacists who could do my job in Ireland.
More than if I would if I was an IT person or accountant. I work hard for it. I've normalish hours too. If you are looking at 100k+, you will be working long hours.

Yep, on the high end of the scale in community you'll typically be a retail manager on top of being a pharmacist.

Out of interest, are you an antimicrobial pharmacist?

angeldelight · 23-02-2019 8:44pm

I will say money isn’t everything... I’m a community pharmacist. The job is a complete pain in the ass due to the HSE being the paymaster for the majority of business and implementing cut after cut, policy change after change... all resulting in more work and no extra remuneration. The majority of the time work is more about the HSE paperwork, rules and regulations than it is about any form of chemistry and/or pharmacology

23-02-2019 10:11pm

The Hound Gone Wild wrote: »

Yep, on the high end of the scale in community you'll typically be a retail manager on top of being a pharmacist.

Out of interest, are you an antimicrobial pharmacist?

Hmmm. I don't work as a antimicrobial pharmacist but it's a huge need which the HSE are currently addressing.

23-02-2019 10:14pm

angeldelight wrote: »

I will say money isn’t everything... I’m a community pharmacist. The job is a complete pain in the ass due to the HSE being the paymaster for the majority of business and implementing cut after cut, policy change after change... all resulting in more work and no extra remuneration. The majority of the time work is more about the HSE paperwork, rules and regulations than it is about any form of chemistry and/or pharmacology

Angelsdelight. I remember reading your posts about pharmacy when I was thinking about studying it. Just shows I've been on boards too long.

AmberGold · 23-02-2019 10:21pm

I haven’t sifted thru this thread but I am astonished & always have been re how low salary’s are for pharmacists given the amount of points required for entry never mind the responsibility of the job.

Someone I know had the top leaving cert results in the country and chose this Degree only to find her sister who worked in IT sales (with a diploma in business) earning twice her salary.

Having said this with computerization this job is likely going one way.

lawred2 · 23-02-2019 10:23pm

AmberGold wrote: »

I haven’t sifted thru this thread but I am astonished & always have been re how low salary’s are for pharmacists given the amount of points required for entry never mind the responsibility of the job.

Someone I know had the top leaving cert results in the country and chose this Degree only to find her sister who worked in IT sales (with a diploma in business) earning twice her salary.

Having said this with computerization this job is likely going one way.

I know pharmacists on over 70k per annum. Hardly a low salary

23-02-2019 10:27pm

AmberGold wrote: »

I haven’t sifted thru this thread but I am astonished & always have been re how low salary’s are for pharmacists given the amount of points required for entry never mind the responsibility of the job.

Someone I know had the top leaving cert results in the country and chose this Degree only to find her sister who worked in IT sales (with a diploma in business) earning twice her salary.

Having said this with computerization this job is likely going one way.

I doubt a computer would know how to deal with the multitude of conditions that could follow a CAR-T procedure. Also, robots can't sign responsibility for a med

Also, it's not all about money. I make a significant difference to patients whilst they are in hospital. Whether it's showing them how to use an inhaler/ explaining what the meds are form/organising a support mechanism for them to take their meds at home.

Fastidious · 23-02-2019 10:33pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Angelsdelight. I remember reading your posts about pharmacy when I was thinking about studying it. Just shows I've been on boards too long.

Cool! If you don't mind me asking-which college did you study pharmacy in? I hope to go to RCSI, but am astonished at the amount of places reserved for non EU applicants, they must love money? Would RCSI be better in terms of facilities or would TCD be? Tia

AmberGold · 23-02-2019 10:40pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I doubt a computer would know how to deal with the multitude of conditions that could follow a CAR-T procedure. Also, robots can't sign responsibility for a med

Also, it's not all about money. I make a significant difference to patients whilst they are in hospital. Whether it's showing them how to use an inhaler/ explaining what the meds are form/organising a support mechanism for them to take their meds at home.

Appreciate this re the care you provide, that’s the point I’m making. On the tech side, with computers driving cars etc it will impact at some point.

