Pharmacists are healthcare professionals who specialize in the right way to use, store, preserve and prescribe different types of drugs and medicines. They guide on how to use medication, what are their potential side effects etc. They usually work in pharmacies, hospitals, medical clinics, universities and government institutions.
The average starting salary of a pharmacist in India is INR 2.72 LPA. However, the salary varies with experience, qualification and skills. An entry-level Pharmacist with less than 1 year of experience can earn INR 1.80 LPA. Having prior skills also act as a crucial determinant factor for the salary of a Pharmacist such as inventory management, operation management, retail pharmacy etc. Pharmacists can open their own dispensary or work in hospitals or in several big pharmaceutical companies. The highest salary of a Pharmacist can go upto INR 4.30 LPA.
In order to become a Pharmacist, aspiring candidates can opt to pursue undergraduate courses or postgraduate Pharmacy Courses such as B Pharmacy or M. Pharma from amongst the top Pharmacy Colleges in India. Candidates can opt to pursue various diploma courses such as D.Pharma. .Admission to these courses is done on the basis of clearing entrance exams such as GPAT, OJEE, HPCET, etc. There is a huge scope and job opportunities in the pharmaceutical industry.
Table of Contents
- Duties of a Pharmacist
- Salary of a Pharmacist: Company wise
- Salary of a Pharmacist: Qualification wise
- Salary of a Pharmacist: Specialization Wise
- Salary of a Pharmacist: Experience Wise
- Salary of a Pharmacists: City Wise
- Salary of a Pharmacist: Country Wise
- Skills of a Pharmacist
- Top recruiters of Pharmacist
- Salary of a Pharmacist: FAQs
Duties of Pharmacist
The duties of a Pharmacist is quite extensive and is not limited to just counting out tablets and preparing a bottle label but involves following duties. Some of them are provided below for your reference:
- A Pharmacist goes through the prescription thoroughly and deals with any confusion or unclear instructions regarding the dosage of the medicine.
- They have to check the patient’s prescription properly every time they get it refilled to prevent interaction with any dangerous drugs.
- They also have to advise the patients regarding the potential side effects of a medicine and interactions of certain medicines with other components like food, alcohol, other beverages, etc for the safety of the patients.
- Apart from written prescriptions, they also have to advise patients with the potential effects of non-prescribed medicines, taking health supplements, diets, exercise, etc.
- They have to manage the staff and train the pharmacy technicians, students and interns so that they make no mistakes.
- They also perform some administrative tasks like maintaining the patient’s medical record, stocking of required products, and patient care.
Salary of a Pharmacist: Company wise
Pharmacists have a very important role to play in the medical sector. There are several big pharmaceutical companies that develop numerous types of medicines and bring into the market for treatment of ailments. Pharmacists are one of the sources who bring these medicines into the market. The salaries of pharmacists vary with the company.
Tabulated below are the salaries of some pharmacists according to the pharmaceutical companies.
| Name of the Company | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Sun Pharmaceuticals | 6.2 L |
| Novozymes | 5.6 L |
| Cipla | 7.47 L |
| Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories | 5.5 L |
| Lupin | 5.2 L |
| Aurobindo | 4.8 L |
| Glenmark Pharmaceuticals | 5.8 L |
| Abbott India | 6.11 L |
| Wockhardt | 6.8 L |
Salary of a Pharmacist: Qualification Wise
In order to be a Pharmacist, the candidate needs to be well qualified. Academic qualifications play a very important role in determining the salary of a candidate. Tabulated below is the salary of a Pharmacist based on their qualifications.
| Qualification | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Diploma Degree | 3.5 L |
| Undergraduate Degree | 6.5 L |
| Postgraduate Degree | 10 L |
| PhD | 15 L |
Salary of a Pharmacist: Specialization wise
Salary of a Pharmacist varies according to the job profiles or their area of specialization. Different job profiles have a different role to play in the market and that is one of the deciding factors of salary of pharmacists. The average salary of a Pharmacist based on their specialization is provided below for your reference.
| Specializations | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Pharmacist | 3.25 L |
| Chemist | 8 L |
| Medical Representative | 5 L |
| Clinic Manager | 6.5 L |
| Clinical Research Coordinator | 4 L |
| Chemical Pathologist | 3.5 L |
Salary of a Pharmacist: Experience Wise
Experience plays a vital role in determining the salary in any profession. The more the experience of a Pharmacist, the more will be the salary. According to Glassdoor, the highest salary of a Pharmacist can go up to INR 18.44 LPA. The salary of a Pharmacist based on years of experience is provided below for your reference.