When I did my leaving cert in ‘87 the highest points requirement was for pharmacy in TCD, so when I see the salary’s of pharmacists compared to GP’s / Consultants I find it odd.

Fastidious · 23-02-2019 10:42pm

lawred2 wrote: »

I know pharmacists on over 70k per annum. Hardly a low salary

According to payscale.com, the average salary comes in at just under 50,000. Considering the amount of study that's required and how labour intensive the job itself is it's not exactly great is it?

The Hound Gone Wild · 23-02-2019 10:45pm

Fastidious wrote: »

According to payscale.com, the average salary comes in at just under 50,000. Considering the amount of study that's required and how labour intensive the job itself is it's not exactly great is it?

https://ie.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=pharmacist&l=Ireland&jt=permanent&start=20&pp=ABQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFYp2IbAQEBBgdtIbUB3gg97sxEhrOGU9ewDCIcnA

I'm a community pharmacist. I've recently changed jobs and have an idea of the on the ground salaries. I'm currently north of €90,000

brianb10 · 23-02-2019 10:47pm

The Hound Gone Wild wrote: »

Will rise to the €65,000-100,000 range after 3+ years.

I wish!
Not true.
You need to bring that range down a good bit to be more accurate

Fastidious · 23-02-2019 10:47pm

AmberGold wrote: »

Appreciate this re the care you provide, that’s the point I’m making. On the tech side, with computers driving cars etc it will impact at some point.

When I did my leaving cert in ‘87 the highest points requirement was for pharmacy in TCD, so when I see the salary’s of pharmacists compared to GP’s / Consultants I find it odd.

True however points aren't reflective of the courses difficulty..it's demand which is why I find it baffling that RCSI would reserve so many places for international students. If there's supposedly an insatiable demand for pharmacists in ireland then why not reserve these for Irish students. Perhaps this is why it isn't considered a university?

Fastidious · 23-02-2019 10:48pm

The Hound Gone Wild wrote: »

https://ie.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=pharmacist&l=Ireland&jt=permanent&start=20&pp=ABQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFYp2IbAQEBBgdtIbUB3gg97sxEhrOGU9ewDCIcnA

I'm a community pharmacist. I've recently changed jobs and have an idea of the on the ground salaries. I'm currently north of €90,000

Its an average

The Hound Gone Wild · 23-02-2019 10:53pm

Fastidious wrote: »

Its an average

It certainly is. It's an average of the 200 odd people who've self reported. For all you know it could be 200 locums working 4 day weeks. Pay scale is fairly useless imo.

The Hound Gone Wild · 23-02-2019 10:54pm

brianb10 wrote: »

I wish!
Not true.
You need to bring that range down a good bit to be more accurate

Are you an Irish community pharmacist?

https://ie.indeed.com/m/jobs?q=pharmacist&l=Ireland&jt=permanent&start=20&pp=ABQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFYp2IbAQEBBgdtIbUB3gg97sxEhrOGU9ewDCIcnA

AmberGold · 23-02-2019 10:55pm

lawred2 wrote: »

I know pharmacists on over 70k per annum. Hardly a low salary

With all due respect given the responsibility and care provided I think it’s low. Very low, so low as to be unable to obtain a mortgage for a 3 bedroomed semi in the capital.

Fastidious · 24-02-2019 12:24am

It shouldn't come as a surprise to you that houses are unaffordable in the capital. I mean I'm only seventeen so what do I know, but you seem to be of the opinion that it's your god given right to live wherever you want to live. This isn't me being cheeky or anything nor am I belittling your work, but 70,000 is a great salary for a pharmacist to be earning. I've sympathy for the nurses and midwives cause they genuinely have reason to be frustrsated. You're just being greedy

AmberGold · 24-02-2019 10:56am

Fastidious wrote: »

It shouldn't come as a surprise to you that houses are unaffordable in the capital. I mean I'm only seventeen so what do I know, but you seem to be of the opinion that it's your god given right to live wherever you want to live. This isn't me being cheeky or anything nor am I belittling your work, but 70,000 is a great salary for a pharmacist to be earning. I've sympathy for the nurses and midwives cause they genuinely have reason to be frustrsated. You're just being greedy

Yes 70k seems like a pile of cash when you’re 17, living at home with Mammy & being offered part-time jobs in Supermacs and the like on minimum wage. Add in the true cost of living in Ireland with a mortgage, Creche fees, property tax, USC, PRSI, Property maintenance fees to name a few and you’ll understand my point.

I think you covered it off in your post, you’re 17 and yes you don’t know much.

lab man · 24-02-2019 11:04am

AmberGold wrote:

Yes 70k seems like a pile of cash when youâ€™re 17, living at home with Mammy & being offered part-time jobs in Supermacs and the like on minimum wage. Add in the true cost of living in Ireland with a mortgage, Creche fees, property tax, USC, PRSI, Property maintenance fees to name a few and youâ€™ll understand my point.

70 k is a serious wage ffs cop on

galwayllm · 24-02-2019 11:11am

lab man wrote: »

70 k is a serious wage ffs cop on

Ever hear of tax? 70k is a good wage but not a great one with all that's listed above as living costs!

AmberGold · 24-02-2019 11:39am

lab man wrote: »

70 k is a serious wage ffs cop on

17 as well?

professore · 24-02-2019 11:51am

AmberGold wrote: »

Yes 70k seems like a pile of cash when you’re 17, living at home with Mammy & being offered part-time jobs in Supermacs and the like on minimum wage. Add in the true cost of living in Ireland with a mortgage, Creche fees, property tax, USC, PRSI, Property maintenance fees to name a few and you’ll understand my point.

I think you covered it off in your post, you’re 17 and yes you don’t know much.

FYI there are plenty of jobs requiring very high academic ability, qualifications and long hours that don't pay 70k ever. Many experienced engineers and IT professionals I know on less than this.

Just because the property market in Dublin is hopelessly corrupt is not a reason to say 70k is a bad salary. A salary largely paid for by the taxpayer.

To the 17 year old, yes pharmacy is a good career. However there is a good possibility that deregulation will happen and then you will have floods of Eastern European pharmacists setting up here and prepared to work for far less than 70K. Also from a pay and conditions standpoint, any public sector career is far better than anything in the private sector. You might get bored though.

Fastidious · 24-02-2019 12:56pm

I do wonder how people earning an average modest salary survive oh wait they live within their means.
You answered your own question- I don't care what you say, 70,000 is a fantastic salary and I think you'd want to have a look at yourself and the work that you do before you say anything else. Craftsmen, teachers, nurses earn far far less but they seem to be able to secure a mortgage, rear kids etc.
You're deluded if you think 70,000 is a bad salary

Snipp · 24-02-2019 1:21pm

Im currently earning 80k in Dublin per annum as a community pharmacist in my 20s

AmberGold · 24-02-2019 2:17pm

Fastidious wrote: »

I do wonder how people earning an average modest salary survive oh wait they live within their means.
You answered your own question- I don't care what you say, 70,000 is a fantastic salary and I think you'd want to have a look at yourself and the work that you do before you say anything else. Craftsmen, teachers, nurses earn far far less but they seem to be able to secure a mortgage, rear kids etc.
You're deluded if you think 70,000 is a bad salary

The point is : with the high level of points required for entry coupled with the level of responsibility and the care Pharmacists provide it is a very low salary relative to other professionals.

The group of occupations you cite bear no resemblance to the academic and job requirements of a pharmacist.

I’m not deluded & it’s safe to say you haven’t a rashers.

spurious · 24-02-2019 2:21pm

Please don't base a career choice on what the salary is. Choose something you will get some enjoyment out of.

70k which is a very good salary will not compensate for a job you hate, day after day after day after day.

The points requirement for Pharmacy is irrelevant. It just means lots of people want to do Pharmacy, possibly because they erroneously think they will make a fortune.

Fastidious · 24-02-2019 2:40pm

AmberGold wrote: »

The point is : with the high level of points required for entry coupled with the level of responsibility and the care Pharmacists provide it is a very low salary relative to other professionals.