| Experience | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| 0 - 5 years | 2.92 L |
| 6 - 10 years | 6.70 L |
| 11 - 15 years | 10.11 L |
| 16 - 20 years | 13.28 L |
| 20 years & above | 17 L |
Salary of a Pharmacist: City Wise
The salary of a Pharmacist is very much dependent on the location. Cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai offer 28% more salary to pharmacists than national average as compared to other cities. The salary of a Pharmacist can also vary according to the location within the city as well. Discussed below is the average salary of a Pharmacists based on cities.
| Cities | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| Delhi | 5 L |
| Pune | 3.5 L |
| Bangalore | 4.5 L |
| Mumbai | 6.3 L |
| Chennai | 4.3 L |
| Kolkata | 3.50 L |
| Jaipur | 3.59 L |
Salary of a Pharmacist: Country Wise
Countries like UK, USA, and Russia are some of the top manufacturers of medicines due to their advanced technology and medicinal practices. The salary of Pharmacists in these countries is also very high as compared to other countries. The average salary of a Pharmacist in different countries is tabulated below for your reference.
| Country | Average Annual Salary (INR) |
|---|---|
| USA | 89 L |
| UK | 45.83 L |
| Australia | 59.95 L |
| Canada | 56.86 L |
| Germany | 36.31 L |
| Japan | 33.26 L |
| China | 41.94 L |
| Russia | 67.88 L |
Skills Required to Become a Pharmacist
Pharmacists are required to possess some extra skills in order to excel in the profession. Skills like Clinical Research, Pharmaceutical production, inventory management etc affect the salary of a Pharmacist. If the candidate possesses some of these skills then they can expect a salary of more than 20% above than the national average. Tabulated below are some of the skills that affect the salary of a Pharmacist in India.
| Analytical skills | Operations Management | Clinical research |
| Multitasking | Retail Pharmacy | Patient Counseling |
| Interpersonal skills | Pharmacotherapy | Hospital Education |
Top Recruiters of Pharmacists
There are many pharmaceutical companies in India in which the candidate can work in or he can also be self-employed or open a dispensary or supply the medicine. The top companies that hire Pharmacists are given below for your knowledge.
| Sun Pharmaceuticals | Cipla | Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories |
| Lupin | Abbott India | Biocon |
| Wockhardt | Glenmark Pharmaceuticals | Aurobindo |
Salary of a Pharmacist: FAQs
Ques. What do Pharmacists do?
Ans. The duties of a Pharmacist include:
- advise the patients regarding the potential side effects of a medicine
- advise patients with the potential effects of non-prescribed medicines
- manage the staff and train the pharmacy technicians, students and interns
- perform some administrative tasks like maintaining the patient’s medical record, stocking of required products
Ques. How many types of Pharmacists are there?
Ans. There are many branches of Pharmacists:
- Pharmacist
- Chemist
- Medical Representative
- Chemical Pathologist
Ques. What are the skills required to become a Pharmacist?
Ans. The skills required to become a Pharmacist in India are:
- Organizational skills
- Communication
- Analytical skills
- Attention to detail
Ques. Who are the top recruiters for Pharmacists?
Ans. Some of the top recruiters for Pharmacists are:
- Sun Pharmaceuticals
- Cipla
- Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories
- Glenmark Pharmaceuticals
Ques. Is there any internship required to become a Pharmacist?
Ans. It is not compulsory to have internship experience but it is preferred that the candidate possess previous knowledge and first-hand experience of working in a pharmacy.
Ques. Can a student from arts background become a Pharmacist?
Ans. No, aspirants from arts background cannot become a Pharmacist. In order to become a pharmacist, the candidate needs to be from PCB background or biotechnology background.
Ques. Can one pursue a Pharmacy course from distance learning?
Ans. Yes, one can pursue a Pharmacy course from distance learning but it is advisable to pursue it from a regular college.
Ques. What is the highest salary of a Pharmacist?
Ans. According to Glassdoor, Based on experience and skill, a Pharmacist can earn upto INR 18 L per annum.
Ques. What is the course fees to become a Pharmacist?
Ans. Generally, the course fees range from INR 40,000-5,00,000. The fees also vary from public universities to private colleges.
Ques. What are the courses to become a Pharmacist?
Ans. There are various courses to become a Pharmacist:
- Diploma in Pharmacy
- Masters in Pharmacy
- Bachelors in Pharmacy
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