The group of occupations you cite bear no resemblance to the academic and job requirements of a pharmacist.

I’m not deluded & it’s safe to say you haven’t a rashers.

Oh God love you, I'm sorry but you have lost any credibility you once had the minute you mentioned LC points. What has that got to do with anything-economics 101 supply and demand. Pharmacy is high points yes, but I'd argue that many courses require much more study than pharmacy and these may only be 300-400 points.

I don't blame you for wanting more. I mean, who doesn't want a rise. But nowadays people have to pay an arm and a leg for ibuprofen in a pharmacy and your greed is partially to blame. You'd swear you have the most difficult job in the world, sorry that isn't true. And I say this as an aspiring pharmacist. Of all the professions, I have to say I've got the least sympathy for pharmacists.

Nursing is a highly skilled profession requiring four years of study. Although nurses can only dream of earning a salary in excess of 70k. To say that nurses are inferior to pharmacists is quite demeaning. Please enlighten me-tell me how you can justify asking for a salary triple that of nurses. It just doesn't make sense.

AmberGold · 24-02-2019 3:07pm

Fastidious wrote: »

Oh God love you, I'm sorry but you have lost any credibility you once had the minute you mentioned LC points. What has that got to do with anything-economics 101 supply and demand. Pharmacy is high points yes, but I'd argue that many courses require much more study than pharmacy and these may only be 300-400 points.

I don't blame you for wanting more. I mean, who doesn't want a rise. But nowadays people have to pay an arm and a leg for ibuprofen in a pharmacy and your greed is partially to blame. You'd swear you have the most difficult job in the world, sorry that isn't true. And I say this as an aspiring pharmacist. Of all the professions, I have to say I've got the least sympathy for pharmacists.

Nursing is a highly skilled profession requiring four years of study. Although nurses can only dream of earning a salary in excess of 70k. To say that nurses are inferior to pharmacists is quite demeaning. Please enlighten me-tell me how you can justify asking for a salary triple that of nurses. It just doesn't make sense.

Firstly I’m not a pharmacist & yes Nurses are getting shafted too. I think the whole country agrees on that one.

Nothing demeaning in my statements re Nurses or any other of the careers you mention, please don’t try and put words in my mouth. The two areas have different academic entry requirements & levels of job responsibility.

The argument regarding LC points relates purely to the myriad of courses and careers that may pay a higher salary to those fortunate few that meet the entry requirements for pharmacy.

All these points are being made in relation to the title of this thread, nothing else which is what’s relevant here.

Fastidious · 24-02-2019 3:24pm

AmberGold wrote: »

Firstly I’m not a pharmacist & yes Nurses are getting shafted too. I think the whole country agrees on that one.

Nothing demeaning in my statements re Nurses or any other of the careers you mention, please don’t try and put words in my mouth. The two areas have different academic entry requirements & levels of job responsibility.

The argument regarding LC points relates purely to the myriad of courses and careers that may pay a higher salary to those fortunate few that meet the entry requirements for pharmacy.

All these points are being made in relation to the title of this thread, nothing else which is what’s relevant here.

I still don't understand the point you're trying to make regarding leaving cert points.
Fair enough you aren't a pharmacist, but you really do need to get out more or converse with those earning less than 70k. You are of the idiotic opinion that 70,000 is a low salary. Maybe cutting down on your trips to Brown Thomas and not looking for an abode right smack in the middle of Dublin would be a good place to start. Your comments were extremely ageist and although you may be older you aren't any bit wiser.

You're the one insinuating that how much someone should be paid should be determined by how they do in the leaving cert which is quite frankly ludicrous.

Point being-we can't afford as a country to give everyone a rise. Nurses and midwives and junior doctors I certainly understand and empathize with their never-ending struggle but pharmacists imo should be bottom of the list when it comes to pay increase.

Anyone earning 70,000 should be able to lead quite a comfortable life. Although that may mean living outside of Dublin oh well la vie n'est pas juste.

24-02-2019 3:36pm

Fastidious wrote: »

I still don't understand the point you're trying to make regarding leaving cert points.
Fair enough you aren't a pharmacist, but you really do need to get out more or converse with those earning less than 70k. You are of the idiotic opinion that 70,000 is a low salary. Maybe cutting down on your trips to Brown Thomas and not looking for an abode right smack in the middle of Dublin would be a good place to start. Your comments were extremely ageist and although you may be older you aren't any bit wiser.

You're the one insinuating that how much someone should be paid should be determined by how they do in the leaving cert which is quite frankly ludicrous.

Point being-we can't afford as a country to give everyone a rise. Nurses and midwives and junior doctors I certainly understand and empathize with their never-ending struggle but pharmacists imo should be bottom of the list when it comes to pay increase.

Anyone earning 70,000 should be able to lead quite a comfortable life. Although that may mean living outside of Dublin oh well la vie n'est pas juste.

I make more of a difference to patient care than the majority of nurses. So I feel you are been a little mean about pharmacists been bottom of the pile.

Fastidious · 24-02-2019 3:47pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I make more of a difference to patient care than the majority of nurses. So I feel you are been a little mean about pharmacists been bottom of the pile.

It's clear you guys are well looked after

mazwell · 24-02-2019 3:51pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I make more of a difference to patient care than the majority of nurses. So I feel you are been a little mean about pharmacists been bottom of the pile.

He's 17! I don't think I'd be worrying too much about his opinion. When I was that age I thought I knew it all too

AmberGold · 24-02-2019 4:13pm

mazwell wrote: »

He's 17! I don't think I'd be worrying too much about his opinion. When I was that age I thought I knew it all too

& thats where I’ll leave this. Well said.

Nonoperational · 24-02-2019 4:46pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I make more of a difference to patient care than the majority of nurses. So I feel you are been a little mean about pharmacists been bottom of the pile.

Would you mind elaborating on that a little? Curious as to the reasoning. Not saying I disagree or anything, just interested.

Fastidious · 24-02-2019 5:09pm

mazwell wrote: »

He's 17! I don't think I'd be worrying too much about his opinion. When I was that age I thought I knew it all too

24-02-2019 7:55pm

Fastidious wrote: »

Asshole

I would advise you not to study pharmacy. It seems you don't have the temparement for it if you get riled up on an internet forum.

24-02-2019 8:01pm

Nonoperational wrote: »

Would you mind elaborating on that a little? Curious as to the reasoning. Not saying I disagree or anything, just interested.

I save millions of euros for the HSE though medicines governance. This allow this money to be used further afield than pharmacy in the HSE. I know more about drugs than the majority of doctors. I also write guidelines for doctors to follow for prescribing meds. I organise how meds are sorted for vulnerable patients once they are discharged from hospital. Whilst doing this, I'm responsible for 176 inpatients beds where any drug errors ultimately lie on my desk.

AmberGold · 24-02-2019 8:59pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I save millions of euros for the HSE though medicines governance. This allow this money to be used further afield than pharmacy in the HSE. I know more about drugs than the majority of doctors. I also write guidelines for doctors to follow for prescribing meds. I organise how meds are sorted for vulnerable patients once they are discharged from hospital. Whilst doing this, I'm responsible for 176 inpatients beds where any drug errors ultimately lie on my desk.

You should be applauded for your contribution to society. Why you should earn less than a Doctor is beyond me. Maybe you do so don’t take insult.

I did find an interesting article from Australia where it seems Pharmacists are getting totally shafted. Good schedule of salary’s illustrating Pharmacists at the bottom rung.

Note for “Fastidious” NO Teachers, Craftspeople or whatever you’re having yourself in this list, only professionals of a similar level.... however I’d say they left the Nurses in to illustrate they even earn more.

https://ajp.com.au/news/low-pay-risking-profession/

Fastidious · 24-02-2019 9:43pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I would advise you not to study pharmacy. It seems you don't have the temparement for it if you get riled up on an internet forum.

No I have a problem with people devaluing my opinion because of my age. And isn't it great I don't give two ****s what you think

Pharmacist salary?

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